WORDS OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
What changed the centurion? Did Jesus' words, "Father, forgive them..." cause confusion in the mind of the centurion, and did it make him start to think about his actions? Did Jesus' love for others cause the centurion to stop and think what was happening before his eyes?
"And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" (Luke 23:46-47)
We do not know what it was that opened his eyes to see Jesus hanging on the cross and opened his ears to hear the words of Jesus.
We can only imagine what it was that turned the centurion's heart. The book of Romans tells us that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," and this centurion had heard the words of God, the very words of Jesus.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
Jesus repeatedly told the crowds, "he that hath an ear, let him hear." This centurion had a hearing ear. He heard everything that transpired on the cross that day, and then his eyes were opened, and he saw Jesus.
Was the centurion amazed when he heard Jesus say, "Father, 'into Your hands, I commit My spirit.' before His death, and with a loud cry, proclaim, "it is finished?"
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30)
Before Jesus saved us, we lived in the darkness. We were unable to see. But just like the centurion, when the darkness lifted and our eyes were opened, we saw Jesus. We saw Him already loving us, already willing to forgive us, and already wanting to welcome us into His kingdom.
Just like the centurion, we heard God speak; we heard Jesus speak. We also saw ourselves, our unrighteousness, our sins, and our need for a Saviour. When we trusted in Jesus' finished work on the cross, we too glorified God and declared Jesus to be the only Righteous Man.
Put yourself at the foot of the cross of Jesus. See Jesus hanging on the cross, covered in blood, with His skin ripped from being whipped and His hands and feet with holes from the nails. Remember that Jesus subjected Himself to such excruciating pain to pay the price for all your sins. Hear Jesus as He continued to minister from the cross to the people around Him.
Watch with the centurion, and see the man, Jesus, hanging on the cross. Hear Jesus speak His last words and watch Him take His last breath and surrender His Spirit to God His Father.
Would you join the centurion and say surely this is a Righteous Man?
Heavenly Father, You said faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of You, God, and You said he who hath an ear let him hear. I am so thankful I have listened, and I trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, and I, too, glorify You and declare Jesus to be the only Righteous Man. Because of Jesus, it is finished! Jesus gave up His Spirit, and now I have Your Holy Spirit in me; All because of the cross. Thank You, my Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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When We Trust In Jesus' Finished Work On The Cross, We Too Glorify God And Declare Jesus To Be The Only Righteous Man.
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