THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 27

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Day 27:  The Roman Centurion at the Cross (Mark 15:33-39)

A Roman centurion from early adulthood, he stood guarding the crosses of the three prisoners.  His commander surely trusted him, for the One who hung on the center cross had aroused emotions and grave suspicions of many.  He positioned himself squarely in front of this One whom he heard had claimed to be the Son of God.

All around him he heard the shouts and insults of the crowd.  “If you are the Son of God, come down and save yourself,” they cried, laughing at the accused.  Even the Jewish religious leaders condemned Him, yelling, “You saved others.  If you are the Son of God, come down from that cross and save yourself!” 

He was confused.  Just who was this Man who had been crucified?  How could He look out with such compassion at those who hurled insults at Him?  And why is it that when He looks my direction He seems to see right inside of me and know the very thoughts that I am thinking? 

Then the amazing and frightening began to happen.  From the moment He was nailed to the cross and lifted up, the day turned to night, and for three hours it remained dark.  The centurion could barely make out His face.  And then it seemed to be over.  The Man in the center cried out to someone, devastated for being so forsaken, and He gave up His spirit, and breathed His last.  Finally, this horrible scene could come to an end.

The centurion had not completed his thought when the ground began to shake violently and rocks were crushed.  A little later reports reached Golgotha that the veil in the Jewish temple had been torn from top to bottom.  Terror and fear filled this soldier’s heart.  “Who was this Man that such things are taking place?”  his heart screamed silently. 

Then illumination came to him from heaven above.  The centurion began to praise God, and other soldiers around him joined in.  “Certainly this man was innocent and righteous!  Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Do you believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be?  Do you praise Him daily for the horrific death He died for you?  It is not  to be taken lightly.

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 14

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Day 14:  The Remarkable Faith of a Centurion (Luke 7: 1-10)

The heart of the centurion was breaking.  How faithfully his slave had served him.  Never once had his servant disrespected him.  If the truth were known, the centurion loved him like a son.  Truly, he would never again have a servant as lovingly obedient as this one, and now his life was in grave danger.  His body lay motionless, and he was tormented by his paralysis.  “Oh, please spare him,” the centurion cried out as his tears fell silently to the floor.

Not many days later, the centurion, a Roman military man, heard about Jesus.  No one seemed to know how He healed people, only that He had some supernatural authority over diseases and even death.  So he sent some Jewish elders to find this Jesus, the ones he had befriended when he built them a synagogue.  He stayed behind to care for his servant.  Besides, he couldn’t bring ­­this Jewish man to Jesus because he was a Gentile.  He felt completely unworthy to come to Him.

The Jewish elders who had great respect for the centurion sought to find Jesus.  When they found Him, they pleaded with Him earnestly to come with them to heal their friend’s slave.

Jesus obliged and started out with them, but when they were very close to his house, they were stopped by some other friends of the centurion.

Jesus was surprised, and He marveled at the message sent by the centurion.   This man was completely humbled in his words, even though he was a man with great authority.  This kind of humility was refreshing to Jesus!  This Gentile centurion seemed to know that only a word spoken by Jesus would have the same authority to heal his servant as Jesus coming in person.  Amazing!  These comments revealed not only his great wisdom, but his great faith as well.  As a result of such faith, the centurion’s servant was completely healed in that very moment.

Do you believe that Jesus has been given all authority over heaven and earth?  If you do, does He have all authority over you?  Can you call Him your LORD if He doesn’t?  Does His Word have power over you and your life?  Do you obey His commands found in the Word?