THE KING ON THE CROSS: What more
could He have done?
Mark 15:21-32
Introduction:
Brennan Manning, the author of The
Ragamuffin Gospel, enlisted in the army with his childhood friend Ray. They
had grown up together and stayed best friends…
Together they went to Boot Camp, and
then served on the front lines during the Korean war. One night while sitting in a foxhole, Brennan
was reminiscing about the old days in Brooklyn while Ray listened and ate a
chocolate bar. Suddenly a live grenade came into the trench. Ray dropped his
chocolate bar, looked at Brennan, smiled, and then threw himself on the live
grenade. It exploded, killing Ray instantly, but Brennan was saved. Years
later, Brennan was visiting Ray’s mother in Brooklyn. They sat up late one
night having tea when Brennan asked her, “Do you think Ray loved me?” Mrs.
Brennan got up off the couch, shook her finger in front of Brennan’s face and
shouted, “What more could he have done for you?”
Brennan said that moment was an epiphany for him, thinking of
times when he asked himself, “Does God really love me?” Have you asked that
question? Maybe when life was hard, or things didn’t work out the way you had
hoped? What more could He have done for you? He endured the shame and
agony, He drank the cup of wrath so that we could one day drink the cup of
blessing. Life in this fallen world can be tough. But we have a High Priest
who can sympathize with us in our weakness! Mark seems to be writing his gospel to
believers who are suffering for their faith. He wanted his readers to know,
and God wants us to know, “This is how
God showed His love among us, He sent His one and only Son into the world, that
we might live through Him…” (I John 4:9). Does He love you? Look at the Cross. What more could He
have done for you? Augustine said, “The
Cross is the pulpit from which God preached His love to the world.” That is…
The BIG Idea: Every detail of the crucifixion,
according to God’s plan, fulfilled Scripture, proving that Jesus is the
promised Messiah. His willingness to endure it all proved His love for
us.
I. Who is this Man? The “Lifting Up” of the King on the
Cross (15:21-26). The
word “king” only appears 11 times in Mark’s Gospel. It appears 5 times in
chapter 6, referring to king Herod, when he made his foolish vow to the
daughter of Herodias, and then had John killed. Kingship at its worst. In
contrast, it then appears six times in this chapter, three times Pilate uses
the full title, “King of the Jews”
(vv.3,9,12), in the passage we looked at last week it is used by the mocking
soldiers (v.16), and in our text today it appears again in the title written on
the placard nailed to the cross as the charge for which Jesus was executed
(v.26). We’ll see the phrase modified only slightly by the leaders who are
there at the crucifixion as they mock Jesus, taunting him as “the King of Israel” (32). The
irony is that rather than a defeat, disproving
His messianic identity, step-by-step, His rejection vindicates His identity as the true King, the Son of God and
Messiah predicted in the Scriptures. We’ll pick up where we left off, 15:21…
21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from
the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22
And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a
Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did
not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments
among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.
We looked before
at v.21, as a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, was compelled to carry the cross of
Christ. This testifies to the weakened, human, state of Jesus. Just prior He
had endured the scourging, and then the mocking abuse of the soldiers,
including the crown of thorns pushed down onto his head. Remember that “thorns”
first appeared in the context of the curse, following the Fall, in Genesis
chapter three. The thorns remind us that He took the curse for us, He took
the judgment that we deserved, so that we could receive blessing and
reconciliation with God. He came to undo the Fall and in Christ we are already
part of the New Creation (2 Cor 5:17). The trauma that Christ endured at
the hands of the Roman soldiers was so intense, He was unable to carry His
cross to the execution site. The soldiers conscripted Simon, compelling him to
pick up the cross, and follow them to the hill. That reminds us of the call to
every disciple in 8:34, to deny self, and to “…pick up the cross, and follow Him.” Are we willing?
