84 Jesus is Crucified [Mark 15:20–41]
The Bible passage: [Mark 15:20–41]
The Story:
They held a fake trial where He was sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was mocked and beaten, then led out to be crucified.
A man named Simon was coming in from the country with his two sons. As he was passing by, they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.
They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place). They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.
It was nine in the morning when they crucified Him.
A sign was put on the cross with the charges against Him and an inscription that said THE KING OF THE JEWS.
They crucified two criminals with Him, one on His right and one on His left. The Scripture was fulfilled that says: “And He was counted among outlaws.”
Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! He said He would destroy the temple and build it in three days. If you’re so powerful, save Yourself by coming down from that cross!”
In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking Him to one another and saying, “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself! Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross and we will believe in Him.”
Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land for three hours.
At three, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
When some of those nearby heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!”
Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, hooked it on a stick, and offered Him a drink, saying, “Let’s see if Elijah will come save Him!”
Jesus let out a loud cry and took His last breath.
The curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was split in two from top to bottom.
When the centurion, who was near Him, saw the way He died, he said, “This man really was God’s Son!”
The Lessons:
- The prophesy about outlaws is found in [Isaiah 53:12].
- When taunted about saving Himself from the cross, Jesus didn’t respond. He was doing what He came to earth to do. He could have saved Himself, but He chose not to.
- In asking “Why have You forsaken me?”, Jesus quoted [Psalm 22:1]. Crucifixion was a particularly brutal form of execution. A person being crucified slowly suffocated to death.
- In [Luke 23:42-43], where Luke tells about the crucifixion, one of the criminals beside Jesus on another cross asks Jesus to “remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus responds by telling him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” No one is too bad a person to be accepted by Jesus.
- In the temple in Jerusalem, there was an area called the Holy of Holies, which represented the earthly dwelling place of God. Only the high priest was allowed in the Holy of Holies, and only once a year when he offered an annual sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick curtain, about 60 feet tall. This is the curtain that was torn in two when Jesus died. It being torn from top to bottom showed that it was torn by God, not by man. The removal of the curtain represented that mankind now has direct access to God for forgiveness of their sins, with Jesus as the sacrifice.
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