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READING: Mark 15:16-20,25-39
INTRODUCTION:
A Roman soldier is a 'machine.' He is not paid to think; he's paid to obey orders ...
A/ But it's hard not to think when standing for hours
- Orders switched
- Claudia's plea
- Govenor uneasy
A Roman soldier is a 'machine.' His face is as hard as flint ...
B/ But it's hard to stop shadows of doubt crossing face
It was no ordinary eclipse.It was no ordinary execution. It was a sacrifice!
The concept of 'sacrifice' was universal.
- God angry
- Man estranged
- Sacrifice allows anger to be 'transferred' from guilty to innocent.
- The guilty party is reconciled to God.
A Roman soldier is a 'machine.' His eyes have no fear ...
C/ But it's hard not to be afraid when the earth shakes
"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, Surely he was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54)
Romans 3:25 explains how, "God presented him as a 'sacrifice of atonement.'"
A Roman soldier is a 'machine.' He had seen blood before ...
C/ But it's hard not to be moved when the blood on your tunic ...
... was the blood of the atoning sacrifice!
"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross." (Colossians 1:19-20 NLT)
