SN - notes from 10/23/10
The Crucifixion of Jesus pt. 9 - the death of Jesus
Mark 15:24-47
review from last week (on the way to the cross)
1. The carrier was a spectacle to all people - sinner and saved alike.
2. The carrier was to make it the destination - he was to continue. There was literally no turning back, no negotiation, no compromises, no other option.
3. The carrier knew the destination was death - but for the Christian, death is just a passage way to Jesus and glory.
2 Cor 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
v24 - the soldiers “played games” while God incarnate slowly died
observation 1 - What a backdrop! The soldiers were totally oblivious to what was happening (the most important event in human history - make sure there are no “games” in your life that supercede Jesus.
observation 2 - Luke 23:36-37 - “The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” - they are the 1st to tell Him to save Himself.
observation 3 - this fulfilled Psalm 22:18
v25 - John 19 points out that it was the 6th hour (noon), Mark says it was the 3rd hour (9 am) - it was most likely a copyist error
v26 - John tells us that the title was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (b/c He was Lord of all), and that the Jews were offended at this title.
v27 - Mark (v32) and Matthew point out that the 2 thieves also ridiculed Jesus. One eventually repented b/c Luke mentions that one confessed his sin, and asked Jesus to “remember” him when “He comes into His kingdom”.
observation 1 - In Luke 24:39 - the one thief also asks Jesus to save Himself and them.
“If you are the Christ, save yourself and us”
observation 2 - This (v28) fulfilled Isaiah 53:9
v29-30 - the passerby’s also taunted Him, saying, “save Yourself, and come down from the cross”.
observation - this is the 3rd people group to tell Him to “save Himself”.
v31-32 - The chief priests and scribes ridicule Him in a similar manner.
observation - although blasphemous, their statement is profound - “He saved others: Himself He cannot save”
observation - This is the 4th people group to tell Him to “save Himself”
v32 - more mocking and zero compassion from these religious leaders
v33 - on the darkness over the land…
The remarkable darkness all over the earth showed the agony of creation itself in the Creator’s suffering. “Origen (Contra Celsus, ii,33) and Eusebius (Chron.) quote the writing of Phlegon (a Roman historian) in which he makes mention of an extraordinary solar
eclipse as well as of an earthquake about the time of the crucifixion.” (Geldenhuys)
Phlegon, Roman historian: “In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was an extraordinary eclipse of the sun: at the sixth hour, the day turned into dark night, so that the stars in heaven were seen; and there was an earthquake.” (cited in Clarke)
v34 - Jesus 7 sayings from the cross:
1. Luke 23:14 - “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do”.
Jesus is forgiving
2. John 19:26-27 - “Woman behold your son. Then He said the disciple, behold your mother! And from that hour that disciple took her into His own home”
Jesus is compassionate and caring
3. Luke 23:43 - “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”.
Jesus is gracious and hope inspiring
4. John 19:28 - “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’”
Jesus fulfills
5. Mark 15:34 - And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” Which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”.
Jesus (God) is Holy
6. Luke 23:46 - Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Jesus completes
7. John 19:30 - When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Jesus paid it all (once for all).
1 Peter 3:18 - “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit…”
v34 - why and how did God forsake Him?
Since God is completely holy (Holy x3 in Isaiah 6), and our sin keeps us from relationship with Him, Jesus had to:
1. Take our sin (reconcile, expiate, propitiate, redeem, etc.) -
2 Corinthians 5:21 - Because God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him
a. this caused God to withdraw (forsook) from Jesus for the 1st time in eternity
b. this caused God (who is perfectly just) to pour out His judgment and wrath on Jesus instead of us
1 John 2:2 - And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
2. Give us His righteousness -
Romans 5:18 - Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men,
resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
v34-35 - they mis-heard Jesus and thought he said Elijah
observation - cults tend to form this same way :(
v37 - This is where He said, “It is finished”.
v38 - man now had access to the “most holy place”!
observation - notice, “from the top down”
v39 - the centurion believes
v40 - the women watch
observation - lots of Mary’s -
• Mary is the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:30-31)
• Mary of Bethany (John 11:1)
• Mary, the mother of James (not Jesus’ brother) Matthew 27:56)
• Mary, the wife of Clopas (John 19:25)
• Mary, the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12)
Mary, the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12)
• Another Mary mentioned in Romans 16:6
• Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2)
final thoughts -
1. The soldiers, the passer-bys, the thief, and the scribes and chief priests all asked Jesus to come off the cross - this was the one thing He could not/would not do to secure our salvation.
2. The fact that God is holy and that God is love (1 John 4:8) weigh heavily as to why He willingly died for us - He broke His relational existence to secure ours - surely that deserves our thankfulness and our affection forever.
