The Passion Of Christ Jesus
"Paying The price Of Sin"
Book of Mark Chapter 15:1-39
When we last left Jesus, He was being led from before the Sanhedrin Court and was being prepared to go before Pilate.
This had taken place just as the dawn of day had arrived and as Jesus stepped into the court of the palace of the high priests, the cock crowed, and Jesus glanced over at Peter.
Peter was broken and humiliated!
Let's begin:
*****Mar 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and "bound Jesus", and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
In the Jewish ceremony of sacrifice, after the lamb had been kept under watch for 4 days and had been examined by the priests on the evening before, to make sure the lamb was a perfect lamb, it was brought forth early, as soon as it was light to be sacrificed.
As the cock crowed, and the altar of the cross was prepared, The Lamb of God was brought forward to be sacrificed!
This was the 4th day since Jesus had triumphantly entered into Jerusalem and He was the spotless Lamb of God. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who would provide the "Blood Sacrifice"!
What had Abraham told Isaac?
Gen 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering": so they went both of them together.
God would provide "Himself" to be the "sacrificial "Lamb of God"!
There is no better place of "typology" in the Bible, than this story of Abraham and Isaac.
All these things written were taking place and Jerusalem was so dark in sin, that they could not see the "Light of Salvation"!
God was bound, as He released His flesh, into the hands of mankind!
What do we still see in our world today?
This world does not want a free Savior, but only a Savior that is under the control of men!
We simply cannot place the Lord Jesus Christ in a closet and bring Him out in our hour of need!
Jesus had these words:
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall "make you free".
It is only by the truth of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" that we can be "made free" and not just "set free".
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
There is a great difference in to be "set free" and to be "made free"!
Man may can set you free but only God can make your free!
To be set free means you may be captured again.
To be made free means you can never be recaptured!
Freedom is the most perfect blessing any man can have! Ask any slave, he will explain the difference.
The world teaches that the providence of man is to be bound by man-made laws.
AND, Science imposes rules that tell us how God must act or science will move on without Him.
Prayer has been declared worthless by mankind because they believe that man cannot alter the course of Nature.
This world we live in now says that even God's Church cannot be allowed to roam free and are making new laws to hinder the Church.
But Jesus Christ cannot be bound by the likes of man! GOD CANNOT BE BOUND!
And Jesus is brought before Pilate.
*****Mar 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
Jesus was brought before Pilate but the Jews would not enter the "judgement hall:
Joh 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea under the Emperor Tiberius. He was known as Pontus Pilate.
Pilate was known to be an unjust man and even had the gall to declare he was innocent of the murder of Jesus even though the death of Jesus was on his hands just as well as the Jews.
Pilate knew for a fact that he was taking the life of an innocent man!
Jesus was asked if He was King of the Jews and all the Gospels record this one answer: "Thou sayest".
All the other questions that had been asked, concerned false statements.
But before the Lord Jesus answered Pilate, He asked His own question.
Joh 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
The Lord would also teach Pilate a lesson but first Pilate did not like what was said.
The world simply does not like being questioned by The Word Of God!
Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Jesus said, what you say is right and Jesus then explains His answer to Pilate.
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: "but now" is my kingdom not from hence.
The Lord Jesus did not mean that His Kingdom had nothing to do with this world.
What He was saying is that His Kingdom did not originate on this Earth.
He was explaining to Pilate that there is indeed, a Higher Power than any ruler on this Earth!
Pilate did not yet understand and we could not expect him to fully understand even though the Lord Jesus kept this very simple.
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
And then Pilate asked "What is truth"?
Jesus had already said that He was the truth:
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, "the truth", and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
But the world still rejects this answer!
1) Without "a way" to Heaven, no one can get there!
2) Without "the truth", no one can find the way!
3) Without "life", there would be no reason to go to Heaven!
Pilate was then satisfied but not the Jews.
The Lord Jesus was not about to respond to false accusations. Even these Jews knew these were all lies!
*****Mar 15:3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
Mar 15:4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
Mar 15:5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
As our example, Jesus shows us, that to have a calm temper and to avoid anger is consistent to being a Christian.
It is our adversary who has the advantage when we do not remain calm!
It requires no intelligence at all to be angry!
The silence of the Lord Jesus can be best explained as "Grace"!
After all the Lord Jesus knew these words:
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, "and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand".
Pilate knew that the Lord Jesus was innocent of all those charges.
Pilate also knew that these were serious charges according to Jewish law and could bring death if he allowed these charges to stand.
Pilate also knew that these were high ranking Jews who were bringing these charges. It could cause problems for him in Rome, if he did not consider them.
Pilate knew that the life of Jesus would be placed in his hands.
BUT, what Pilate did not know was this:
Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, "because I lay down my life", that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but "I lay it down of myself". I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
The Lord Jesus took of taste of all our death so we do not have too!
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels "for the suffering of death", crowned with glory and honour; "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man".
