Drawn to Respond

Mark 15:37-39 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

We finished up Pastor JJ Sunday Sermon Series on the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark this week with this passage where the sins of the world (past, present and future) were paid, as the Lord redeemed all, by transferring our sins upon Him and His righteousness upon us, with His blood. John 19:30 tells us that Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. He declared “Tetelestai”, a commercial word which means, “it is paid; the debt is paid”. Reality changed. History is not defined by sin, but by victory at the cross. The sin that separated us from God’s presence was torn in two, like the curtain of the temple that kept the Israelites from the presence of God in the Holy of Holies torn from top to bottom, not by man. Reconciliation by atoning propitiation had been completed in the sacrifice of the “Lamb of God” without blemish to provide restoration of relationship between God and mankind. How will we respond?

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Who was the first to respond at the foot of the cross? The Roman centurion proclaims, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Jesus Christ is beyond the common; our Lord is Divine. Are we drawn to respond by putting our lives out on the line to boldly proclaim: “Surely this man was the Son of God!” and serve our Lord and Savior in humble adoration? Is the center point of our life’s focus to sit in His presence? Jesus calls us to come to Him and His loving embrace. Doubt is not the pursuit of truth, but an excuse to deny truth. Cast out doubt and come gaze upon Him. As we contemplate His truth and our salvation, are we passionately overcome with love and commitment by His glory?

Hebrews 12:22-24 & 28 ^“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

Lord God, show us clearly where you want us to be. How you want to use us for the advancement of your kingdom and to have your name raised in glory. Amen!

In Christ, Brian