Symbiosis. "A
relationship of mutual benefit or dependence."[i] Which describes two
separate events at different locations -- the torn curtain at the temple and
the centurion at Jesus' crucifixion. Their dependence upon each other had
double the impact.
Beyond face value, the torn
veil opened the way for direct access of all people to God. It seems that alone
would've sufficed to make Mark's point. However, the centurion played a vital
role, to further the writer's point and surprisingly bring closure, in the
gospel narrative.
Who was this centurion? No
name was provided; nonetheless, someone in this position had worked their way up
the military ranks -- "the equivalent of a regimental
sergeant-major."[ii] As Joe* said, "This
guy was a lifer." Death would've been worn by this man like a heavy cloak,
wielding a fatal sword when called upon. He would've frequently observed the
darkness of death overtake the precious light of life.
"Centurions,
considered the backbone of the Roman army, commanded 100 soldiers."[iii] The assignment of Jesus'
oversight wasn't for just any soldier; it was designated to a high ranking
officer who was extremely trustworthy.
Why the fuss though? Most
likely the prefect Pilate was coerced by the Jewish religious authorities to
make absolutely certain, without a doubt, Jesus died on the cross. Since a
hardened centurion wouldn't waver in his duty, this man was placed on "Jesus
Death Watch."
Yet,… for someone who didn't
blink at death, this time turned out different. Somehow in his witness of all
that took place with Jesus, the centurion's stony heart melted. The light of
Christ found its way into and through this man's spiritual darkness. When Jesus
breathed his last, the quote attributed to the military officer was "Truly this man was God's Son!"
To have uttered those
words -- "God's Son" -- was
striking. Because no loyal Roman, especially an entrenched sergeant-major in
the army, would've had the audacity to bestow this title on anyone other than
Caesar, as king of the Empire.
To add another humbling layer
in what Mark penned,… who was the first person to state Jesus was the Son of
God? While one of the people in Mark 3:7-12
or 5:1-7 might
be cited, they were actually considered "evil,
unclean spirits."
What about Peter? This top
disciple called Jesus the Messiah. Though, after Jesus shared, "the Son of Man must undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and after three days rise again," Peter admonished him.
"No way, no how is this going to happen!" What did Jesus do in
response? He rebuked Peter and said, "Get
behind me, Satan!" Mark 8:31-33.
Interesting, too, Jesus referred to himself as "the Son of Man," not "the
Son of God." Maybe he knew Peter hadn't grasped the divine meaning.
So that leaves,….? The
centurion. The first person to believe and publically state Jesus as the Son of
God was a gentile. And in Mark's telling, it happened immediately on the heels
of the temple curtain being torn -- when Christ reconciled everyone to
the divine presence of God. Double-impact.
Even with all of this,
Mark still wasn't done with the importance of the torn curtain and the
centurion. A literary device known as "inclusio" was incorporated.
In the gospel, Jesus'
earthly ministry started with his baptism and ended with his death on the
cross. Details at the beginning were ingeniously used by Mark to add structure
to the entire narrative by repeating those details at the end. For comparison:
Mark 1:9-11 -- 'In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up
out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like
a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved;
with you I am well pleased."'
Mark 15:35-39 -- 'When some of the bystanders heard it, they
said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled a
sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,
"Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come take him down." Then Jesus
gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn
in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw
that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's
Son!"'
* At Jesus' baptism, the
heavens were torn apart; at Jesus' death, the temple's curtain was torn. In
Josephus' The Jewish War, he described
the temple's outer veil as a "panorama of the entire heavens."
* The Spirit-dove
descended from heaven to earth; the temple curtain was torn, descending, from top
to bottom.
* John the Baptist was
characterized as a representation of the prophet Elijah; at Jesus' cross the
onlookers said, "Listen, he is
calling for Elijah."
* At the Jordan River, God
declared Jesus as His Son; at Golgotha, at the close of the Christ's earthly
ministry, the centurion proclaimed Jesus as God's Son.
One other possible facet
of "inclusio" involved the people in these bookends. John the Baptist
baptized "people from the whole
Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem,"[iv] including Jesus. In
attendance, men would've far outnumbered women.
Juxtapose the baptism
against Jesus' death. Who was at the cross in verses 40 and 41? Women. Unlike
the male disciples who scattered, women followers remained. Among those who
stayed, three were named to give validity and depth to the story. These women
couldn't bear to leave Jesus at the end. Why? Out of love. Even when nothing
made sense, love still lived in their hearts and in their actions. The worst was
unable to break love.
Nevertheless, at this
juncture, the power of evil and of oppression seemed to have won out. The
religious authorities had rejected the new covenant, and its demise was at
hand. Jesus' words were rendered pointless with his death -- just like all of
the other so-called Messiahs before him. He would soon be forgotten.
As for those who followed
the Christ, where was the triumph in his death? They were defeated. They had
been torn asunder.
NEXT
A quick burial; leave no
stone unturned
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