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KENDRA GRAHAM NOTES FROM Mark 15:39
A Triumphal Entry
And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
What Does it Say:
The Centurion standing right in front of Him saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God”
What Does it Mean:
The book of Mark goes through the narrative of the crucifixion in a unique way. Recently I was reading, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire by Nigel Rodgers and was pretty amazed by what I read.
Romans had what was called a “Triumph”. A triumph started probably back in the days of the Greeks, but Octavian, Caesar Augustus made the honor of triumphs for emperors of Rome only. When Rome would win a major battle, there would be a huge parade, celebration in the street which would parade the captives of that particular battle in front as proof of his accomplishment and then the emperor, “humbly” behind.
The triumphator, the emperor, would be taken into the place of the palace called the Praetorium, where the Praetorium guard of Rome would be. The elite soldiers would take a special sash called a toga picta, which symbolized, and drew the connection between the emperor and one of their Roman gods, like Zeus, Mars or Jupiter. The emperors since Octavian were known as the “sons of the gods” and these triumphs would remind the people of that very thing. The Praetorian Guard was the closest thing to the emperor so they would of course know the deity of the emperor more intimately than anyone, so for them to dress the emperor was a very important part of the triumphal process. The emperors would often pay off the Praetorian Guard, so that they would really make a convincing show of this whole process. The soldiers would place a crown of laurel upon the head of the emperor. The emperor would begin the processional in the field of Mars (Campus Martinus) and proceed down the sacred way to Capitoline Hill (the place of the skull where tradition has it that as the Romans were building their city, a full in tact human head was found here). At Capitoline Hill the captives were either killed or they were set free depending on the rule of the emperor. The Roman guard would go before the emperor on this journey and would exclaim to the crowd, “HAIL! The son of god! HAIL, the son of god!” The crowd would cheer and bow as the emperor passed. Lastly the emperor would ascend up the steps of the temple of Saturn with one man on either side. One man would tell him that he is the son of god and the other would remind him that he is mortal. The emperor at the top of the steps would be offered a goblet of wine, which he would pour out on the ground as an offering to the gods and to Rome signifying that the emperor would give his life blood for the gods and Rome. The crowd would cheer. An animal would be sacrificed there, at that place to satisfy the payment to the gods in thanks in adoration for the victory and power that Rome enjoyed. The city would feast the rest of the day.
(Picture: Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified)
Now, read Mark chapter 15. How would the disciples explain to the Roman world the triumph of the Savior, Jesus, to a pagan world who did not know the Word of God and were not looking for a Messiah? Through the triumphal procession of Jesus. The similarities cannot be ignored. Mark 15:16, the soldiers took Him, Jesus into the Praetorium and dressed him in a fine kingly toga picta of purple and fashioned for Him a crown, not of laurel but of thorns. They put it on Him. The guard went before him on a procession (Mark 15:18) and exclaimed, “Hail! King of the Jews!” They led Him out of the palace and through the city, to crucify Him. They brought Him to a place called , Golgotha, translated “The place of the skull” (Mark 15:22). Jesus wound through the city along the way called the “Via dolorosa” which means the way of suffering and is seen today as “the sacred way” as many this Easter will make their pilgrimage down the same way. The soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh, Mark 15:23, but He would not drink it. The guards continued their mocking and jeering in the face of the son of God who was not just symbolizing that He would pour His life blood out for His people the Jews and the world, but He was doing it (John 10:17-18). He was crucified between two thieves. One thief proclaimed, (Luke 23:39) “Are You not the Christ save yourself and us!” The other thief asked Jesus to “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
(Picture: Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified)
All this was taken in by the Roman Praetorian Guard in Jerusalem. This particular centurion soldier at the cross saw Jesus as the undeniable Son of God. How many times had that soldier been a part of Roman triumphs? How many times was he forced to bend his knee to the emperor exclaiming that the emperor was the son of god? How often had he been paid off by the Roman authorities to pronounce the deity of the Roman leader? Yet here, in front of the cross, this man proclaimed without payment or force, “Truly this man was the Son of God”. He had seen so many imposters, that here, at the cross, the Truth of Jesus was seen. Even the Roman world would be able to see, understand and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
Do you see similarities to that of a Roman triumph? Truly this was the ultimate triumph. The triumph once and for all for sin. Jesus triumphed at the place of the skull. Jesus triumphed over sin at the cross and three days later rose again and triumphed over death at the grave. The cross is not a defeat, but the greatest triumph that the world will ever see.
Many of us have seen failures of men who claim to be next to God. We have seen failures of leaders who preach the Word the God. We have seen failures of godly men and women who have fallen to adversity in this world. We have seen failures of the church. We have seen failures in Christian schools and universities. We have seen failures in Christian organizations. It is so easy to focus on all those who have fallen, but truly isn’t that just proof of the reason and desperate need of the world for Jesus? This Easter, let’s join the centurion at the cross standing in front of Jesus alone. As we look to Jesus this Easter may our words ring ever so similar to that centurion as we proclaim, “Truly, this is the Son of God!”.
What does it Mean to me?
Who do you say Jesus is? Everyone must decide about Jesus. This Easter will you make that choice to cry out to Jesus who alone is able to forgive and redeem your sin? (Acts 16:31, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:33, Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-4)
When have you truly taken the time to see Jesus for who He has proven Himself to be?
LIVE IT OUT.
Dear God, I am a sinner and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
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