Words of Jesus: July 11, 2026

Saturday July 11, 2026

Luke‬ 23‬:44‬-49‬ “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.” RSV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The centurion testified “Certainly this man was innocent!”, yet just before this statement, this passage says that the centurion “praised God”. Luke, the writer of the Gospel, does not tell us why he praised God at the death of an innocent man. The Gospel of Matthew adds the significant details: “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”” (Matthew‬ 27‬:54‬ RSV‬‬). The Gospel according to Marks says: “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 he thus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”” (Mark‬ 15‬:37‬-39‬ RSV‬‬). The earthquake, and Jesus giving up ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

His life after showing that had enough breath to utter a loud cry; are two additional facts that help understand why the centurion might praise God.

We praise You, God. Amen.