Crucified

Do you remember learning about the parts of the story line in high school literature class? How many have good memories? How many still struggle to enjoy reading?

I still recall reading Great Expectations by Dickens at Hackensack Christian Schools and learning about foreshadowing and complicated multiple plot lines that all wove together into one big story line. It really helped me learn how to study the Bible better and identify the sub plots that made up the great redemption story that God unfolded throughout history and His Word.

Because God chose to reveal himself through the written Word, even if you are not a literature fan, you should be a reader and you should work to become a better reader. This isn’t an English lesson, but can you identify the parts of a plot or story line?

Story Line

Exposition: Characters and setting are established and the conflict, or problem, is introduced.

Rising action: The conflict begins to affect the characters - heroes & villains, complicating their lives.

Climax: The conflict is faced during the main and most dramatic event of the story. It is often a confrontation between the hero and the villain. It is the moment the main character reaches—or fails to reach—their goal.

Falling action: The story begins to slow down, showing results of the climax.

Resolution: The story is tied up and concluded.

Mark does this within his Gospel to tell the reader Jesus’ story. But his story is also fitting into the bigger redemption story.

Most Important Book: the Bible

The Bible is the most important book of all time. It still remains the most copied and best selling book ever. People dedicate their lives to reading and understanding it, even those who might not believe in the God who wrote it.

THE BIBLE HAS TRANSFORMED THE WORLD

PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR THIS BOOK

IT’S THE MOST ACCURATE BOOK OF ANTIQUITY

IT CONTAINS A LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE OF FREEDOM

IT CONNECTS YOU TO HISTORY’S MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE

In today’s passage in Mark 15, we reach the crucifixion of Jesus, the climax of the Gospel narrative. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the author, Mark is telling this historical story because he wants the reader to come face to face with Jesus and respond. It is not just a bunch of facts and opinions. Mark wants us to see the pain and loss the disciples experienced when Jesus was crucified. They thought the story was over.

Series

We are continuing our sermon series from the Gospel of Mark - called The Crown & The Cross. Mark shows us Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ life on earth helped us all better understand God’s heart and what His kingdom is like.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown. The second half’s focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

In last week’s sermon, we saw Jesus rejected by the religious leaders who should have recognized the Messiah; rejected by the crowds; and rejected by the Romans. He was sentenced to death by crucifixion.

Today as we continue in Mark 15, Jesus will be crucified with two common criminals. The promised Messiah, the Son of God, will be brutally nailed to a cross. But God had a plan for it all.

Our parallel passages are in Matthew 27, Luke 23, and John 19. You can find notes and watch the rest of this series on our website or YouTube page.

PRAY

READ Mark 15:21-32

Carry the Cross

Mark was writing to people in Rome, so they were well-versed in understanding crucifixion or execution on a wooden cross. And maybe for this reason he doesn’t go into a lot of detail. His bare bones retelling really helps direct our focus on Jesus being rejected and alone.

Crucifixion was possibly the most painful death developed by mankind. Our word excruciating comes from the same root word meaning slow, agonizing, suffering and tortuous. The earliest historical records show the Persians (modern day Iran) executing people on crosses starting as early as 400-300 BC. That’s 300-400 years before Jesus was born. It was not new but it was brutal.

Ancient historians Cicero and Josephus called it the cruelest most terrible punishment and the most pitiable of deaths. Crucifixion was the ultimate shame. It was designed to humiliate and dishonor the victim through a tortuous death while also serving as a very public warning to all who witnessed it. Execution on a cross was so horrendous that it was reserved for the worst offenders - especially traitors and zealots.

Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus endured the cross and disregarded the shame it brought. Many Jews struggled with the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah because anyone hanged on a tree was seen as cursed.

After a near-death flogging or scourging, the victim was forced to carry the large wooden cross beam through the public streets to the execution site. It was further humiliation and kind of like digging your own grave.