God had to come in the flesh because had He came as an angel, He could not have died!
Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Don't you just love the promises of God!
Pilate greatly marvelled and so still does this world of unbelievers!
The lost still marvels at the simplicity of "salvation"!
So Pilate tried something new to appease these Jews. He knew Jesus was innocent.
*****Mar 15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
Mar 15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Pilate refused to decide for himself the outcome of this trial and he could have.
There was no Roman rule for him to appease the Jews and he seldom ever did because he hated these Jews.
The Romans had made a custom of releasing a prisoner held in Roman jails during the Passover celebration.
Joh 18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
Barabbas was a well known criminal, who was also a murderer. He certainly did not need to be back on the street of Jerusalem!
Barabbas had committed an insurrection.
He had not risen up against the Roman authorities because he would never have been set free. He had risen up against the Jewish political system but only Rome could carry out the sentence of death.
Barabbas was an enemy to these Jews and had even murdered one of their own.
*****Mar 15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
Mar 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of all charges brought against Him.
Envy, springs from pride and ambition. These chiefs of the Jewish religious system knew that they could never obtain the things that the Lord Jesus so easily committed to the Jewish people.
Jesus Christ removed the frills and the bells and the whistles from what was taught by these men and made salvation by the Word of God a simple thing.
God gives us one command and one warning.
1) It is sin to not obey the Word of God.
2) This sin removes us from God's favor and brings death to the soul.
But, Satan has so many rules and reasons that confusion reigns in God's people.
Jesus had described these men this way:
Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
They could dress up in those fancy robes and put the the things of Mosaic Law, but they could never get one step closer to the truth of God!
So these, who were so religious, stirred the mob that had captured Jesus into a frenzy.
Remember these things were taking place in the early hours of the day. Jerusalem was just awakening.
*****Mar 15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
Mar 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
These people chose a murderer of their own people over the Savior of the world but that had been God's plan all along!
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
There was no excuse for what was taking place this day!
The Creator was being rejected by His creation!
Who are His Own?
We all fit into this category!
The Lord Jesus brought with Him "Grace" and "Mercy" but the world said "Crucify Him".
And one of the most evil men of Rome asked this question, WHY?
*****Mar 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Mar 15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
Jesus had not only done no evil, it is truly not in God's character to ever do evil!
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. "God is love"; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
The flesh of the Lord could be crucified, BUT, the love of God can never be destroyed!
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".
Love can be scourged and crucified but that love cannot be stopped!
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Pilate was willing to content these people but The Lord Jesus was more willing to save us all!
*****Mar 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
The Praetorium was the place in the palace of the governor where the imperial guard was quartered.
These would have been Pilate's personal guard.
"Praetor" means commander-in-chief.
That "band" that was called together would be a 10th part of a Roman legion or very near 600 men.
These things would have intimidated an average man, but not Our Lord.
*****Mar 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
Mar 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
Mar 15:19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
Mar 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
No matter what Pilate thought of the innocence of Jesus, these soldiers treated Him as a guilty man.
We already know the Lord had great joy in taking our sin, "He had none of His own", to that cross but now we will see the shame a Holy God endured for we who are not even worthy of such freedom!
The mockery by these soldiers begins.
Jesus was first stripped of His clothes. Not many have any pleasure in standing naked before 600 men as such as these soldiers. The imperial guard would have been the bravest and most ruthless of men.
Purple was the color of royalty and though this may have just been a high ranking soldiers cloak, it was draped over Jesus as a king would use it.
Luke gives us even more facts.
Luk 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
Luk 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Luk 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
To many that travel to the Holy Land, they return calling it "a land of thorns".
Thorns and thistles came about from the curse of the earth for Adams disobedience.
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
A victorious king would enter a city with a "victor's wreath" but here we see a wreath woven of sharp, painful, and dangerous thorns and pressed into the skull of the Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus had great joy as He would soon be taking away this curse of disobedience!
The thorn is not only symbolic of of sin, it brings with it mockery and these ruthless men began by saying to the Lord, "Hail, King of the Jews"!
But that crown of thorns was really worn because God would now have victory over sin!
God's victory is now our gift!
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which "giveth us the victory" through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That "reed" would be somewhat like a bamboo cane and many times was used as a whip and very painful. After striking the Lord on the head that was wearing that wreath of painful thorns, they placed the reed into His hands as a scepter and then removed the reed and continued to beat Our Savior in the head with it.
Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
To "spit" on a Jew was a terrible act of reproach and defilement according to Levitical Law. To make it worse, spittle from a Gentile, an unclean person, could only be cleansed by ritual bathing and as much as 7 days time.
If a father spit upon a child, that child was shut out the camp for 7 days.
But the Lord never moved.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
And they were not through yet.
Jesus had been scourged and His beard pulled out.
Mat 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
The Roman scourge was done with what we might call, a "cat-of-nine-tails" and even worse there would be pieces of bone and other things tied to the individual cords that would rip and tear at the skin.
