And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
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We began our journey through the Gospel of Mark with the clear and simple proclamation: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). We have traced the life of Jesus in quick broad strokes, seeing his teaching and healing ministry, his rejection by religious leaders, and especially Mark's emphasis on the kingdom of God. This kingdom was taught in parables, perpetually misunderstood even by Jesus' closest followers, and eventually proved so radically different than expected that Jesus is left alone to face his executioners.
In chapter 15, we see our king finally crowned and hailed and recognized by the crowds and the Roman authorities - but all in mockery. The governor, Pilate, hears the charges and is amazed at Jesus' confident silence. He asks if he is truly the king of the Jews, to which Jesus says, "You have said so." We know from the John's account that this conversation also included Jesus describing his kingdom as "not of this world" (18:36). The arc of this story has gone from announcing the kingdom of God, through dozens of stories and lessons about its true nature, to finally this climactic conversation with the Roman authority. And the world is about find out what kind of king Jesus really is.
This king was condemned by a crowd who cried out "Crucify him!" This king was beaten ruthlessly and mocked by the Roman guard. This king was led out of town and hung by nails to be slowly tortured to death over a 6 hour timeframe. This king watched men haggle over his clothes while gasping for his last breaths. This king continued to be mocked while he hung there in utter humiliation.
"So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him." (Mark 15:31, 32 ESV)
I am struck by how matter-of-fact this chapter is. There is very little theological abstract material here. Just the brute reality of a jail cell, a braided lash, a crown of thorns, a rough-hewn cross of wood, and a few metal spikes. The jeers of the religious leaders are amazingly petty and trite, much like their hardened hearts. The most profound statement in the chapter comes from an unlikely theologian - the centurion.
"Truly this man was the Son of God!"
Whether this soldier had known of Jesus' teaching and healing, or whether he simply marveled at the tearing of the temple curtain, here we have a simple proclamation of faith from a witness of Christ's death. Nothing could be more miraculous than the seed of faith emerging from the rough soil of the human heart, especially among the close thorns and rocky soil of such mockery and punishment. The kingdom of this man must be madness! Not to this soldier. He believed. He believed this was the Son of God!
We are called to this kind of faith. Faith to believe in a humiliated king who reigns over a foolish kingdom. But when the beauty of this kingdom captures your heart and imagination, you will find its foolishness incomparable to its riches and glory. When the story of this sacrificial hero who came to lay down his life for an undeserving world finally grips your heart, you will bear that humiliation and take up your own cross with pride, because you know that it is truly the Son of God whom you serve.
But none of that would matter without what happens next...
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