Jesus must have been so weak from the scourging that the soldiers forced a man in the crowd to carry the cross beam for him. Mark tells us the man was Simon from Cyrene and he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Cyrene is in northern Africa past Egypt in what is now Libya - it’s very close to the modern day city Benghazi. There was a large Jewish settlement there, and the name Simon is traditionally Jewish - so he may have been Jewish and possibly darker skinned. Some church histories believe Simon became a Christ-follower after seeing Jesus’ death first-hand. In Romans 16:13 Paul sends greetings to someone named Rufus and his mother who was kind to Paul. Since Mark mentions these men by name, it’s very possible they were known to the original readers in the church at Rome. Imagine the impact on these boys - watching their father get pulled into this brutal drama.

Anyway, Simon carried the cross for Jesus. Back in Mark 8:34 Jesus used this very illustration to describe discipleship. Was this foreshadowing? That’s very possible.

“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

If we are going to be faithful, effective disciples of Jesus - we must also be ready to take up our cross. That means sacrificially loving others like Jesus. We deny our rights, accept pain, endure shame and suffering to share the love of God at any cost.

Nothing Left

v. 22 They led Jesus outside the city to the place called Golgotha an Aramaic name for the execution hill. It most likely resembled a skull in some way. The Greek name was “Krania” where we get our word cranium. Later when translated into Latin the word “Calva” was used which means skull. This is where our term Mount Calvary originated. It’s clear from the name in any language: this is a place of death. The executions happened outside the city on public roads so people could see and be warned. Especially those going out or coming in to the city.

Jesus is a picture of the scapegoat in the OT - which had all the sins of the people ceremonially placed on its head and then was sent out of the city in to the wilderness to die alone. Being outside Jerusalem was also symbolic of being outside God’s blessing and protection.

Hebrews 13:12–13 ESV

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

Again as followers, we are called to endure some form of the shame and suffering Jesus endured.

v. 23 They offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh, possibly to revive him or deaden the pain, but Jesus refused. At the last supper (Mark 14), he told his disciples he would not drink wine again until he drank it in the kingdom. In Matt 2, the wise men from the east presented baby Jesus with gold, frankincense and myrrh. God’s redemption story is incredible from start to finish. In literature that’s called foreshadowing.

One of many OT prophesies was fulfilled:

Psalm 69:21 (ESV)

They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

These OT prophesies about the Messiah are fulfilled to help us see Jesus clearly as the Promised One.

v. 24-25 says they crucified Jesus at third hour - that is 9am based on 6am starting the day. This is the time of day, the passover lambs were slaughtered. God is in complete control of this time line and all that is happening.

One of the shameful aspects of crucifixion was being stripped naked. The soldiers cast lots or dice to see who would get his clothes. Clothes were all hand-made and much more valuable than today. A benefit of being an executioner was getting the dead man’s clothes. Another OT prophesy was fulfilled.

Psalm 22:18 (ESV)

they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

The executioners stretched Jesus’ arms out on the crossbeam and nailed into the wood with giant spikes. Then they attached the crossbeam to the upright piece and nailed his feet to the wood as well. Besides the pain of having nails driven into him, Jesus was hanging by these so every time he tried to take a breath he would have to push against those nails to straighten up. With his back ripped open by the scourging, there was more pain as he rough wood grated against the wounds.

Some victims lasted as long as four long agonizing days on a cross before finally suffocating.

I’m not telling you all of this to make you uncomfortable but to realize just how much Jesus loves you. He knew exactly what was going to happen and he endured it all for you and I. This was the only way for us to live and know God - for Jesus to die in our place.

Mark does not mention any of the people at the foot of the cross included in the other Gospels. He shows us that Jesus was abandoned by his disciples and left alone to die - while being mocked and ridiculed. He has nothing left - no clothes, no friends, no family - nothing.

Mocking

The Roman custom was to identify the man on the cross and to say what he was charged with. Sometimes this would be hanging around the victim’s neck, but in this case Pilate ordered that it be attached to the top of the cross. “The King of the Jews.” In John it says Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” As far as the Romans were concerned, Jesus was innocent - but his charge was true. Jesus was the King, the promised Messiah of Israel.

v. 29 says those who passed by derided him and wagged their heads. Derided means ridiculed or made fun of. And wagging your head back and forth is a middle eastern custom when laughing at someone.

