(Text and Audio)
Title: The Various Reactions to the Death of Jesus
How many of you remember 911 pretty clearly? Describe to me the various reactions you witnessed, from people in person, on the television, overseas, etc.
When something amazing happens, it is worth noting the various reactions people have.
(read/pray)
I. Parallel Observations:
Mark 15:
Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Notes:
- Mark mentions the Centurion’s confession
- Mark mentions Salome and “many other women”
Luke 23:
So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
and later…
And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.
Notes:
- Luke mentions the Centurion’s Confession
- Luke also makes special mention of the women who followed Jesus to the tomb
John 19
Does not mention the centurion’s confession, NOR the women following Jesus to the tomb.
Why not? (Take answers)
Most likely because John was writing his gospel much later (most scholars date John about 20-30 later than the synoptics.) He knew they had covered this material, and it wasn’t necessarily central to his message or audience.
II. “Truly this man was the son of God!”
Some GREAT observations from Matthew Henry:
(as paraphrased by PB)
(1.) These men were Roman soldiers, whose profession is commonly hardening, and whose hearts are commonly not so susceptible as some others of the impressions either of fear or pity. But there is no spirit too big, too bold, for the power of Christ to break and humble.
(2.) They ware Romans, Gentiles, who did not know the scriptures which were now fulfilled; yet they were convinced. This was the sad state of the blindness that should happen to Israel, when the gospel should be sent to the Gentiles, to open their eyes. Here were the Gentiles softened, and the Jews hardened.
(3.) They were the persecutors of Christ, and those who had been mocking Jesus, only moments before his death. How soon can God, by the power he has over men’s consciences, alter their language, and fetch confessions of his truths, to his own glory, out of the mouths of those that have breathed nothing but threatenings, and slaughter, and blasphemies!
III. “And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee”
Many women: “To their everlasting honor, these women evidenced more courage, and affectionate attachment to their Lord and Master, than the disciples did, who had promised to die with him rather than forsake him.” (Clarke)
A fair question: Just like the episode after Jesus’s arrest, where were the disciples? To this point, we have talked about two groups of people, the hardened Roman Soldiers, and the “silly” Galilean women who followed Jesus off the cross and to the tomb.
But where are the apostles? Where are those Jesus called, and invested three years of his life with? To illustrate this point, I want us to take a moment to compare two individuals, because at the end of this rabbit trail is a nugget of truth that we cannot afford to miss.
Peter vs. Mary Magdalene
- What was the difference in their relationship to Christ?
- How was each one initially drawn to Christ?
- What does this suggest about how evangelism and conversion work in the human heart?
ANSWER: To have an experience with Christ is much more powerful than to simply learn about Him
Pray/QA