Mark 15:33-41
The Death of Jesus

As Jesus was dying on the cross, he took the burden of our sins upon himself. Darkness covered the land for three hours, as Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" For that terrible time, a holy God could not look at his Son as Jesus became sin for our sake.

Then Jesus willingly gave up his life and breathed his last. In the other gospels, he cries out, ""Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) and "It is finished." (John 19:30) The temple curtain, which had separated the people from the Holy of Holies where God's presence dwelt, was torn in two. This symbolized that Jesus had now made a way for people to come to God without the sacrifice of animals. Jesus had become the perfect sacrifice for sin, and through him, anyone who believed could now come before the Father.

Even the centurion who witnessed Jesus' death came to believe that he must be the Son of God. There were women--friends and devote followers of Jesus--who stood at a distance watching. They could not have known the significance or the hope of this event in their despair and sorrow. But they would know soon--just as we can know now that Jesus lives and because of that, we can have hope for eternity.


- posted by Suzi @ 6:27 AM