Journey through Lent – Day 34
Mark 15:37-39a
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…
The crowd has left. Lingering at the cross are just a few women and one disciple. Apparently, fear of the storm and darkness were stronger than hatred for this man. After just six hours hanging on the cross, he has given himself to death. He has not let death over take him, but has intentionally given himself up.
“…a loud cry.” The Greek words are phone megale, which, transposed, begin to look familiar: a mega-phone – a shout of triumph. Jesus didn’t just slip quietly into death, he ran full-force into victory. By dying he was paying the price for sin and death. He knew that the battle was almost over and victory was just on the other side.