Psalm 22:7 ESV

All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

Psalm 109:25 (ESV)

I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads.

These must have been some of the same people who were trying to falsely accuse Jesus the night before. They said the same misquoted things like “you said you would destroy the temple and rebuild in three days.” If you are so powerful save yourself. If you can rebuild a temple alone - why don’t you get yourself down off the cross.

The chief priests and scribes were there to gloat and throw in more mocking digs. “He saved others - but he can’t even save himself.”

And then finally in v. 32 “Let the christ, the Messiah, the King of Israel come down from the cross. Then we will see and then only will we believe.

In Mark 9 Jesus had said “all things are possible for him who believes.” The religious leaders resisted Jesus because of their stubborn hypocritical hearts. They were more concerned with their position and power than with truth. They had already decided not to believe.

In John 20, Jesus encounters Thomas who wouldn’t believe Jesus had risen until he saw him. “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” After seeing numerous miracles first hand and hearing his teaching with authority, after so many prophesies were clearly fulfilled, the religious leaders and the Jewish people rejected Jesus - still wanting just one more sign. But Jesus would not come down from the cross. He would not do any more miraculous signs. He was on the cross to die for our sins. The fulfill the redemption plan and the will of His Father. No amount of mocking would change Jesus. He doesn’t answer any of their taunts. He gives them no satisfaction.

Counted with Criminals

Back in Mark 10:37 John and James asked if they could have the places of prominence on Jesus’ left and right sides. He responded are you able to drink the cup I will drink? They abandoned Jesus, while two criminals were at his left and right hand.

V. 27 tells us Jesus was crucified with two robbers. The Greek word used could also indicate insurrectionists. These men may have originally been lined up to die with Barabbas. But now here is Jesus - the Messiah, the King of Kings in the middle.

Here another prophesy is fulfilled.

Isaiah 53:12 ESV

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Notice the contrast in Isaiah - he was counted or numbered with the sinners - yet he carried the sins of many, making intercession or paying the price for sinners.

J.C. read 1 Peter 2 for us earlier.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Our Mark 15 passage ends with “Even those crucified with him, the criminals on his left and right, hanging in the same judgment, used their straining breath to mock Jesus.

The Gospel story has reached the climax the bad guys are winning - our hero is hanging on a cross with his life slipping away.

So here is the climax of Mark’s Gospel - It looks like the bad guys are going to win. Jesus Christ, who called himself the Messiah was sentenced to die on a cross.

But what they would not see or believe was that the perfect Lamb of God, was being sacrificed on Passover - And His blood provides salvation and redemption from our greatest problem - sin.

Mark leaves us with the question “Do you believe?”

I hope you will come back for the exciting conclusion in our final three weeks of Mark - The Crown and the Cross.

Take Aways

Jesus was innocent of any sin, but guilty of the charge "The King of the Jews" That is what hung over his head as the charge against him.

What will you do with Jesus? Mark calls us to a response.

Have you mocked Jesus? Do you use his name as a meaningless phrase?

Do you still need to see something more before you will believe?

Have you accepted Him as your King, your Lord, your Savior? He suffered the agony of the cross, he endured mocking and shame all for you all for me. So that we could be saved. It was the only way.

Jesus called people to repent of their sins, and accept the gift of salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Brothers and sisters, will you carry the cross of discipleship? Will you accept hard things and do them joyfully? Will you put down your own earthly treasures and possessions to focus on treasure in heaven? Spiritual prizes? Will you say no to sin and yes to obedience?

Let’s take up the cross of Jesus and share the Gospel with our community. Let’s die to sin and live to righteousness.

Let’s love people the way God does. Because Jesus showed His love for us by enduring the cross for our sins, we can have victory and eternal life.

Benediction

To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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