Centaurus
The Despised Sin Offering
How exactly would this Desired One, represented by the previous decan of COMA, become the desire of all nations? By taking away the guilt of sin! Mankind had fallen into the condemnation of a real, holy God. We had all chosen to go our own way – away from  God. But, as that well-known verse of Scripture assures us, God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son to pay the price of our sins so that we might again be restored to fellowship and communion with the Father. (Jhn 3:16) This decan, Centaurus, demonstrates the suffering savior. Notice that this figure is a centaur – half-man and half-beast. This is the first of the “two-natured” pictures in the heavens. There are quite a few more of these “two-natured” representations to be found, and they all have a most unusual story to tell. This half-man, half-beast Centaurus tells us that the one who would die for us would be the very one who is himself Very God and Very Man. He is the God-man who laid down his own life for us.
Remember that we are still in the first chapter of Book I, and each first chapter in each book is the chapter of promise. Centaurus is an interesting amplification of this chapter theme of promise. Not only is the promised Messiah to be the “desired of all nations” (Coma) but at the same time, he is to be “the despised sin offering.” This is a strange paradox, and yet it is perfectly fulfilled in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the first of the “two-natured” pictures in the heavens. There are quite a few more of these “two-natured” representations to be found, and they all have a most unusual story to tell. This half-man, half-beast Centaurus tells us that the one who would die for us would be the very one who is himself Very God and Very Man. He is the God-man who laid down his own life for us.
Remember that we are still in the first chapter of Book I, and each first chapter in each book is the chapter of promise. Centaurus is an interesting amplification of this chapter theme of promise. Not only is the promised Messiah to be the “desired of all nations” (Coma) but at the same time, he is to be “the despised sin offering.” This is a strange paradox, and yet it is perfectly fulfilled in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Centaurus, the gospel theme begins to take a clear shape as we add the element of sacrifice. And not just any sacrifice, but a vicarious suffering for those whom he loved. How well the two-natured Centaurus shows this great truth. The suffering Savior could only be such a one as this. As man, he was our sympathetic intercessor. As God, he could save us from the penalty of sin, which is death, because only God, the author of life, could truly conquer death by rising from the dead!
One quick note about the name of one of the stars in Centaurus. Toliman means “the heretofore and the hereafter.” This is a synonym for eternity which is an absolute attribute of God. This one star adds its weight of testimony that Centaurus represents the one who is truly the God-Man.
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The Star Names
Pay close attention to the names of the stars in each constellation. They will ALWAYS back up the message in The Gospel Truth above.
Beseh (H) – “the despised”; Cheiron (G) – “the pierced”; Toliman(H) – “the heretofore and the hereafter”; Asmeath (H) – “sin offering”
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Want to know more?
To continue in the correct order of the ancient star chart, please select Bootes next.
Or click on The Big Picture for more information about the Gospel in the stars.
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