By Law a Jew could only receive 39 lashes but 9 times 39 would be 321 lashes.
For the most part there would be 13 strokes on the chest and 26 strokes on the back and a great many that were scourged died during this punishment. It was a terrible thing!
How bad was Jesus injured:
Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; "his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men":
A complete reading of all four "gospels" is required to completely understand these things and then Jesus was led to the cross He would bear.
*****Mar 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Jesus would have born that cross all the way to calvary.
To fulfill yet another prophesy, someone else had to bear that cross to the foot of the mountain.
Let's follow in "typology".
Gen 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Notice it was the donkey that had carried the wood in this passage but only to the edge of Golgotha. It was then that Isaac carried the wood to the place of sacrifice.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham "took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son"; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
These soldiers were not through with their mockery of Our Lord and they recruited some one else to play the part of the donkey!
They compelled Simon, which means they insisted under some personal threat to him.
There was a great multitude of Cyrenians who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover and they would stay till after Pentecost.
Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Cyrene was a city in Northern Libya and is now named Tripoli. Simon was a devout Hellenistic Jew and it could be that this circumstance was enough to convince him that Jesus was truly the Messiah. It is very probable that it was a black man that carried the cross of Our Lord.
I assure you we can carry our cross to Jesus but it was only Jesus who can carry "our" cross up Calvary's Mountain!
Mark describes this Simon as the father of Alexander and Rufus.
The Apostle Paul later writes of this Rufus and his Christian mother.
Rom 16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Rufus would have been a great witness for the Lord as he would tell all, how it was his own dad that had helped carry the cross of Our Savior.
BUT, even on His worse day Jesus was still our Savior!
*****Mar 15:22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
Golgotha or Calvary, they both mean "skull"!
This was a well known spot, outside the city gates of Jerusalem, where men would be crucified. It was outside the gates but it was near the city and there was also a garden at this location.
Joh 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
There should be little doubt that this was the same place where Abraham had come to sacrifice Isaac.
Gen 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
Abraham could distinguish this placed that had the appearance of a skull.
*****Mar 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
There are those that still teach that a Christian can drink alcoholic drinks in moderation but even when the Lord was in such pain He would not take a drink of this actual wine. That myrrh that was mingled with this wine would have made this drink an effective pain killer.
The Lord Jesus would never take anything that was "mind altering" and God would never go against His Own Word!
God still says these words:
Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
There is a big difference what Jesus later drank.
"And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink,"
"Vinegar" would have had no actual alcohol content but would still possess some nourishment from the grape and was used by the Roman army for this reason when mixed with water.
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
*****Mar 15:24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
Mar 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Again the clothes of the Lord were removed from Him and Jesus was crucified naked.
We already know that the robe of Jesus was kept in one piece.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
The 3rd hour was the time of the daily sacrifice. This would have been 9 AM.
Like some ruthless criminal, The Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.
Psa 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
*****Mar 15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
To the Jews, Jesus had committed the crime of "blasphemy", punishable by death.
Pilate knew that Christ Jesus was innocent of all these and all other charges and wrote these words instead.
There had not been any two witnesses that agreed, so the charges brought by the Jews could not be allowed to stand.
The Lord Jesus had admitted to being King, but not of this world.
The Jews worshipped Jehovah God, who also is not of this world.
I am not a Jew but I surely know that Jesus is my King!
The Lord "being Our King" has every right to rule in our lives!
Our only job is to obey Our King!
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
But not only is Christ Jesus my King, but also my Prophet and my High Priest!
When Pilate made this record to Rome, he had to have an accusation that required his actions of death.
Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
And this accusation was written so the world would all understand it.
Luk 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him "in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew", THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
And there was no doubt who this king was:
Joh 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, "JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS".
But, there were others also crucified this same day.
*****Mar 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
Mar 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
A "malefactor" is someone who is a convicted criminal. These two thieves were convicted under Roman Law and were truly guilty of all their charges.
One of them even mocked the Lord and the other knew of His innocence.
Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: "but this man hath done nothing amiss".
Who was the last man to make it into Paradise, the Bosom of Abraham?
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise".
It was now high noon.
Luk 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
It was at the beginning of this darkness that the Veil of the Temple was rent into.
Luk 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
It was the "Veil" that separated the "most holy place" from the "holy place".
Only the High Priest had been allowed to pass through beyond this veil and that could only be done on the One day of atonement each year.
This "rip" in the veil signified "that in Jesus Christ", God had abolished this barrier.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, "through the veil", that is to say, his flesh;
Access to God can now only come through the spilled blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and "hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us";
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and "which entereth into that within the veil";
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Jesus Christ Himself is now the Veil.
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, "I am the door of the sheep".
And the only way to get to Heaven for all people.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, "but by me".
No amount of disagreement with these things can change this truth!
There is only one way to Heaven and it is through "Faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!
There were other things that happened.
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
These graves were opened in preparation for the resurrection of the saints. (Those that trust on God).
