Luke 23:44–49 (NKJV)

44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

JESUS DIED

After Jesus “breathed His last,” the centurion who witnessed events leading up to and including the death of Jesus responded by glorifying God, testifying to the important truth that Jesus was a righteous, innocent Man. Whether he knew it or not, the centurion was referring to Jesus as the unblemished sacrificial Lamb. He recognized that Jesus did not deserve to be punished, in contrast to ordinary people.
This centurion testified to the truth of the undeserved slaughter of the Lamb, who by God’s mercy provided salvation to everyone who believes. He implied the truth that no other person is righteous, but everyone is deserving of punishment. He pointed to the righteousness of Jesus Christ which covers guilt and sin, making possible God’s perfect shalom peace for anyone who believes.  As it says in Psalm 85:10, “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.”
 
Mercy, truth, righteousness and peace are the attributes of our great and glorious God! As the following quote from Adam Clarke observed, “Now where did these [attributes] meet? In Christ Jesus. When were they reconciled? When He poured out His life on Calvary.” *
As we remember Jesus on the cross this Holy Week, may our spirits see the mercy of God, the truth of the Word, the righteousness of Christ and the Prince of Peace all in one place – Calvary, and all in one person – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
*from Clarke’s Commentary, as quoted by Blue Letter Bible Commentary by David Guzik

 

Patti Tao, Calvary Kids

RESURRECTION WEEK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS