August 20, 2023
Evening Service

The chief priests and scribes plotted to kill Jesus, but not during the Passover, lest there be an uproar. Then Jesus was anointed with a costly oil and some objected it could have been sold and given to the poor. Jesus said the poor you will always have but not me, He went on to say that wherever the gospel is preached, what this woman did would be remembered as a memorial to her. Judas then agreed to betray Jesus. The Passover was eaten at a house which Jesus described to the disciples and they found it just as He said. Jesus identifies the betrayer by whom dips with Him in the dish. It was said that it would have been better for the betrayer not to have been born. Jesus broke and blessed the bread and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup and blessed it and said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many”, and they all drank from it. Jesus said He will no longer drink from the fruit of the vine until the day He drinks it new in Heaven. Jesus tells them they will all be made to stumble because of Him and Peter says he will not be and Jesus predicts his denial of three times before the rooster crows twice. They went together to Gethsemane and Jesus went to pray. He prayed three times that if the cup could be taken from Him, to do it, but not His will, but Thine will be done. After He prayed three times, He came back to sleeping disciples and said rise, my betrayer is at hand. Judas told the people with him that he would identify Jesus by kissing Him. Then Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus. They all forsook Him and fled, including a man they tried to seize by his garment and he ran away naked. As Jesus was before the council, they falsely accused Him of many things and when they asked Him if He was the Christ, and Jesus said, “I am”. The accusation of blasphemy was charged against Him and as Peter listened outside, the prediction of his denying Him thrice was fulfilled.

Mark 15

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

Mark 15:1  Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 

Mark 15:2  Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered and said to him, "It is as you say." 

Mark 15:3  And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 

Mark 15:4  Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!" 

Mark 15:5  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. 

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

Mark 15:6  Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 

Mark 15:7  And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 

Mark 15:8  Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 

Mark 15:9  But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 

Mark 15:10  For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 

Mark 15:11  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 

Mark 15:12  Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" 

Mark 15:13  So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" 

Mark 15:14  Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!"

The chief priests and scribes bound Jesus and led him away to Pilate. We need to reverently think of Jesus being bound as we are bound with Him; most importantly, that Jesus was bound for us and because of our sins. When these Jewish leaders handed over our King, they essentially handed over the kingdom of God and by their own consent taken from them and given to another nation. Jesus directly answered Pilate, but would not give any answer to the witnesses against Him. This was because the allegations of the witnesses were false and Pilate was also convinced they accused Him falsely. Pilate attempted to appeal to the people, thinking they may deliver Jesus out of the priests' hands. Regardless, the people were egged on even more by the priests, and cried Crucify him! Crucify him! The fact that Jesus is the only perfect example of humankind to ever walk the earth, and He was treated so shamefully says a lot for the evil residing in the heart of man. Jesus was not only sinless in all that He did and said, but also the wisest, most holy, and totally obedient to the will of God, even to death! This shows the true disposition of man and his opposition for holiness to God as ruler and King of all. We would be quick to condemn the actions of these leading clergy, but we must remember that Christ went to the cross for our sins, it was not just the evil of the priests and scribes, but our wickedness was of equal value to theirs. Our life lived on face value warrants death and separation from God forever because of our sins. Jesus laid down His life, spilling His blood as the Holy Lamb of God, to pardon our sin so we can have life eternal with Him!

Mark 15:15  So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. 

Jesus Is Mocked

Mark 15:16  Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 

Mark 15:17  And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 

Mark 15:18  and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 

Mark 15:19  Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 

Mark 15:20  And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. 

The Crucifixion

Mark 15:21  Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 

Crucifixion, the type of death suffered by Jesus was reserved for the vilest offenders; it was not only very painful, but also shameful and dishonorable. Therefore, the cross Jesus gave His life on and the shame of it are joined together. Mankind dishonored God by sin, Christ made reconciliation by submitting to the greatest disgrace human nature could displace upon Him. The Jewish law as stated in Deuteronomy cursed the nature of Jesus’ death.

