Revealed on the Cross

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.

[Cross - Photo by Jonas Allert (Munich) 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.

After 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, to tear in two.” In Mark, it occurs only at his baptism and when the veil of the Temple is “torn in two” at the moment Christ died – (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).

Before the priestly leaders of Israel, he 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.

Ironically, 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).

-----

[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:

• Finding God - (Jesus reveals the meaning of Scripture, the understanding of the future, and the nature and mysteries of God)

• Seeing the Unseen God - (The fullness, grace, and truth of God are found in the Word made Flesh, Jesus of Nazareth, who alone has seen the unseen God – John 1:14-18)

• The Light of the World - (Jesus is the true light and the living expression of God, and this light brings life and salvation to men and women of every nation)

• Revelado na Cruz - (Foi somente quando morreu que o centurião romano encarregado da execução reconheceu que Jesus era (e continua sendo) o Filho de Deus)