Son

Mark 15:37-39 (NIV)

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said,

"Surely this man was the Son of God!"

In a moment, this centurion (a roman soldier) who had been supervising the crucifixion of Jesus, became a believer.

"Who do you say that I am?" is an important question throughout the Gospels.

Here, we see one soldier's answer.

He didn't witness a healing. He didn't hear Jesus' sermons or parables. He didn't follow him around for a few days to see how he lived.

He watched him die.

"...and (seeing) how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'"

What have we seen of Jesus that inspires belief?

Perhaps as children, we believe because people we love and trust tell us that we ought to. That is good, and it is a wonderful beginning.

One day, though, we have to begin to believe as a way of living out our grown-up lives.

I think that real belief and acceptance of salvation through Jesus comes when we've lived long enough to experience some pain...and known the depth of real joy...standing figuratively at both the foot of the cross and the empty tomb's entrance.

We come to understand that this dying man, filled with love and grace toward his oppressors, "surely must be the Son of God."

There is no other way.

"Belief" means that we accept as true the claims of this unlikely, transcendent yet earthy messiah.

It means that we open a home for him in our hearts, and are transformed in his likeness.

This is the heart of salvation. God's Love...God's Gift...Our Belief...that leads to life.

Prayer: Father God, surely this man is your son. We seek his heart, and an indwelling of your Spirit. May we come to know ourselves as your children, too.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Palm Sunday this weekend at SOTH! Worship with Communion at 9 and 11 AM followed by Easter Egg hunt for kids K-5 and potluck lunch. We'll see you there!