Wondering Again

Mark 15:44-45  And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 


Pilate is doing more wondering, perhaps thinking that if indeed this Jesus was the Son of God he would not be able to die. He questioned wether jesus was dead or not on any account and received assurance from the centurion that indeed Jesus was dead. The centurion had to be sure that Jesus was dead because misinformation could be a disaster for him. Letting a condemned go would be punished by death. If Jesus was alive and given to Joseph of Arimathea the centurion could be the one killed. Some say that Jesus never died on te cross but this and other evidence is conclusive for me. Pilate must have felt better, because I think he feared that Jesus was more than just a man. He must have been reassured by the news that Jesus was dead.


Resurrection is not possible for us without death, and our resurrection is not possible without Jesus death and resurrection. Pilate could not fathom the plan of God and scripture says that neither could the evil one. Satan thought he had won when Jesus was put to death, but in fact Jesus willing acceptance of his crucifixion assured the victory not just his but ours. Scripture says that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Often I talk to others and sometimes think to myself that I need to understand things or they aren't true. When some scientist somewhere creates an atom even, let alone organize them to form all creation, then I might think we are approaching the thoughts of God. Until then I accept some things that don't fit in my brain, and act in faith upon things I don't understand, and have a relationship with someone I've never seen, and find life just works so much better. So I too may wonder, but it does not limit my faith.