“…百夫长,看见耶稣这样喊叫断气,就说,这人真是神的儿子。”- 可 15:39
百夫长的这番话令人震惊。他是一个士兵指挥官,是罗马的战士,他应该把罗马的凯撒当作他的神来崇拜。然而在这里,在耶稣死在十字架上的现场,这个非犹太人说,耶稣真是神的儿子。我们不知道百夫长到底是如何得出这个结论的。这可能与当时戏剧化的情景有关;据马太记录,当时还发生了地震(太 27:54)。但不知何故,神的灵感动了百夫长,使他说出了关于耶稣的这个事实。
虽然有人不相信神,但总有一天,每个人都会认识到耶稣是独一的主,是掌管一切的君王(腓2:9-11)。这可能会在他们死去的时候或审判日,但这一定会发生。凡相信基督的人都会带着喜悦和颂赞承认这一点,但可悲的是,其他人会带着恐惧来承认这一现实。不过,在我们死前和审判日之前,我们可以承认耶稣是神的儿子。我们每个人今天都可以请求神帮助我们看到这一点。
无论我们有没有看到,耶稣真的是神的儿子。看清这一事实是一种恩赐,只有靠着神的恩典,我们才能看到耶稣的真相。
祷告
耶稣,我不知道你对我的爱和牺牲有多深,我在想:“你怎么可能为我而死?”请帮助我明白你是上主和君王,感谢你为我所做的一切。阿们。
马可福音 15:33-39
33从午正到申初,遍地都黑暗了。
34申初的时候,耶稣大声喊着说:“以罗伊!以罗伊!拉马撒巴各大尼?”(翻出来就是:“我的神!我的神!为什么离弃我?”)
35旁边站着的人,有的听见就说:“看哪,他叫以利亚呢!”
36有一个人跑去,把海绒蘸满了醋,绑在苇子上,送给他喝,说:“且等着,看以利亚来不来把他取下。”
37耶稣大声喊叫,气就断了。
38殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半。
39对面站着的百夫长看见耶稣这样喊叫断气,就说:“这人真是神的儿子!”
“Surely This Man Was The Son Of God!”
“When the centurion . . . saw how [Jesus] died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” - Mark 15:39
This statement by the centurion is astounding. He was a commander of soldiers, a warrior for Rome, and he was supposed to worship the Roman caesar as his god. Yet here, at the scene of Jesus’ death on a cross, this non-Jewish man says Jesus is surely the Son of God. We don’t know exactly how the centurion came to this conclusion. The drama of the moment may have had something to do with it; Matthew reports that there was also an earthquake (Matthew 27:54). But somehow the Spirit of God moved the centurion to speak out this truth about Jesus.
While there are people who don’t believe in God, there will be a day when everyone will recognize that Jesus is the one Lord and King over all (Philippians 2:9-11). It could be at the time of their death or on judgment day, but it will happen. All who believe in Christ will make this confession with joy and praise, but, sadly, others will admit this reality with dread. Before we die and before the day of judgment, though, we can recognize that Jesus is the Son of God. Each one of us can ask God to help us see this today.
Jesus truly is the Son of God, whether we see it or not. It is a gift to see this reality for what it is, and it is only by God’s grace that we see the truth about Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, I do not know the depths of your love and sacrifice for me, and I wonder, “How can it be that you would die for me?” Help me to know you as Lord and King, and thank you for all you have done. Amen.