30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 44-49 THE DEATH OF JESUS 18 01Feb2022 Luke 23 47 The testimony of the world about us
📖 Luke 23:44-49
18 – 01 Feb 2022 – The testimony of the world about us - Luke 23:44-49 - THE DEATH OF JESUS - Bible reading: II Corinthians 4:6-7
“Lord Jesus, You are reaching out to people to be reconciled with You. You are using us as bridges by which people around us can return to You. It is Your great love for people that You do not want anyone to perish but that all should come to everlasting life. We commit ourselves to be instruments in Your hands for Your desire to be accomplished through us. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.”
Luke 23:47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"
We are looking at the incidents that took place at that time when Jesus breathed His last.
Matthew 27:54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, " Truly this was the Son of God !" Mark 15:39 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 !"
We will focus on the statement that is recorded in the Gospel of Mark, " Truly this Man was the Son of God !”. We also like to note that it says in the Gospel of Matthew, that the transformation was not only of the Centurion but also those with him .
A group of Roman soldiers acknowledged God at the time when the spirit of Jesus left His body. This was an awesome encounter that these men had in knowing the God of heaven and earth.
These were hardened men. Pilate would have handpicked the contingent that was sent to crucify Jesus. This was no ordinary crucifixion. These men would have conducted and witnessed the death of many criminals on the cross.
These men saw that the death of Jesus was completely different. This difference was what led them to say, “Truly this man was the Son of God”.
For people to turn to the Lord, especially those who are hardened and are not inclined towards the things of God, they must see how God’s people live and how they die .
When the church is being persecuted and even if it means that we must lose our lives, let us understand that this is precious before the Lord. These are times when hardened people will turn to the Lord.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.
We are not afraid of persecution, neither are we inviting persecution on ourselves, but it is a mindset that we possess. We will wage war against the powers of darkness. We will pull down the strongholds of the enemy. We are prepared to face the consequences, for our response at the time of our persecution, will turn out to be a witness for those who are ignoring God.
Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Let us be prepared that when we live for Jesus in this world, we will be hated but this will not deter us even to the very end.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Our testimony is that we did not love our lives till death. This is the ethos with which we live in this world.
Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
If the world sees that we are pursuing the success symbols of the world, like everybody else, then they will be hindered from turning to Jesus. It is only when the world sees that we live and die, not pursuing earthly goals, but our sights are eternal, that they will respond to the love of Jesus.
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
This position that we have died with Christ, is the position that we hold, and own .
John 12:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
Look at the results that have taken place because of the death of Jesus, not only with the Roman soldiers around the cross but all through history. Millions have turned to Jesus because of His death on the cross.
Though we live in this world, we live as though we have died to the world, but alive to God. We live with freedom, joy, and willingness to serve others for we are not pursuing the security and identity that the world offers.
II Corinthians 4:6-7 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We carry this treasure of Jesus in our hearts that His light shines out of us. This is our testimony that the people around us will experience and be impacted, to turn to Christ.
The world should be able to say of us, “Truly these people are the children of God”.
Thought to ponder
What is the ethos with which you are living in this world?