Jesus Dies, the Veil Is Torn, and the Centurion Confesses

From noon until three darkness covers the land. Jesus cries in Aramaic, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” and Mark translates the quotation from Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus gives a loud cry and dies. The temple veil is torn from top to bottom, and a Roman centurion facing him says, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” Women who followed and served Jesus watch from a distance.

Where this fits in the story: Psalm 22 gives the cry its scriptural context of anguished righteous suffering that moves toward vindication and worldwide praise. The torn veil signals a decisive temple/presence event, while a Gentile executioner voices the Son-of-God confession at the point of Jesus’ death.