Mark 15
This is a hard chapter to read as it details the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and death. We would rather skim over the chapter without really engaging in what the people did and said to Jesus. None of us likes to think about being spit on, beaten, mocked, having a crown of thorns pierced into our heads or can even comprehend hanging on a cross. Would we have walked through this process as humbly as Jesus did? Because we haven’t met Jesus face to face, it’s hard to get a visual of what it was like. But, imagine someone close to you like your spouse or a parent or one of your children and having to endure watching them go through that. How horrible it must have been for our God to watch Jesus endure a death He didn’t deserve to redeem us from a death that we do deserve.
I was also impacted by God’s sovereignty and plan in this chapter. He has foretold of Jesus since the beginning (see Genesis 3:15). God doesn’t do things recklessly or without forethought. He has a plan that cannot be thwarted by anything we do or by any evil that exists. And, while things happen that we can’t fathom, we can be comforted that He understands why they are happening and that ultimately He will use it for our good (Romans 8:28) and His Glory (Isaiah 46: 9-10). He used Jesus’ crucifixion for our good in that He saved us from sin and for His Glory in that he proved that He was God by creating freedom to worship Him through the tearing of the temple veil and in literally raising Jesus from the dead on the third day. He is always true to what He says.
What thoughts do you have on this chapter?
-Miranda
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I can't imagine going through this as a Mother as Mary did. It's crazy to even try and imagine it at all. I have always read this chapter in the past and have always been curious about Pilate. Did he even want to crucify Christ or was he giving what the people wanted? Did he regret doing it or ever think twice about it? I guess that is all I really have on my mind for now.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this it breaks my heart. Jesus while being beaten, tormented, spit on, ridiculed, swore at, and in some chapters it tells of the hair being ripped from his face, never once complained. He prayed. He forgave. He asked the Lord if this was truly his destiny and when the Lord answered yes, he took what came with humility. Never once backing down. Never once expecting someone to save him or take his place. He knew what must be fullfilled and he let nothing stand in his way. I heard a pastor teach one time about how we use the excuse of being too tired to do stuff..too tired to come to church, too tired to clean the house, too tired to mow the grass, etc. etc. and he said to us "I wonder how tired Jesus was carrying that cross all that way AFTER he endured a beating? And yet he knew he had to make it and didnt stop" It still makes me stop and think even now when I complain about how tired I am from work and I have things that need to get done. Everything Jesus endured was to pay for our sin. Can you wrap your mind around the fact that God loved us so much and wanted to save us so bad that he willingly sent his son to die a horrible violent death? I know I can't. The world was full of sin and deserved any punishment God was ready to send down, and instead he forgave us and saved us. There arent enough praises to cover it!
ReplyDeleteI have read this story many a time, and this time I tried to look for something new, something I hadn't noticed before. What I paid close attention to was all the "other" people in this story, and how they reacted to Jesus' punishment and death. A few things stuck out to me that leave me with some questions:
ReplyDelete1. Pilate - I think Pilate did not feel good about sentencing Jesus to death. He was the only one who could, as it was not a decision for the council to make. His questions to Jesus and his continued effort to get him to condemn himself amke me feel that he was uncomfortable and clearly a coward. Then, he tries to get the people to set him free by the customary release of one prisoner, but the council prodded the crowd to release Barabbas. So, was he a believer? Did he feel Jesus' power and authority and shake in his boots that this was his decision to make? Was he so pressured by the crowd that he simply couldn't go with his concience? How much sleep did he lose over this role he had to play?
2. The Centurian - there isn't much back story on this one, but it really struck me as interesting that this centurian, who likely had been a guard for many a crucifixion, observed the way Jesus died and when Jesus breathed his last said, "Truly this man is the son of God." What was so different about this passing that made him feel that? Did the power that came from Jesus so overwhelm him that he couldn't help but believe? What exactly was it that brought about this confession?
There were many other people in this story that had different perspectives of Jesus' death, but these two struck me as very intriguing this time.
I completely agree with you, Kendra, on what torture it must have been for Mary, as His mother, to watch what He endured. Every time I read this, I get a very harsh dose of reality, and a terrible pain of guilt and shame in the pit of my stomach, telling me that He did this for me, He did this for my family, for my neighbor, for my brothers and sisters in Christ, and as Shelly said, we often have excuses for why we can't do things for Him. Do we deserve this Redemption through Christ when we fall so short of what we are supposed to stand for through Him- No! But He deserves all of the Glory and Praise from us, and as a Praise and Worship team, we have such a unique opportunity to show Him how we truly feel, and to engage others so that they may be able to show Him what they feel as well, through the power of music. I think we have one of the easiest Ministries to reach people with. Serving on the Worship team isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but I recognize that having been given the gift of song, with voices, instruments, and technical abilities, in today's society, we have been given a gift to serve with that can universally connect with most all people. It's just a matter of stepping out of our comfort zones, outside of the music, with no instruments to hide behind, that could be the determining factor of just how many people we reach.
ReplyDeleteWe can't imagine what our lord went through at that time. I do see another example that he lived through it all. He suffered patiently not complaining about anything. We complain often and about many situations because we want everything our way and now. Wonder how God pictures us everytime we are like this. Most of us don't know what true suffering is.
ReplyDeleteFor myself I believe good lessons are here to be learned. Maybe God is glorified when I have faith and suffer patiently. Whatever God lays on me, maybe I should work patiently through it as he did for me If I say I believe in him and believe his word, I must be an example of that.
I have always wondered about the meaning of the words Jesus spoke just before his death, "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'—which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" When Eric spoke about this other week it really gave me a better understanding. When sin was put upon Jesus it was a tremendous unimaginable weight. We sin everyday and rarely see the ramifications. This is a testament to how damaging sin really is. Also one verse I have never eally paid any attention to is 38'The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.' I finally realize it means we now have a direct route to God. Direct communication, direct emotions, direct Love.
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