Day 70 Bible Reading - Mark 15: 39 (ESV)

Leviticus 23 & 24, Mark 15: 33-47, Psalm 37: 10-20

Mark 15: 39 (ESV)

“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!”

I’ve always liked verse 39 from Mark 15 because it makes me wonder what the centurion saw while Jesus was dying on the cross to make him utter that statement. I love The Chosen TV series, and there is so much speculation on whether the centurion who is quoted in Mark 15 will be Atticus or Quintus. Was the centurion referring to change in weather that was happening when Christ was being crucified? Was there something specific in Jesus’ face that the centurion witnessed? My imagination runs wild when I think about what the centurion saw at Jesus’ crucifixion. I like that the centurion was another gentile who has recognized the divinity of Christ. I wonder what I would have said had I been there at the crucifixion as a gentile.

Day 69 Bible Reading - Mark 15: 31-32 (ESV)

Leviticus 21 & 22, Mark 15: 1-32, Psalm 37: 1-9

Mark 15: 31-32 (ESV)

“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.”

Verses 31 and 32 from Mark 15 remind me of that scene from the movie “The Last Temptation of Christ”, where Jesus steps down from the cross and leads a different life. It’s a fantasy of course, because at the end he gets back on cross and dies. If Jesus had saved himself as he could have, then we wouldn’t have the resurrection and we wouldn’t believe in him. If Christ had gotten down from the cross, there wouldn’t be a Christian religion. I wonder if those chief priests and scribes who saw Jesus die remembered their words when the Christian religion was being formed. They tried to snuff the early Christians out, but it didn’t work. The beliefs of Christ took over the world and we are better because of it.

Day 68 Bible Reading - Mark 14: 72 (ESV)

Leviticus 19 & 20, Mark 14: 43-72, Psalm 36

Mark 14: 72 (ESV)

“And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”

Whenever I read verse 72 from Mark 14, I often wonder how Peter felt. Jesus had told him what would happen, and he didn’t believe him despite having seen all the miracles and healings that Jesus had performed. I’ve been listening to David Guzik’s bible commentaries, and he said that Peter made the mistake of not praying before answering Jesus. Would Peter’s actions have changed had he prayed? Did he even have time to pray in the moment? Peter comes across as a passionate guy and I’m not sure he’s the type of person who would have stopped and prayed before he spoke? But I think David Guzik has a point nonetheless. Before we speak or do anything, we need to pray. In prayer we may come to know our own mind better, and may make different decisions, different choices. Maybe not but I like to think it might make a difference.

Getting Caught Up - Day 67 Bible Reading - Mark 14: 27 (ESV)

I've had a rough weekend, so I fell behind in bible reading posts and am getting caught up.

Leviticus 17 & 18, Mark 14: 17-42, Psalm 35: 19-28

Mark 14: 27 (ESV)

“And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

I was listening to a commentary from David Guzik on verse 27 from Mark 14, and he said when Jesus made this prediction to his disciples it was because he knew their minds and what they would do before they did. It made me wonder if Jesus knows the minds of all of his followers like he knew the minds of his disciples. Does he know what we’re going to do before we do it? Does he see all of our choices and waits to see what choices will we make? I like to think Jesus knows my mind, but I’m also of the opinion that he waits to see if I will make the right choice. He is so patient with me. More patient than I am with myself. And when I make a mistake, he leads me to ways of repentance with kindness and firmness. That’s my experience of Christ at least. What is yours?