There is a place today that is identified with Golgotha, the place of the Skull. As with many geographical
locations, it is uncertain if the exact spot pointed out by tour guides is
correct. What matters is that it would have been near there, just outside the
city gate, near the main road, just a few hundred yards perhaps from the
Temple. There they offered wine mixed with myrrh, probably as a sedative, but
Jesus refused it. He would endure the Cross, and drink the cup set before
Him to the dregs. And before He died, he had a few more words to utter from
the cross – to His mother, and to the beloved disciple; “Behold your son… behold your mother…”; He also said, “tetelestai,” i.e. “It is finished… the debt
is paid”; “I thirst!”; “Into your hands I commit my spirit…”; “Father forgive them, they know not what they
are doing…” None of the gospels include all of these sayings, but together
they paint a picture of purposeful fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. But
here in Mark, we have only one, the opening line from Psalm 22 (we’ll look at
that next week). Already, however, the events themselves would cause someone
familiar with Psalm 22 to think about the parallels between the lament of the
psalmist, and the passion of Christ.
Humiliating, agonizing death,
by crucifixion, prophesied a thousand years earlier, before crucifixion was
known (22-24; Ps 22:18). They strip Him of His clothes, apparently as a
further act of humiliation, but it would also add to his suffering as the sun
rose higher in the sky. The soldiers divided His clothes among them, but then, they
cast lots rather than tearing one. Just by chance? A thousand years earlier,
David wrote in Ps 22…
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart
is like wax; it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue
sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a
company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet- 17 I can count all my bones- they
stare and gloat over me; 18 they
divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots… (Ps 22:14-18).
How descriptive of the crucifixion,
his suffering, the mockers around Him, the piercing of His hands and His feet,
even dividing His garments. Mark doesn’t draw attention to the fulfillment,
there is no quotation formula to highlight it like, “To fulfill what was
written by the prophet…” or some such thing. He just describes the scene,
allowing us to hear the echoes of the Old Testament Scriptures and come to our
own realization: Christ died for our
sins, according to the Scriptures…
Crucified with sinners, one
on His right, one on his left (25-27; Isa 53:12; cf. Mark 10:37).
Throughout the Passion Narrative in Mark we’ve heard echoes not only of Psalm
22, but also of Isaiah 53. Isaiah wrote of the Suffering Servant that He would
be, “…numbered with the transgressors…” (Isa 53:12). Here He is
crucified between two thieves. The word translated “thief” could also mean “insurrectionist.” That fits the idea of
capital punishment better, and also the earlier reference to Barabbas, who had “killed someone in the rebellion.”
In the context of Mark’s Gospel, it is
hard not to think back a few pages when, after Jesus taught for the third time
about his coming suffering and death, that two of His followers abruptly asked
a favor of Him, "Grant us to sit,
one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory…" (Mk
10:38). Now, as the Son of Man is lifted up, where are they? They didn’t yet
understand the idea of a Crucified Messiah, a rejected and suffering King! Nor did they understand the cost of being a
disciple! Was the third cross that day supposed to be for Barabbas? Jesus,
though innocent, took his place.
25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the
charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." 27 And with him they crucified two
robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
The practice of the Romans was to
write the charge for which a prisoner was being executed on a placard, and then
to nail it to the cross, over the head of the condemned. The issue in the trial
before Pilate focused on only one thing: “Are
you the King of the Jews?” Pilate had asked in 15:12, “What shall I do with the one you call king of the Jews?” That was the charge for which He was
crucified. John tells us that the leaders objected, asking Pilate to write
instead, “He claimed to be King of
the Jews.” But Pilate wouldn’t budge, and replied “What I have written, I have written.” The charge would stand. And
not the plans of Pilate, or of the Jewish leaders, but the plan of God,
determined in eternity past, would be accomplished. You see, every detail
of the crucifixion, unfolded according to God’s plan, fulfilling the Scriptures
which had been written centuries before, and so proving that Jesus is the
promised Messiah. His willingness to endure the Cross, proved His love
for us.
