loudandclear

Mark 15:21-32

21 A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.)22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”).

23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.
24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dicet to decide who would get each piece.25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.”

27 Two revolutionariest were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.t
29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days.

30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself!

32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.

(((Men that were condemned to death in this day under the rule of the Roman Empire were sentenced to carrying a massive wooden cross to Golgotha to then be nailed to it and die slowly.  We are so acclimated to depictions and pictures of Jesus carrying the cross but we should slow down as we read this and remember the immense agony, pain, and suffering that Jesus took on.  Remember, Jesus had been flogged by a staff with spikes on it….ripping his flesh off of his body and beating him senseless.  Jesus then was told to carry a huge wooden cross that was upwards of 50 lbs.  Jesus never said a word.  He could have called down the armies of God to save Him…but He took it all on…for you and for me.)))

(((While on the cross, the soldiers attempted to give Jesus wine mixed with myrrh.  In this time, wine was mixed with incense in an attempt to lessen or deaden pain.  The soldiers attempted to slow Jesus’ pain, but He refused it…knowing that He must die in this way for His mission to be accomplished.)))

(((This section ends in humiliation for Jesus.  People would walk by just to rip Him and make fun of Him for making Messianic claims about who He was and what He would bring and do on earth.  Teachers of the Law (religious leaders) taunted Him for “saving” others but not having the strength to save Himself.  Jesus stayed quiet.  He suffered and did not respond to the scoffing.  He knew this had to happen for His mission to be accomplished.)))