Deuteronomy 21:23  his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

We think of hanging as the way of wrapping a rope around the neck and then your footing removed to make you fall. However, the hanging on a tree is also how the crucifixion was referred to in biblical times. The Roman soldiers mocked our Lord Jesus as a King; the same mocking heard as a Prophet and Savior in the high priest's hall. How could we then think a purple or scarlet robe is considered proud to a Christian, being it was matter of disapproval and humiliation to Christ? Jesus was adorned with a crown of thorns, which we deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory, which He warranted for us. We have through our sins, earned everlasting shame and contempt; to deliver us from our wages, our Lord Jesus willingly submitted to shame and contempt. He was guided forward by the workers of wickedness, although he committed no sin. Jesus suffering and yet remaining dedicated to the will of God should be a source of instruction to us for not becoming overtired and feeling debilitated. Since Jesus did suffer terribly for no sin of His own, should we being sinners become worried or discontent? Should we become angry when we have troubles or disappointments? We only need look at Jesus and His example of forgiveness and love for others, no matter what comes our way. He was still seeking forgiveness for the sinners that placed Him on the cross, make no mistake, we are the sinners that placed Him on the cross.

 

Mark 15:22  And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 

Mark 15:23  Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 

Mark 15:24  And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. 

Mark 15:25  Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 

Mark 15:26  And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

Mark 15:27  With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 

Mark 15:28  So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS." 

Mark 15:29  And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 

Mark 15:30  save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" 

Mark 15:31  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 

Mark 15:32  Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

The Place of the Skull, Golgotha is where they crucified Jesus; it was where they performed executions on the commoners, in all respects, truly numbered with the transgressors. King of the Jews was written above the head of Jesus on the cross and we must truly recognize Christ as our King and submit ourselves to Him to be ruled by Him as if we ourselves were Israelites. Two thieves were crucified with Him, one on either side to intentionally show Jesus to be dishonored by the placement. We know in scripture, it was foretold that He would be numbered with the transgressors because He was made sin for us.

Isaiah 53:12  Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Even those passing by hurled mockeries at Him. They told Him to come down from the cross, and they would believe; but they did not believe, Jesus gave them a more convincing sign when he came up alive from the grave. Surely, if you believe the Truth of Jesus, you would by His sufferings, death, and resurrection, seek for salvation through Him! We owe the greatest gratitude to Jesus for going to the cross in our place, with our belief in Him; we receive the hope of forgiveness and eternal life. Imagine the love of God, He sent His only Son to die for our sins to reconcile us back to Him! What a Lord and Savior we have! In addition, we have great sorrow that our sins is what made the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus necessary for us to be redeemed! Our lives belong to Him! 

The Death of Jesus

Mark 15:33  Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 

Mark 15:34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" 

Mark 15:35  Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!" 

Mark 15:36  Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down." 

Mark 15:37  And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. 

Mark 15:38  Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 

Mark 15:39  So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" 

Mark 15:40  There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 

Mark 15:41  who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. 

At noon, there was a thick darkness over the land and lasted until three in the afternoon. The Jews were doing everything possible to do away with the Son of Righteousness. This darkness happened as Jesus was giving Himself as an offering for the sin of the world. It was as if when Jesus was dying on the cross, the Light of the World was extinguished. Jesus did not complain that his disciples forsook Him, but that His Father forsook him. This is because He was made sin for us, He had no sin of His own and He died a perfect, sinless sacrifice to re-claim us the sinner. At the very moment that Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom. The Jewish people who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, were terrified when the veil was torn, this was a sign of their church and nation coming to destruction. On the reverse of that, all believing Christians were comforted to know the veil being torn showed a new way to the holiest by the blood of Jesus. When Jesus openly talked to God as His Father, and committed His soul into His hands, the centurion was convinced Jesus was the Son of God! Rightly dividing the gospel of Christ crucified will reconcile the believer to the thought of death. A true believer will long to behold, love, praise, and cherish, as he should, the Savior who was wounded and pierced to save him from the wrath to come.

Jesus Is Buried

Mark 15:42  Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 

Mark 15:43  Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 

Mark 15:44  Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 

Mark 15:45  So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 

Mark 15:46  Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 

Mark 15:47  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid. 

Now the burial of our Lord Jesus has taken place. Joseph of Arimathea was one who waited for the kingdom of God and was a disciple of Jesus. This man God raised up for His service, for the very purpose of taking care of Christ’s body and burial. If we hope to share in the privileges that go along with serving Christ, we must own the cause of Christ when things seem to be crumbling away. There was strict precautions that Pilate adhered to when they inquired about the body of Jesus, so that none would be able to say that He was alive. Once confirmed from the centurion that Jesus was dead, Pilate gave Joseph permission to take down the body, and do what he pleased with it. Some of the women took note of where Jesus was laid. Special notice was taken of Christ's tomb, because He was expected to rise again. The death of our Lord and Savior was deprived of its sting, this soon ended the believer's sorrows, and our Savior will ascend to glory, to be alive forevermore!