II. Why did He come? He would not save Himself because He came to save others by the sacrifice
of Himself (29-32). As the cross was approaching, we read in John’s Gospel that
Jesus said to His disciples, “Now is my
soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for
this purpose I have come to this hour. 28
Father, glorify your name...” (Jn 12:27-28a). In John, the glorification of
the Son happens as He is “lifted up” on the Cross (Jn 3:14). It seems to me
that Mark has this same perspective – the Cross is vindication and victory,
while also revealing the spiritual blindness of the leaders of the people—they
could not see.
29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying,
"Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down
from the cross!" 31 So
also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying,
"He saved others; he cannot save himself.
32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the
cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also
reviled him.
He was ridiculed by
passers-by (29-30). The reference to the mockers of Christ “wagging their
heads” also evokes Psalm 22,
7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 "He trusts in the LORD; let
him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!" (Ps 22:7-8).
Now read Mark 15:29-30…
29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and
saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three
days, 30 save yourself, and
come down from the cross!"
The leaders join in with the
passers-by, mocking
the King on the Cross (31-32a),
31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another,
saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the
Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and
believe."
Not only was Jesus mocked by
passers-by and the leaders, but even “Those
who were crucified with him also reviled him.” He was even taunted
by the condemned men at his side! By the way, we know later, one repents,
we read about that in Lk 23:38-43,
…There was also an inscription over
him, "This is the King of the Jews."
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,
saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him,
saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of
condemnation? 41 And we
indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man
has done nothing wrong." 42
And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom." 43 And he said
to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
This man was surely a hard case… he
was deriding Christ along with the other convict in the beginning. But
something (or someone!) changed his heart and he cries out to Jesus for
salvation. And he was heard! Whoever
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! That should encourage us as we
witness to the people in our sphere of influence. Even the hard cases. Is there
one you interact with on a regular basis, someone who is part of your oikos, who has resisted spiritual
things? We might think it will never happen… but stay faithful, and prayerful,
with gentleness and respect look for openings to give a reason for the hope
that you have in Jesus. The thief on the cross had to be a hard case!
Come to think of it, so was I, and maybe you were too. So stay faithful, and
prayerful!
What is God saying to me in this passage? Remember that Mark is writing to believers in
Rome who are under persecution, suffering for their faith. Could it be that He
wants to think not only of the suffering King in Psalm 22, but also to reflect
on the hope of which the psalm speaks?
We read in Psalm 22:26-28,
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall
praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!
27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the
LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the
LORD, and he rules over the nations (see also Psalm 2:8).
He was crucified as the King of the
Jews, but that is not the end of the story! It is Friday, but Sunday is coming!
Every detail of the crucifixion fulfilled Scripture, proving that Jesus is the
Messiah, the One prophesied in the Law, the prophets, and the writings. His
willingness to endure the Cross, proved His love for us.
What would
God have me to do in response to this passage?
1) Look
in the mirror: Consider their taunts and mocking, their lostness is
profound! But then remember, we too are sinners, saved only by grace. Paul
wrote in Eph 2:1-4,
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked,
following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - 3 among whom we all once lived in
the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body1 and
the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich
in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even
when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by
grace you have been saved…
2) Look
at the Cross: Does God love you? Look at the Cross! WHAT MORE COULD HE
HAVE DONE FOR YOU?
“God commends His love toward us in that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). “This is how God showed His love among us: He
sent His one and only Son into the world, that we might live through Him”
(I John 4:9). “Greater love has no man
than this: that He lay down His life for His friends…” (John 15:13). “God spared
not the Son, but delivered Him up for us all…” (Romans 8:32a) .
Does
God love you? Look at the Cross, and you have the answer. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Yes, as Augustine said, “The Cross
is the pulpit from which God preached His love to the world.” Have
you trusted Him as your only hope of salvation?
3) Look
to the Lord: This is why He came… there were ruined sinners to
reclaim! He planned it all, He came to
rescue us. From heaven He came and bought us. Let’s thank God for His indescribable gift,
and worship Him! AMEN.
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