Nougat 3

Hi

How does one measure the worth of one’s faith – in adversity of course! Check today’s Holy Nougat for confirmation.

“When the centurion, who was standing in front of Him, saw the way Yeshua breathed His last, he said, “This Man really was the Son of God!”” Mark‬ ‭15:39‬ ‭TLV

Faithfulness until the very end!

We don’t know that the centurion was actively seeking to be convinced of Jesus’ innocence – it wasn’t his job. Not when the death penalty sentence came from ‘higher up’. His Only task was to ensure that the crucifixion was completed with efficacy. Yet, before the day was over, somehow the centurion was convinced about Jesus’ true identity. What a testimony!

Stories abound about the centurion, including a supernatural healing from blindness when the Blood of Jesus fell upon him. And while that may not be literally what physically happened to the centurion; we do KNOW that there’s wonderful power in the Blood (ooh I feel like singing!). And we do know that it always takes a Blood transfusion for the opening of our spiritual eyes.

What is striking however, is that the Roman soldier was able to see what many religious persons could not, rather did not (wish or try to) see – he SAW the Glory of God personified in Chris! Right there at a public sentencing spectacle. Without a word being said directly to him. Now that is a conversion story!

Two contrasting points occur to me from this – an invitation to remember the time we first truly understood that Jesus is the Messiah; and also the encouragement for our testimony to be clear in times of adversity.

For in a sense, we don’t truly know what we believe until our faith is tested. Not fully. It’s kinda like singing the beautiful children’s chorus, ‘Jesus loves me … for the Bible tells me so’. We know OF God’s mercy, but we are not intimate with Jesus’ grace. This season may be the crucible for testing our faith and refining us. And it may be the post-COVID-19 era that does so. We do know that when we still believe in Jesus after trials, we know what our faith represents.

Although the trial was not his own, the centurion journeyed with Christ that day. As do many in our own seasons of distress and grief. Like the official, some may not seen to be invested in the outcome of our season, but rest assured my dears, our profession of our faith CAN convince them that God is in control. And we might not have to say a word! That has been the testimony of many.

We remember the first time as encouragement for this time. We live our faith publicly for those who can’t. It worked for us the last time. The centurion converted AFTER Jesus’ death – but he did.

May we emerge from this season with testimonies of our faith renewed and displayed.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .