Rhapsody of Realities 16 July 2025: The Remarkable Death of Jesus
Scripture: (Mark 15:39). And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God
The death of Jesus was extraordinary and filled with supernatural events that also confirmed His deity. After being falsely accused, arrested, and crucified, Jesus hung on the Cross while the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him (Matthew 27:42-43). Even the two thieves crucified alongside Him joined in the mockery (Matthew 27:44, Mark 15:32).
Then, from the sixth hour (noon) to the ninth hour (3 p.m.), darkness covered the whole earth. This supernatural darkness lasted for three hours, signifying something beyond the natural realm. At about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “…My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
This was the moment when the sins of the whole world were laid upon Jesus. The Father, who is too holy to behold sin (Habakuk 1:13), turned His back, and Jesus, who had never been separated from the Father, cried out in anguish. This separation was the cup Jesus prayed about in the Garden of Gethsemane when He said, “…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” (Matthew 26:39).
It was not death He dreaded but separation from the Father, which was a result of Him becoming sin for humanity. The Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then, with a loud voice, He said, “…Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit…” (Luke 23:46).
Jesus commanded His own death. He consciously and deliberately handed over His spirit to the Father. Jesus had earlier declared, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again…I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…” (John 10:17-18).
When Jesus yielded up the ghost, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, granting us access to the Father’s presence. Even the centurion overseeing the crucifixion, upon witnessing how Jesus died, declared, “…Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).
The manner of His death testified of His divinity. Jesus’ death was no ordinary death. It was the ultimate sacrifice that brought salvation to all mankind.
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
CONFESSION
Dear Father, thank you for the death of Jesus whose blood was the propitiation for sins. I rejoice in the finished work of Christ, knowing that He laid down His life for me and took it up again in victory. I live triumphantly, enjoying the benefits of His sacrificial love, now and always. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
John 10:17-18
17 For this [reason] the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life—to take it back again.
18 No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.
Luke 23:46-49
46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit! And with these words, He expired.
47 Now the centurion, having seen what had taken place, recognized God and thanked and praised Him, and said, Indeed, without question, this Man was upright (just and innocent)!
48 And all the throngs that had gathered to see this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned to their homes, beating their breasts.
49 And all the acquaintances of [Jesus] and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched these things.
Matthew 27:50-54
50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit.
51 And at once the curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split.
52 The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep in death were raised [to life];
53 And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those who were with him keeping watch over Jesus observed the earthquake and all that was happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, Truly this was God’s Son!
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 24:1-27 & Psalms 1-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 9:10-17 & Joshua 12
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Rhapsody of Realities 16 July 2025
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