Mark 15:37-39 - Jesus breathed his last

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

How could an act of weakness, such as a man dying on a cross, cause this kind of response in an elite Roman soldier?

In the Jewish temple there was a place called the Holy of holies. A heavy curtain covered the entrance; separated unholy man from a holy God. When that curtain was ripped in two the separation between God and man was gone.

Suddenly the centurion saw what he couldn't see before: Jesus was not an ordinary man, but God's very act of reconciliation. Can you see that? Or do you still see just a man on a cross?

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

Matthew 26:31-33 - Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will

Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:" 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

The Last Supper is noted for its gift to all of us of the communion table.

But it is also the moment when empty promises were made and the betrayal had begun. Yet in all of that, God used those broken promises to set the stage for our Redeemer to free us!

Do you feel like you've failed God? This week reminds us that God can use our failures to fulfill His ultimate purposes. He waits ahead of us in His victory!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC