Mark 15 Devotional

He Would Not Save Himself

“When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!””Mark 15:39 (BSB)

Mark tells the crucifixion with stark restraint. A prisoner held with murderous rebels is released, and Jesus is flogged and handed over to be crucified instead (15:7, 15:15). Soldiers dress him in purple and crown him with thorns. Passers-by and chief priests mock him, saying he saved others but cannot save himself (15:31). Darkness covers the land for three hours, and Jesus cries out with the opening words of Psalm 22, asking why God has abandoned him (15:33-34; Psalm 22:1).

The mockers spoke more truth than they meant. He would not save himself, because he was saving others. As Jesus breathes his last, the curtain of the temple is torn in two from top to bottom (15:38), and the centurion facing the cross confesses that this man truly was the Son of God (15:39). Hebrews says a new and living way into God's presence has been opened through Jesus' body (Hebrews 10:19-20). Because he stayed on the cross, the way to God is open to everyone who trusts him.

To think about: What keeps you at a distance from God, and what does the torn curtain say to you about coming near?