“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,”

Mark 15:39.

Boys and girls as we continue with our study of this wonderful verse and the conversion and confession of the Roman centurion, please consider:

1. Christ will never be left without a witness.We mentioned this on Tuesday but I wish to emphasise this truth. I suppose we may say that in one way, Calvary was the darkest day for the witness of God. In saying that we must never forget that it was the day in which the glorious purpose of God’s redeeming love was accomplished. On the cross the Saviour said: “It is finished,” John 19:30.

But from another perspective, it was a dark day. It was a day when the Saviour was utterly forsaken, John 1:11, Matt 26:56, 27:46. Forsaken of His chosen people, His disciples and His Father! He was forsaken of the Father, “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin,” 2 Corinthians 5:21. And yet the Lord demonstrated His sovereignty by this man’s testimony and that earlier of the thief, Luke 23:40-42. The Lord Jesus will always have a voice proclaiming His TRUTH on this earth!

2. The Lord Jesus will ever be building His Church! He had promised that. “Upon this rock (Himself) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” Matthew 16:18. No place was the power of hell more evident and yet the Lord was saving souls! What encouragement that gives to Christians burdened for unsaved loved ones! The conversion of this centurion marked the beginnings of the ingathering of the Gentile people! It was to this He referred in John 10:16: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.” Paul explained to the Jewish leaders in Rome, Acts 28:21-31.

3. These two converts, won to Christ in most trying circumstances, have been the means of winning multitudes to Him. How many times have the words of these two men been the subject of sermons and thereby the means of winning souls?

Here we are today considering the wonderful testimonies of the thief and the centurion and who knows but our study will be the means under God of bringing another soul to Christ!

4. Boys and girls, the Church of Christ is made up of such as these two men. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. Not one saved person can boast of their merits.

Ever keep this before you, one and all.