The actual resurrection of these saints did not take place until the Lord Jesus rose from His own grave!
BUT, there was one man in particular who was observing all these things and he came to the right conclusion.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
And all scripture concerning the cross was fulfilled this day.
And many more came to mock and ridicule the Lord, who just refused to accept that these things came from God.
*****Mar 15:29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
Mar 15:30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
What was the world doing while the Lord Jesus was being crucified?
1) Soldiers had a careless attitude and were gambling for His clothes.
2) A centurion in charge was keeping a watchful eye on Jesus and everything that was happening around him.
3) This crowd of Jews were just passing by mocking and shaking their heads, some hating Jesus for what He stood for but all ignorant of His truth.
4) There was a little group of friends who watched from "afar off".
5) Pilate was writing his record to send to Caesar.
6) The Jews continued with the Days of Unleavened Bread.
7) A few were making arrangements for His burial.
8) The lost world did not yet know and would need a preacher to tell them.
What had God done during this time?
a.) God had darkened the Sun.
b.) God had caused the Earth to quake.
c.) The veil of the Temple was rent into.
d.) The graves of the saints of God were opened.
e.) This darkness brought with it the dawn of a new day!
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Jesus was completing what He had come to this Earth to do!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; "but that the world through him might be saved".
So Satan and his false religion were having their day.
*****Mar 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
Mar 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
In His flesh the Lord Jesus could not physically save Himself!
As God, "He could have delivered Himself from all these things", but God was already doing His Own Will at this very moment!
Mar 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, "but what thou wilt".
There was not one moment in the life of Jesus Christ that God would have changed anything.
It was necessary, for our benefit, that God "not" save Himself!
It was the "love of God" that kept the Lord Jesus on that cross!
These that mocked had already seen miracles that only God could have done, one more miracle was not going to change their heart.
What did Abraham tell that rich man in Hell?
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, "neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead".
If we cannot read, study, and "believe" the Word of God, no amount of miracles can make us believers.
It was not a Savior these people wanted, it was a King who could make Israel to overcome Rome!
The battered and abused body of Jesus Christ had now hung on that cross for 3 hours and at noon time, at the high sun, it was now getting dark.
*****Mar 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
It is not possible that this three hour darkness was an eclipse of the sun!
The Passover is observed at the time of the full moon and an eclipse of the sun cannot happen at the time of a full moon but only at a new moon.
There is at least one ancient historian named Thallus who wrote of this event as an actual truth!
The Bible says it happened and that's all I need to know!
There is no doubt that this darkness came!
But, we can also be sure the spiritual darkness also was evident, after all, the glorious light of the Lord was being rejected by His own people.
We have these words of the Lord:
Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
There is only one sun in our system and there is only one Mediator between God and mankind.
Our sun is vast enough to light our solar system, but Jesus is Lord of All and the Sun of righteousness!
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
As the life in His flesh was passing, the darkness of evil became very visible.
Psa 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
But this darkness was for only three hours.
After all God had said this:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;" it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel".
Satan had bruised the heel of the Lord, but a death blow had been dealt to the head of Satan.
There would be a new light coming to this world but even that light has a limited time. It is called the Church Age.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This would take place because in just 3 days, not 4, Jesus would rise from the grave.
*****Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mar 15:35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
It was the darkest hour for Our Lord when He felt the wrath of God in His own body!
God had to come this earth in the form of a babe.
God had spent 33 and 1/2 years in direct fellowship with His most favorite creation but He had come at this time to fulfill a purpose.
That purpose was now completed!
"Eloi" means "My God" and was repeated.
"lama" means "why?"
"sabachthani" means "hast thou left me"
Only God can describe this scene:
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
What the Lord had said was not understood by those that carried out this crucifixion.
The Word of God cannot ever be understood until His "truth" is accepted and believed on!
Elias is the Greek form of the name Elijah.
We already know that Elijah will return but not to save the Lord, he will return during the tribulation period to help save the Jew.
*****Mar 15:36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
Mar 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
As already stated this vinegar had no alcohol content and was a drink that soldiers had with them for as much nourishment as liquid refreshment and mixed with water.
It is a fact that a soldier cannot always drink of the water in the many places they have to go.
Elijah was not coming, and the breath of life was leaving the Lord.
Jesus Christ had to die a physical death!
Just before His death Jesus had these words:
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished": and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
All the things written by the prophets about the First Coming of the Messiah had been completed.
All the things written in the Book of Psalms about the First coming of the Messiah had been completed.
The will of God, Himself, had been done!
This is a one time event that will never take place again!
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The wages of sin had been paid for the entire duration of life on this world!
This is why we have these words:
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
The means of a close personal relationship was now available to all those that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!
*****Mar 15:38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Mar 15:39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
In less than 24 hours since the Lord had partaken of the first Lord's Supper with His disciples, He had been slain and displayed on the Cross on Calvary's Mountain for all the world to see.
