2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 76

It’s the centurion that draws my attention... The first one to say it out loud… not the disciples, not the crowd… a Roman soldier. That’s still a little scandalous. He didn’t just see that Jesus died—he saw how He died. Something in Jesus’ posture… His restraint… His self-giving… revealed who He truly was. Just like we’re trained to look for the character of God in Scripture, this outsider saw the character of God revealed in Jesus. And he responded.

This moment pushes hard against the insider/outsider lines we tend to draw. The religious leaders—the ones closest to the covenant—missed it. They were looking for power. A political ruler. Someone to overthrow oppression and set things right on their terms. But the outsider saw clearly. Not power. Not force. Not control. The cross. Self-giving love. That’s where the identity of Jesus is revealed most clearly—and that’s what the centurion recognized.

That should challenge us. Because it’s possible to be close to the things of God and still miss the heart of God. And it’s possible for someone on the outside to see it clearly. The question isn’t "where do we stand?". It’s what are we looking for?

Ask yourself today: Am I looking for Jesus in power and control… or in self-giving love?
Then take one intentional step to reflect His love in a concrete way—serve, forgive, or give without expecting anything in return.