Jesus' Death- Luke 23:44-49 (NIV)

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

This passage has been on my mind for weeks now.

The centurion praised God....he realized who Jesus truly was at that moment.

All the people gathered to witness the Crucifixion of Jesus grieved and left.

And those who knew him stood at a distance and watched.

It reminds me of when we learned about "tableaus" in school--you know, a scene that depicts the story, kind of a snapshot.

It seems ironic to imagine someone praising God at such a sad moment and yet the centurion realized Jesus truly as the King of the Jews..the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.

Others were curious and present and sad but needed to step back. Understandable.

And those who knew him stood at a distance and watched.

Who can imagine the grief of Jesus' closest friends and family? Who can fathom the confusion and disappointment they experienced?

But thank God! He rose again. The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty so that our lives can be full.

The glory of Easter. Jesus, my hope for Heaven!