Truly this was the Son of God!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
"Paying The price Of Sin"
Book of Mark Chapter 15:1-39
When we last left Jesus, He was being led from before the Sanhedrin Court and was being prepared to go before Pilate.
This had taken place just as the dawn of day had arrived and as Jesus stepped into the court of the palace of the high priests, the cock crowed, and Jesus glanced over at Peter.
Peter was broken and humiliated!
Let's begin:
*****Mar 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and "bound Jesus", and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
In the Jewish ceremony of sacrifice, after the lamb had been kept under watch for 4 days and had been examined by the priests on the evening before, to make sure the lamb was a perfect lamb, it was brought forth early, as soon as it was light to be sacrificed.
As the cock crowed, and the altar of the cross was prepared, The Lamb of God was brought forward to be sacrificed!
This was the 4th day since Jesus had triumphantly entered into Jerusalem and He was the spotless Lamb of God. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who would provide the "Blood Sacrifice"!
What had Abraham told Isaac?
Gen 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering": so they went both of them together.
God would provide "Himself" to be the "sacrificial "Lamb of God"!
There is no better place of "typology" in the Bible, than this story of Abraham and Isaac.
All these things written were taking place and Jerusalem was so dark in sin, that they could not see the "Light of Salvation"!
God was bound, as He released His flesh, into the hands of mankind!
What do we still see in our world today?
This world does not want a free Savior, but only a Savior that is under the control of men!
We simply cannot place the Lord Jesus Christ in a closet and bring Him out in our hour of need!
Jesus had these words:
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall "make you free".
It is only by the truth of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" that we can be "made free" and not just "set free".
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
There is a great difference in to be "set free" and to be "made free"!
Man may can set you free but only God can make your free!
To be set free means you may be captured again.
To be made free means you can never be recaptured!
Freedom is the most perfect blessing any man can have! Ask any slave, he will explain the difference.
The world teaches that the providence of man is to be bound by man-made laws.
AND, Science imposes rules that tell us how God must act or science will move on without Him.
Prayer has been declared worthless by mankind because they believe that man cannot alter the course of Nature.
This world we live in now says that even God's Church cannot be allowed to roam free and are making new laws to hinder the Church.
But Jesus Christ cannot be bound by the likes of man! GOD CANNOT BE BOUND!
And Jesus is brought before Pilate.
*****Mar 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
Jesus was brought before Pilate but the Jews would not enter the "judgement hall:
Joh 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea under the Emperor Tiberius. He was known as Pontus Pilate.
Pilate was known to be an unjust man and even had the gall to declare he was innocent of the murder of Jesus even though the death of Jesus was on his hands just as well as the Jews.
Pilate knew for a fact that he was taking the life of an innocent man!
Jesus was asked if He was King of the Jews and all the Gospels record this one answer: "Thou sayest".
All the other questions that had been asked, concerned false statements.
But before the Lord Jesus answered Pilate, He asked His own question.
Joh 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
The Lord would also teach Pilate a lesson but first Pilate did not like what was said.
The world simply does not like being questioned by The Word Of God!
Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Jesus said, what you say is right and Jesus then explains His answer to Pilate.
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: "but now" is my kingdom not from hence.
The Lord Jesus did not mean that His Kingdom had nothing to do with this world.
What He was saying is that His Kingdom did not originate on this Earth.
He was explaining to Pilate that there is indeed, a Higher Power than any ruler on this Earth!
Pilate did not yet understand and we could not expect him to fully understand even though the Lord Jesus kept this very simple.
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
And then Pilate asked "What is truth"?
Jesus had already said that He was the truth:
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, "the truth", and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
But the world still rejects this answer!
1) Without "a way" to Heaven, no one can get there!
2) Without "the truth", no one can find the way!
3) Without "life", there would be no reason to go to Heaven!
Pilate was then satisfied but not the Jews.
The Lord Jesus was not about to respond to false accusations. Even these Jews knew these were all lies!
*****Mar 15:3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
Mar 15:4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
Mar 15:5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
As our example, Jesus shows us, that to have a calm temper and to avoid anger is consistent to being a Christian.
It is our adversary who has the advantage when we do not remain calm!
It requires no intelligence at all to be angry!
The silence of the Lord Jesus can be best explained as "Grace"!
After all the Lord Jesus knew these words:
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, "and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand".
Pilate knew that the Lord Jesus was innocent of all those charges.
Pilate also knew that these were serious charges according to Jewish law and could bring death if he allowed these charges to stand.
Pilate also knew that these were high ranking Jews who were bringing these charges. It could cause problems for him in Rome, if he did not consider them.
Pilate knew that the life of Jesus would be placed in his hands.
BUT, what Pilate did not know was this:
Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, "because I lay down my life", that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but "I lay it down of myself". I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
The Lord Jesus took of taste of all our death so we do not have too!
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels "for the suffering of death", crowned with glory and honour; "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man".
God had to come in the flesh because had He came as an angel, He could not have died!
Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Don't you just love the promises of God!
Pilate greatly marvelled and so still does this world of unbelievers!
The lost still marvels at the simplicity of "salvation"!
So Pilate tried something new to appease these Jews. He knew Jesus was innocent.
*****Mar 15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
Mar 15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Pilate refused to decide for himself the outcome of this trial and he could have.
There was no Roman rule for him to appease the Jews and he seldom ever did because he hated these Jews.
The Romans had made a custom of releasing a prisoner held in Roman jails during the Passover celebration.
Joh 18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
Barabbas was a well known criminal, who was also a murderer. He certainly did not need to be back on the street of Jerusalem!
Barabbas had committed an insurrection.
He had not risen up against the Roman authorities because he would never have been set free. He had risen up against the Jewish political system but only Rome could carry out the sentence of death.
Barabbas was an enemy to these Jews and had even murdered one of their own.
*****Mar 15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
Mar 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of all charges brought against Him.
Envy, springs from pride and ambition. These chiefs of the Jewish religious system knew that they could never obtain the things that the Lord Jesus so easily committed to the Jewish people.
Jesus Christ removed the frills and the bells and the whistles from what was taught by these men and made salvation by the Word of God a simple thing.
God gives us one command and one warning.
1) It is sin to not obey the Word of God.
2) This sin removes us from God's favor and brings death to the soul.
But, Satan has so many rules and reasons that confusion reigns in God's people.
Jesus had described these men this way:
Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
They could dress up in those fancy robes and put the the things of Mosaic Law, but they could never get one step closer to the truth of God!
So these, who were so religious, stirred the mob that had captured Jesus into a frenzy.
Remember these things were taking place in the early hours of the day. Jerusalem was just awakening.
*****Mar 15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
Mar 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
These people chose a murderer of their own people over the Savior of the world but that had been God's plan all along!
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
There was no excuse for what was taking place this day!
The Creator was being rejected by His creation!
Who are His Own?
We all fit into this category!
The Lord Jesus brought with Him "Grace" and "Mercy" but the world said "Crucify Him".
And one of the most evil men of Rome asked this question, WHY?
*****Mar 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Mar 15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
Jesus had not only done no evil, it is truly not in God's character to ever do evil!
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. "God is love"; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
The flesh of the Lord could be crucified, BUT, the love of God can never be destroyed!
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".
Love can be scourged and crucified but that love cannot be stopped!
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Pilate was willing to content these people but The Lord Jesus was more willing to save us all!
*****Mar 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
The Praetorium was the place in the palace of the governor where the imperial guard was quartered.
These would have been Pilate's personal guard.
"Praetor" means commander-in-chief.
That "band" that was called together would be a 10th part of a Roman legion or very near 600 men.
These things would have intimidated an average man, but not Our Lord.
*****Mar 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
Mar 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
Mar 15:19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
Mar 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
No matter what Pilate thought of the innocence of Jesus, these soldiers treated Him as a guilty man.
We already know the Lord had great joy in taking our sin, "He had none of His own", to that cross but now we will see the shame a Holy God endured for we who are not even worthy of such freedom!
The mockery by these soldiers begins.
Jesus was first stripped of His clothes. Not many have any pleasure in standing naked before 600 men as such as these soldiers. The imperial guard would have been the bravest and most ruthless of men.
Purple was the color of royalty and though this may have just been a high ranking soldiers cloak, it was draped over Jesus as a king would use it.
Luke gives us even more facts.
Luk 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
Luk 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Luk 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
To many that travel to the Holy Land, they return calling it "a land of thorns".
Thorns and thistles came about from the curse of the earth for Adams disobedience.
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
A victorious king would enter a city with a "victor's wreath" but here we see a wreath woven of sharp, painful, and dangerous thorns and pressed into the skull of the Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus had great joy as He would soon be taking away this curse of disobedience!
The thorn is not only symbolic of of sin, it brings with it mockery and these ruthless men began by saying to the Lord, "Hail, King of the Jews"!
But that crown of thorns was really worn because God would now have victory over sin!
God's victory is now our gift!
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which "giveth us the victory" through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That "reed" would be somewhat like a bamboo cane and many times was used as a whip and very painful. After striking the Lord on the head that was wearing that wreath of painful thorns, they placed the reed into His hands as a scepter and then removed the reed and continued to beat Our Savior in the head with it.
Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
To "spit" on a Jew was a terrible act of reproach and defilement according to Levitical Law. To make it worse, spittle from a Gentile, an unclean person, could only be cleansed by ritual bathing and as much as 7 days time.
If a father spit upon a child, that child was shut out the camp for 7 days.
But the Lord never moved.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
And they were not through yet.
Jesus had been scourged and His beard pulled out.
Mat 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
The Roman scourge was done with what we might call, a "cat-of-nine-tails" and even worse there would be pieces of bone and other things tied to the individual cords that would rip and tear at the skin.
