Day #316

Sermon - Audio
Matt 27, Mark 15 - Reading
Matt 27, Mark 15 - Audio

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Matt 27 and Mark 15

27.1: Elders are part of the noble class along with the priests. They are heads of influential families and community leaders.

27.1: The reasons Jesus is put to death include:

1. A fear that the ruling elite will lose their place. If they lose their place they will also lose the financial benefits that come with their place.

2. Pure Envy

3. A fear that Jesus will start a revolution and bring down the wrath of Rome. The result would be a loss of political power for the Sadducees and Elders.

*The only reason that is not in the mix is a theological one. They use blasphemy as an excuse to kill Jesus, but it’s not the real reason.

27.3,19: Again, the testimony that Jesus is innocent.

The entire crucifixion of Jesus has close ties with Psalm 22.

27.25: These words sadly have been used as an excuse to persecute the Jewish people. Since Jesus is Jewish, his first followers Jewish, and because he had many supporters among the Jewish people it is totally wrong to say that these words uttered by a mob make all Jews complicit in the crucifixion of Jesus. The only complicity that all Jews have in the crucifixion of Jesus is the same complicity that all people have in his crucifixion—our sin.

27.27-31: The pain that Jesus experiences is not only on the cross.

27.34: According to Jewish law a person who is condemned to die is to be given something to numb the pain. This comes on the basis of Prov. 31.6 that says, “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, wine to those bitter of soul.”

27.38: Robbers: This word most likely means people who are part of a rebellion. They may be connected with Barabbas. Robbers are not usually crucified.

27.40: Jesus in staying on the cross destroys the temple (his body) and opens the way for its being rebuilt by the resurrection.

27.46 is a quote from Psalm 22. In quoting one verse Jesus is calling those who are listening to think of the whole Psalm. A Psalm that ends with triumph, not despair and death. Jesus is effect is saying—keep watching, something is going to happen that will change everything.

27.51: Curtain tears—a picture of the grief of God that tells us it takes God’s deep grief to open the way for us to enter his presence.

27.54: Another testimony to the honor and innocence of Jesus.

27.55: Women are always part of the group that follows Jesus.

Mark 15

1-5 - This is the official trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (assembly of religious judges all over Israel), also described in Luke 22:66-71. There are many thoughts on why this trial was held "first thing in the morning." Some believe that it was held at this time to make sure there would not be any issues concerning the decision from Jesus' followers. The Jews needed to ask the Romans for permission to get rid of Jesus...We see how much Israel relied upon Rome. When Jesus is delivered to Pilate, the Jewish leaders were probably excited. Other historical writings tell us that Pilate was not a "nice guy."

Why "King of the Jews?" is the charge. Doesn't this seem like an odd charge against Jesus? See, they Jewish people knew that Rome could care less if Jesus claimed to be a "god." Rome may have looked the other way with that, but Jesus claiming to be a King over a group of people that Rome had governance...would be a political issue to Rome. Jesus never teaches to riot against a government, but is accused of doing so. In fact, Jesus says to pay your taxes :)

Jesus stays quiet when questioned...very strange for a man headed for death. Jesus probably could have been spared had he repented for these actions, even if he hadn't done them...but Jesus came to live and die.

6-15 - Most people think that Pilate saw right through the Sanhedrin's plan, so he offered a choice probably thinking that there was no way the people would choose Barabbas...but they did. The Jewish people in Jerusalem listened to their leaders. This is one of the weirdest scenes that takes place in all of history. A horrible Roman governor trying to save the life or a man who works miracles for the Jews, against the Jewish people's wishes...strange.

“As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock. The extent of blood loss may well have determined how long the victim would survive the cross.” (Edwards)

16-20 - A king of that day would often wear a purple robe and a gilded wreath of leaves. The rag of purple and crown of thorns was a mockery of this common practice.

"Hail, King of the Jews" was a complete mockery of Jesus as many would greet the Roman emperor with "Hail Caesar!"

“See that scarlet robe; it is a contemptuous imitation of the imperial purple that a king wears . . . See, above all, that crown upon his head. It has rubies in it, but the rubies are composed of his own blood, forced from his blessed temples by the cruel thorns. See, they pay him homage; but the homage is their own filthy spittle which runs down his cheeks. They bow the knee before him, but it is only in mockery. They salute him with the cry, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ but it is done in scorn. Was there ever grief like his?” (Spurgeon)

Jesus was used as an example for Rome, much like every other crucification was. This is why they were extra horrifying...we have no idea how brutal this process was.

21-23 - A cross probably weighed 250-300 pounds, the crossbar around 100. Jesus would have had to carry the 100 pound crossbar. However, his body was in no condition to do so.

Simon/Father of Rufus: Apparently Rufus was known in the early church and was himself a Christian. If this Rufus is the same one mentioned in Romans 16:13, we can surmise that Simon came to know what it really meant to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus. We may know that his sons became leaders among the early Christians.

Golgotha - "Place of the Skull" - Where criminals were believed to have been crucified.

"did not take it" - “Was it out of any love to suffering that he thus refused the wine-cup? Ah, no; Christ had no love of suffering. He had a love of souls, but like us he turned away from suffering, he never loved it . . . Why, then, did he suffer? For two reasons: because this suffering to the utmost was necessary to the completion of the atonement, which saves to the utmost; and because this suffering to the utmost was necessary to perfect his character as ‘a merciful High Priest’ who has to compassionate souls that have gone to the utmost of miseries themselves; that he might know how to succor them that are tempted.” -Spurgeon-

24-26 - Divide my garments - This was in fulfillment of the prophecy in Psalm 22: They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots (Psalm 22:18)

Crucifixion - a slow way of death/murder with the most amount of pain...Rome was great at it.

27-32 - The mockery continues, but Jesus will have the final words.

33-37 - In the writing of Phlegon (a Roman historian)...he makes mention of an extraordinary solar eclipse as well as of an earthquake about the time of the crucifixion.” (Geldenhuys) This is especially remarkable because during a full moon - which Passover was always held at - a natural eclipse of the sun is impossible. This was an extraordinary miracle.

Many people wonder if this is Jesus blaming His Father or something, but it actually is Jesus identifying with suffering and stating that He has fulfilled Psalm 22. He is victorious.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - forsaken - "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Jesus says, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” Not only did they get wrong what they heard (Jesus said, “Eloi” not “Elijah”), but they also only heard one word of what He said.

John 19:30 tells us what He said when He cried with a loud voice: it is finished, which is one word in the ancient Greek language, the word tetelestai. This ancient wordtetelestai means, “Paid in Full.” This is the cry of a winner, because Jesus paid in full the debt of sin we owed, and had finished the eternal purpose of the cross.

38-41 - As the wall of separation between God and man is removed, the veil is torn from top to bottom.

42-47 - Bodies of victims were usually left on the cross to rot or be eaten. However, the people would not allow this to happen to Jesus. In fact, Joseph risked getting in trouble from Rome by even making this request.

Because of the coming Sabbath, they were unable to properly prepare the body of Jesus for burial. So, in hurried preparations, Jesus’ body is placed in a borrowed tomb.