Mark 15:37-41 (NKJV) And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 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!”
40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
V37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
He shouted out in strength, not the weakness of a dying man. What did He shout?
The two shouts:
- Luke 23:45-46 (NKJV) Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 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.
- John 19:30 (NKJV) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
These two shouts had much meaning. Jesus commits His spirit to the Father shows Jesus’s total dedication to doing the Father’s will. Jesus shows His complete submission to the Father. Jesus declares that the ministry of the Passover Lamb is complete (“It is finished”). This is His one-time death (Hebrews 9:12). Justification is now available. No longer is there only a covering for sin, as in the Mosaic law, but not a complete atonement, justification, freedom from the slavery to sin, and all spiritual blessings to those who trust in Jesus.
Hebrews 9:14-15 (NLT) Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
V38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
This is probably the greatest terror for the Jewish priests. This is a woven separation between humans and God; it is now opened to all. One would think that the Jews, especially the priests, would fall on their knees and ask forgiveness for their sins.
This was the end of Mosaic law and covenant (Mosaic covenant) and the beginning of the new (Ephesians 2:13-16, Hebrews 4:14-16, and Hebrews 10:19-23).
From God Questions: “Solomon’s temple was 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2), but Herod had increased the height to 40 cubits, according to the writings of Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian. There is uncertainty as to the exact measurement of a cubit, but it is safe to assume that this veil was somewhere near 60 feet high. An early Jewish tradition says that the veil was about four inches thick, but the Bible does not confirm that measurement. The book of Exodus teaches that this thick veil was fashioned from blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.”
V39 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!”
Everything that the centurion saw and heard was the most unusual death he had ever witnessed. He saw and heard the conversation between one criminal and the Lord Jesus (Luke 23:42-43). He knew there was something special. All the mockery by the priests, which was meant to hurt Jesus, were the very words that brought the centurion to faith: “Truly this Man was the Son of God.”
V40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joseph, and Salome…
Here is a short list of the people who were eyewitnesses of all these events.
V41 …who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Their ministry to Jesus is written. They followed Him, believing Him to be the Messiah, and ministered to Him in any way they could, whether with money, service, food, etc.
What they ministered, we can also if we are willing. Just pray to God, “I am willing; use me as you wish to serve you in this life.”
We learn:
- Jesus died in strength.
- Jesus died by His decision (John 10:18).
- The Old Covenant is finished (Hebrews 8:13).
Questions:
- Will we lay down our lives to serve God? See Mark 8:34-35.
- Are we ready to serve our Savior?