Surely he was the Son of God!
This week I have been reading the Easter Story. The four gospels each devote lots of chapters to the events of the last of week of Jesus life, and his resurrection afterwards. It’s exhilarating stuff full of drama, tragedy and elation! The cross was used by the Romans to make a public spectacle of their enemies, a public dishonour reserved to the worst kind of thieves and to slaves. It was the most brutal form of death. The agony was horrible and served to scare everyone who passed and saw the condemned dying, hanging where everyone could see, naked, covered with blood. The purpose of this terrible vision was to inflict fear and respect for justice. However even one of the Roman soldiers involved in this execution was changed by what he experienced...
“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”
Even in his death, Jesus brought about a revolution like no other! Today, over a third of people living claim to be Christians! Just like the risen Jesus, the church is alive and well. This Easter let’s join millions of Christians around the world, remembering the death and celebrating the resurrection of our hero...JESUS!
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader