8/26/10 Mark 15:33-41 The Death of Christ

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" 40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

(Crucifixion Rembrandt 1633- Note: he painted himself as one of those who crucified Christ)

Thoughts: The One who had ultimate and final trust in the Father felt forsaken of God.  He was forsaken that we might have fellowship with God.  When we feel forsaken- it is okay- it is part of our humanity.  The ultimate aloneness is death and eternal separation from God.  Calvin talked about Christ's descending into hell for us when he died on the cross.  Yet we should always look at the cross in the light of the resurrection.  We know "the rest of the story."  The forsakeness of Christ (and us) does not last.  The covenant love of God and the power of God to help raise us up lasts forever.

Prayer: Lord, when I sink down, strengthen me for my journey.  When I feel forsaken, help me to have faith in your power to raise me up.

John Calvin abridged: Although the death of Christ concealed his glory, and showed his humility (Phil. 2:7), yet there were hints about his power and future state even then.  The darkening of the sun, the earthquake, the splitting of rocks (Mt. 27:51), and the splitting of the veil testify to the majesty of Christ.  It was almost as if heaven and earth were worshiping Christ. The darkening of the sun was to arouse them to consider the astonishing design in the death of Christ. It is amazing that the scribes and priests could be blind to this darkening. I do not think this was a universal eclipse (as some say).  If it was universal people would say it was a natural occurrence. His cry of forsakeness showed the depths of his anguish and also that he was bearing the judgment of God that we deserved.  Christ's faith remained strong despite his human feeling of forsakenness.  He still called out to God and relied on Him for aid. As they perverted Christ's words in the Syriac language (given so we might hear Christ's anguish clearer- yet they thought he called for Elijah), so the enemies of Christ can also pervert and misunderstand our words. The rending of the veil (meant to keep the people from entering or seeing the Holy of holies) was meant to show the law had been abrogated and that heaven was open and we may freely advance into the presence of God.  The centurion's words (surely this was the Son of God), were given that we might note that even an irreligious soldier was inspired both by Christ's persevering strength combined with the miracles.  The women's presence at the cross means there were witnesses to these events, but also it is a rebuke to the apostles and men who lacked the courage to be there. 

8/25/10 Mark 15:21-32 The Crucifixion

21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull"). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27-28 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!" 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Thoughts: The Christian church was integrated at the very beginning.  Simon was from Cyrene in North Africa, and his children were with him, Alexander and Rufus.  Perhaps the Romans thought picking Simon to carry the cross was a disgrace, but this clearly wasn't a momentary indignified service for them, but a great honor they remembered the rest of their lives- a life changing experience.  How do we know?  Alexander and Rufus are mentioned in Romans 16:13 as leaders in the early church.  The lesson for us is that the inconvenient interruptions in our life- the trials and crosses- may turn to be life changing experiences for us- for our good.
 
Prayer: Lord, give me grace to take up your cross daily and willingly.
 
John Calvin abridged: Christ was taken outside the city in keeping with the Old Testament law that indicated that the atoning sacrifice should be taken outside the camp (Ex. 29:13; Lev. 16:27; Heb. 13:12).  Our Lord was offered vinegar and gall before he was placed on the cross (and offered sponge vinegar later- as recorded in John).  "Dividing up his clothes"- The Son of Man was stripped of his clothes that we, through his nakedness, might gain eternal clothing (Ps. 22:18). "Third hour" means not the beginning but the end of the third hour.  It is probable that Christ did not hang on the cross longer than three hours.  "crucified two rebels with him"- Mark says this in reference to Isaiah 53:12 in which Christ is numbered with transgressors.  Christ who is eternal justice is ranked with robbers.  We see Christ's love for us here.  In order to admit us to the holy society of angels, he permitted himself to be classed among the wicked.