By Law a Jew could only receive 39 lashes but 9 times 39 would be 321 lashes.
For the most part there would be 13 strokes on the chest and 26 strokes on the back and a great many that were scourged died during this punishment. It was a terrible thing!
How bad was Jesus injured:
Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; "his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men":
A complete reading of all four "gospels" is required to completely understand these things and then Jesus was led to the cross He would bear.
*****Mar 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Jesus would have born that cross all the way to calvary.
To fulfill yet another prophesy, someone else had to bear that cross to the foot of the mountain.
Let's follow in "typology".
Gen 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Notice it was the donkey that had carried the wood in this passage but only to the edge of Golgotha. It was then that Isaac carried the wood to the place of sacrifice.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham "took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son"; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
These soldiers were not through with their mockery of Our Lord and they recruited some one else to play the part of the donkey!
They compelled Simon, which means they insisted under some personal threat to him.
There was a great multitude of Cyrenians who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover and they would stay till after Pentecost.
Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Cyrene was a city in Northern Libya and is now named Tripoli. Simon was a devout Hellenistic Jew and it could be that this circumstance was enough to convince him that Jesus was truly the Messiah. It is very probable that it was a black man that carried the cross of Our Lord.
I assure you we can carry our cross to Jesus but it was only Jesus who can carry "our" cross up Calvary's Mountain!
Mark describes this Simon as the father of Alexander and Rufus.
The Apostle Paul later writes of this Rufus and his Christian mother.
Rom 16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Rufus would have been a great witness for the Lord as he would tell all, how it was his own dad that had helped carry the cross of Our Savior.
BUT, even on His worse day Jesus was still our Savior!
*****Mar 15:22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
Golgotha or Calvary, they both mean "skull"!
This was a well known spot, outside the city gates of Jerusalem, where men would be crucified. It was outside the gates but it was near the city and there was also a garden at this location.
Joh 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
There should be little doubt that this was the same place where Abraham had come to sacrifice Isaac.
Gen 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
Abraham could distinguish this placed that had the appearance of a skull.
*****Mar 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
There are those that still teach that a Christian can drink alcoholic drinks in moderation but even when the Lord was in such pain He would not take a drink of this actual wine. That myrrh that was mingled with this wine would have made this drink an effective pain killer.
The Lord Jesus would never take anything that was "mind altering" and God would never go against His Own Word!
God still says these words:
Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
There is a big difference what Jesus later drank.
"And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink,"
"Vinegar" would have had no actual alcohol content but would still possess some nourishment from the grape and was used by the Roman army for this reason when mixed with water.
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
*****Mar 15:24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
Mar 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Again the clothes of the Lord were removed from Him and Jesus was crucified naked.
We already know that the robe of Jesus was kept in one piece.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
The 3rd hour was the time of the daily sacrifice. This would have been 9 AM.
Like some ruthless criminal, The Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.
Psa 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
*****Mar 15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
To the Jews, Jesus had committed the crime of "blasphemy", punishable by death.
Pilate knew that Christ Jesus was innocent of all these and all other charges and wrote these words instead.
There had not been any two witnesses that agreed, so the charges brought by the Jews could not be allowed to stand.
The Lord Jesus had admitted to being King, but not of this world.
The Jews worshipped Jehovah God, who also is not of this world.
I am not a Jew but I surely know that Jesus is my King!
The Lord "being Our King" has every right to rule in our lives!
Our only job is to obey Our King!
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
But not only is Christ Jesus my King, but also my Prophet and my High Priest!
When Pilate made this record to Rome, he had to have an accusation that required his actions of death.
Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
And this accusation was written so the world would all understand it.
Luk 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him "in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew", THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
And there was no doubt who this king was:
Joh 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, "JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS".
But, there were others also crucified this same day.
*****Mar 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
Mar 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
A "malefactor" is someone who is a convicted criminal. These two thieves were convicted under Roman Law and were truly guilty of all their charges.
One of them even mocked the Lord and the other knew of His innocence.
Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: "but this man hath done nothing amiss".
Who was the last man to make it into Paradise, the Bosom of Abraham?
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise".
It was now high noon.
Luk 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
It was at the beginning of this darkness that the Veil of the Temple was rent into.
Luk 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
It was the "Veil" that separated the "most holy place" from the "holy place".
Only the High Priest had been allowed to pass through beyond this veil and that could only be done on the One day of atonement each year.
This "rip" in the veil signified "that in Jesus Christ", God had abolished this barrier.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, "through the veil", that is to say, his flesh;
Access to God can now only come through the spilled blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and "hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us";
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and "which entereth into that within the veil";
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Jesus Christ Himself is now the Veil.
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, "I am the door of the sheep".
And the only way to get to Heaven for all people.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, "but by me".
No amount of disagreement with these things can change this truth!
There is only one way to Heaven and it is through "Faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!
There were other things that happened.
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
These graves were opened in preparation for the resurrection of the saints. (Those that trust on God).
