Praise Focus-At the Cross

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Luke 23:47.

After Jesus breathed His last at the cross, there was a centurion, who saw what had happened. The Bible says that he praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Matthew’s Gospel records him saying, “Surely, he was the Son of God!” Jesus had been accused of blasphemy, but the centurion’s claim directly contradicts the accusation. It was dawning on him that an innocent man had been put to death.

The centurion was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus, how He died, and what was happening at the time. Darkness came over the whole land. The curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus prayed for forgiveness for His persecutors. He offered salvation to the thief on the cross who recognized his need for grace.  By His wounds, we are healed.

The willingness of Jesus to go to the cross is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com