S – When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:39 CSB

O – Commentary:

Roman officials or officers often delegated missions like this execution to centurions, who would take a small detachment of soldiers. Because Romans viewed the reigning emperor as a son of the deified Augustus, the centurion might be recognizing Jesus not only as “king of the Jews” (15:26) but also as a rival to even the emperor. But a non-Jew might use a phrase like “son of God” also with reference to a pious philosopher or, more commonly, a hero whose father was a deity. In Mark’s Gospel, of course, “*Son of God” means much more than that (14:61). Whatever the specific nuance intended, however, Mark’s irony (cf. 15:29–32) is plain enough: only a Gentile is explicitly impressed by Jesus’ death

 The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – All through this chapter, Pilate and the soldiers referred to Jesus as the King of the Jews.  This was the only time a Gentile referred to him as the “Son of God.”  It took someone out of the religous realm to recognize he was God.  The presence and character of God does that.  Even those not following God can recognize it.  Sadly, those “who should know God” can miss it.  We need to keep our hearts in a posture of seeking the one, true God genuinely and earnestly.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all powerful and present.  Please empower us to seek you genuinely.  We don’t to miss anything because of fear or misunderstanding.  We want to know you intimately.  We step towards you and invite the Holy Spirit to guide us in all things today.