“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Luke 23:34
Even as Jesus suffered in agony, he whispered forgiveness toward His captors. The Roman soldiers were pawns in a long battle between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Like those soldiers, we often act out of hearts so wicked we hardly even comprehend the depths of our depravity. The soldiers stood at the scene of the crucifixion, so very, very near to finding forgiveness there.
Not all of those soldiers mocked and remained hardened. One, a centurion, looked up at Jesus and declared aloud, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39)! Luke even wrote that he “praised God” (23:47). Did he grasp that Jesus was more than an ordinary man? We don’t know, but we can be certain that there were some at the foot of the cross that day who did look up and believe.
The Roman guards at the tomb were said to have been shocked nearly to death when an angel rolled away the stone! These unprecedented events would surely have shaken up a person for the rest of his life. When God shakes your world, let it change you!
Not all of those soldiers mocked and remained hardened. One, a centurion, looked up at Jesus and declared aloud, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39)! Luke even wrote that he “praised God” (23:47). Did he grasp that Jesus was more than an ordinary man? We don’t know, but we can be certain that there were some at the foot of the cross that day who did look up and believe.
The Roman guards at the tomb were said to have been shocked nearly to death when an angel rolled away the stone! These unprecedented events would surely have shaken up a person for the rest of his life. When God shakes your world, let it change you!
Scripture Focus
Matthew 27:27-31, 50-54
Insight
Draw near to the cross. Jesus extends forgiveness to you no matter who you are. Trust and believe that truly He is the Son of God!
Bible In A Year
- Deuteronomy 17-18
- Psalm 88
- Acts 11-12