The actual resurrection of these saints did not take place until the Lord Jesus rose from His own grave!
BUT, there was one man in particular who was observing all these things and he came to the right conclusion.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
And all scripture concerning the cross was fulfilled this day.
And many more came to mock and ridicule the Lord, who just refused to accept that these things came from God.
*****Mar 15:29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
Mar 15:30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
What was the world doing while the Lord Jesus was being crucified?
1) Soldiers had a careless attitude and were gambling for His clothes.
2) A centurion in charge was keeping a watchful eye on Jesus and everything that was happening around him.
3) This crowd of Jews were just passing by mocking and shaking their heads, some hating Jesus for what He stood for but all ignorant of His truth.
4) There was a little group of friends who watched from "afar off".
5) Pilate was writing his record to send to Caesar.
6) The Jews continued with the Days of Unleavened Bread.
7) A few were making arrangements for His burial.
8) The lost world did not yet know and would need a preacher to tell them.
What had God done during this time?
a.) God had darkened the Sun.
b.) God had caused the Earth to quake.
c.) The veil of the Temple was rent into.
d.) The graves of the saints of God were opened.
e.) This darkness brought with it the dawn of a new day!
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Jesus was completing what He had come to this Earth to do!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; "but that the world through him might be saved".
So Satan and his false religion were having their day.
*****Mar 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
Mar 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
In His flesh the Lord Jesus could not physically save Himself!
As God, "He could have delivered Himself from all these things", but God was already doing His Own Will at this very moment!
Mar 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, "but what thou wilt".
There was not one moment in the life of Jesus Christ that God would have changed anything.
It was necessary, for our benefit, that God "not" save Himself!
It was the "love of God" that kept the Lord Jesus on that cross!
These that mocked had already seen miracles that only God could have done, one more miracle was not going to change their heart.
What did Abraham tell that rich man in Hell?
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, "neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead".
If we cannot read, study, and "believe" the Word of God, no amount of miracles can make us believers.
It was not a Savior these people wanted, it was a King who could make Israel to overcome Rome!
The battered and abused body of Jesus Christ had now hung on that cross for 3 hours and at noon time, at the high sun, it was now getting dark.
*****Mar 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
It is not possible that this three hour darkness was an eclipse of the sun!
The Passover is observed at the time of the full moon and an eclipse of the sun cannot happen at the time of a full moon but only at a new moon.
There is at least one ancient historian named Thallus who wrote of this event as an actual truth!
The Bible says it happened and that's all I need to know!
There is no doubt that this darkness came!
But, we can also be sure the spiritual darkness also was evident, after all, the glorious light of the Lord was being rejected by His own people.
We have these words of the Lord:
Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
There is only one sun in our system and there is only one Mediator between God and mankind.
Our sun is vast enough to light our solar system, but Jesus is Lord of All and the Sun of righteousness!
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
As the life in His flesh was passing, the darkness of evil became very visible.
Psa 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
But this darkness was for only three hours.
After all God had said this:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;" it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel".
Satan had bruised the heel of the Lord, but a death blow had been dealt to the head of Satan.
There would be a new light coming to this world but even that light has a limited time. It is called the Church Age.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This would take place because in just 3 days, not 4, Jesus would rise from the grave.
*****Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mar 15:35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
It was the darkest hour for Our Lord when He felt the wrath of God in His own body!
God had to come this earth in the form of a babe.
God had spent 33 and 1/2 years in direct fellowship with His most favorite creation but He had come at this time to fulfill a purpose.
That purpose was now completed!
"Eloi" means "My God" and was repeated.
"lama" means "why?"
"sabachthani" means "hast thou left me"
Only God can describe this scene:
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
What the Lord had said was not understood by those that carried out this crucifixion.
The Word of God cannot ever be understood until His "truth" is accepted and believed on!
Elias is the Greek form of the name Elijah.
We already know that Elijah will return but not to save the Lord, he will return during the tribulation period to help save the Jew.
*****Mar 15:36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
Mar 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
As already stated this vinegar had no alcohol content and was a drink that soldiers had with them for as much nourishment as liquid refreshment and mixed with water.
It is a fact that a soldier cannot always drink of the water in the many places they have to go.
Elijah was not coming, and the breath of life was leaving the Lord.
Jesus Christ had to die a physical death!
Just before His death Jesus had these words:
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished": and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
All the things written by the prophets about the First Coming of the Messiah had been completed.
All the things written in the Book of Psalms about the First coming of the Messiah had been completed.
The will of God, Himself, had been done!
This is a one time event that will never take place again!
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The wages of sin had been paid for the entire duration of life on this world!
This is why we have these words:
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
The means of a close personal relationship was now available to all those that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!
*****Mar 15:38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Mar 15:39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
In less than 24 hours since the Lord had partaken of the first Lord's Supper with His disciples, He had been slain and displayed on the Cross on Calvary's Mountain for all the world to see.
Truly this was the Son of God!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
