It was only when he died that the Roman centurion in charge of the execution recognized that Jesus was the Son of God.
Everyone
in the Gospel of Mark is incapable of recognizing who Jesus is, except
for John the Baptist, Peter (momentarily), and the Roman centurion at his
execution, and Peter’s moment of insight proved fleeting. Even the Baptist
began to question the identity of Christ when he was imprisoned by Herod
Antipas.
The
Gospel of Mark makes a pivotal point: Christ cannot be understood apart
from his sacrificial death, and he calls his disciples to follow him on the
same way of the Cross – (Mark 8:34).
Passages
from Scripture are quoted in Mark to demonstrate that Jesus is the
long-awaited Messiah of Israel, an identification confirmed by John the Baptist
and the “voice from heaven” at Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River.
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| [Photo by Claudio Biesele (Herisau, Switzerland) on Unsplash] |
Despite his many miracles, men and women remain confused about Christ’s identity. Even his family and closest associates fail to acknowledge that he is the Son of God. He is not the kind of Messiah that anyone expects or wants.
When
the Heavens were “torn in two” following his baptism, the voice from
heaven declared that Jesus is the Son of God. The Greek verb translated as “torn
in two” is ‘schizō’, which means “to rend asunder, to cleave in two.” In
Mark, this term occurs only at his baptism and when the veil of
the Temple is “torn in two” at the moment Christ dies – (Mark
1:9-11, 15:37-39).
Jesus
cast out an “unclean spirit” in Capernaum. Unlike the villagers, the
demon knew who Christ was, “the Holy One of God.” The men of the
synagogue were astounded and asked, “Who is this?” Despite his
impressive deed, the Son of God remained unrecognized. Even members of his
family did not recognize the Messiah of Israel. Proximity to Jesus does not
guarantee recognition of who he is - (Mark 3:11-12, Mark 5:1-7).
By
his word alone, Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee. In fear, his
disciples asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
obey him?” Even this display of power was insufficient to convince them
that he was the Son of God and Messiah of Israel - (Mark 4:36-41).
When
he returned to his hometown, his former neighbors began questioning who he was
- “From where does this man have these things? <…> Is this not the
carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?” Rather than rejoice that God’s Son was
in their village, they were “offended by him” – (Mark 6:1-6).
After
Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people, he went alone to pray on a
mountain. The disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat,
struggling against a contrary wind. He appeared suddenly, walking on the water.
They cried out in fear until he identified himself and caused the wind to
cease. Previously, they had seen him calm a great storm, yet this miracle also failed
to convince them of who he was, because “their hearts were hardened” -
(Mark 6:45-52).
On
the way to Jerusalem, Peter momentarily began to understand Christ’s identity.
When Jesus asked, “Who do men say that I am?”, Peter answered, “You
are the Messiah!” Jesus then commanded the disciples to tell no one, explaining
that “the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders
and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise
again.”
Peter
objected to this, and his momentary revelation departed from him. The very idea
that the Messiah of Israel would be subjected to suffering and death was offensive
and inconceivable. Whatever insight Peter may have gained was lost when he was confronted
with the reality of the Suffering Messiah - (Mark 8:27-38).
BETRAYED AND EXECUTED
When
he was on trial, the High Priest asked Jesus: “Are you the Messiah, the Son
of the Blessed One?” The Nazarene responded, “I am he. And you will see THE
SON OF MAN SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND of power and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF
HEAVEN” - (Mark 14:60-64. Note Christ’s references to Psalm 110:1 and
Daniel 7:13).
In front of the priestly leaders of Israel, Jesus identified himself as the Messiah. There could be no doubt, yet rather than recognizing the Messiah of Israel, the High Priest charged him with blasphemy, and the “chief priests and the whole council” condemned him to death.
Unintentionally,
the Roman governor confirmed his Messianic status when he had ‘King of the Jews’
inscribed on a board and nailed to Christ’s cross. Yet, as he was hanging on the
cross, Jewish spectators mocked him - (Mark 15:26).
Likewise,
the Chief Priests and Scribes ridiculed Jesus as he was dying despite the
testimony of God, Scripture, his miraculous deeds, and his own sworn testimony.
It was clear to anyone with “eyes to see” that Jesus of Nazareth was the
Messiah and Son of God.
Demon
spirits recognized Jesus, yet the Temple authorities refused to do so despite
the overwhelming evidence of their eyes and ears. Instead, they mockingly
challenged him - “Let him come down now from the cross, that we may see and
believe!” - (Mark 15:26-32).
Only
at Calvary did a human voice declare that Jesus is the Son of God. As death
overwhelmed him, he uttered a great cry. At that precise moment, “the veil
of the temple was TORN IN TWO from the top to the bottom,” and the Roman
officer declared, “Truly, this man was the Son of God!” - (Mark 15:37-39.
Note the verbal allusion to Isaiah 64:1 [“O, that you would tear the heaven…”]).
Just
as the “tearing of the heavens” at Christ’s baptism produced a
declaration of his Messianic status, so the tearing of
the Temple veil produced the same confession, only now heard on
the lips of the Gentile centurion. Only as Jesus was crucified did a human
being begin to understand who he is, and paradoxically, it was by the Roman officer
in charge of his execution.
Only
in his suffering and death can we begin to understand who Jesus was and what
God accomplished in him. Only in his Death and Resurrection do we see what it
means to be a disciple of Jesus, to take up his cross, and “to follow him
wherever he goes.”
As
wonderful as miracles, signs, and wonders are, the true understanding of the identity,
nature, and mission of Jesus of Nazareth is only found in the Cross of Calvary.
- “For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness. But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” – (1 Corinthians 1:18).
- “Therefore, let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking away to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who instead of the joy put before him, endured the cross, despising shame, and he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” – (Hebrews 12:1-2).
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[Citations of Old Testament passages in this article
are based on the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint (see
the links here and here).
Text printed in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS represents quotations and
verbal allusions from the Old Testament. The Septuagint is
represented by the Roman numeral for ‘seventy’ or LXX based on the Latin name
of the translation, ‘Interpretatio septuaginta virorum’]
[PDF Copy]
SEE ALSO:
- Servant or Caesar? - (Satan offered Jesus unlimited political power to achieve his messianic mission if only he acknowledged the Devil as his overlord)
- Rend the Heavens! - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus – Son, Messiah, and Servant of the LORD)
- The Gospel Begins - (Redemption and God's Kingdom arrived in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, starting with his baptism by John – Mark 1:1-3)
- El Mesías Inesperado - (Fue solo cuando murió que el centurión romano a cargo de la ejecución reconoció que Jesús era el Hijo de Dios)