Suffering

N.T.#451 

Dec. 26, 2024 "Suffering"

Mark 15-Part 7 

LET IT GLOW

Mark does not tell us about the fourth and fifth trials which Jesus went through. Luke tells us in chapter 23 about Jesus tried by Herod Antipas, the governor of Galilee. However, Herod made no specific charges against the Messiah although He was questioned at length. Then Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, which is found in Matthew 27, for His sixth trial. 

Pilate declared Jesus to not be guilty but sentenced Him to be crucified to mollify the angry mob. Simultaneously, a man guilty of murder, treason, and sedition was released. Dying on a cross was meant to keep noncitizens in line. It was common enough that a place outside the walls of Jerusalem was used by the Roman army-the skull. The Way of Suffering leads to hope; Gethsemane and Golgotha lead to glory. (Swindoll) 

Christ claimed to be God, and by Jewish law, He should die. (Lev. 24:16) Pilate had been warned by his wife about Christ (Matt. 27:19), and now he realized that he may be dealing with the Son of God. Yet, Pilate was spiritually blind. Also, if the Jews contacted Caesar, and explained Pilate released a king who threatened Roman authority, Pilate would be guilty of treason against Rome. (Falwell)

It was a catch 22 for Pilate. After the crowd cried, "Crucify him," Pilate said to the Jewish leaders and mob:

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. (verse 22)

Take him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. (Luke 19:6)

We have studied about the cruelness of the Roman soldiers-clothing Jesus in a purple robe, placing a crown of thorns on his head, hitting him on the head, spitting upon him, bowing their knees in a mock worship before Jesus. Then they replaced Jesus regular clothes upon him and led the Savior out to be crucified. (verse 20)

LET IT GROW

And they compeled one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and rufus, to bear his cross. (verse 21)

Simon was from the city of Cyrene, which was along the coast of present -day Libya of northern Africa. He was well known to first-century Christians by the time Matthew, Mark, and Luke published their account (Acts 13:1). It is speculated that Simon's wife cared for or mothered the apostle Paul, who lodged with the family while at the church in Antioch. 

After intense suffering in prayer, enduring an all-night trials, and being ruthlessly beaten, Jesus was too weak to carry His cross. Simon carried the cross beam of Jesus's cross along the Via Delorosa, the way of suffering, up the hill called Golgotha, an Aramaic name meaning Place of the Skull. The English word Calvary is derived from the Latin translation, Calvaria. It was a customary place for the executions and it actually looks like a skull (standing below the hill looking up). the vertical part of the cross was waiting for them on the hill called Calvary.

Friend, are we denying ourself, taking up our cross, and following Jesus? 

Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  (Matt. 16:2)

Is that what we are doing daily as a follower and believer of Jesus?

LET IT GO 

Sweet Jesus,  thank You for all that You endured in order to provide salvation for us sinners!

You are our hope and peace.