Reading the Bible Everyday; Mark 15

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode Number 43.  Today we’ll read the 15th chapter of Mark together:  Jesus is taken to Governor Pilate; Jesus is crucified; and Jesus is buried.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

I know I usually don’t dive right in to talking about the text itself but my mind is racing because there are so many little details I want to point out to you that will hopefully help you to understand what is going on just a little bit better.  First, it’s helpful to know that sour wine and myrrh were ancient pain relievers.  That’s why they were offered to Jesus on a sponge.  Oh, and under the category of “children learn what they live”, watch for Alexander and Rufus, the sons of Simon from Cyrene, when we read the Book of Acts.  They too become followers of Christ.  For time telling, it helps to know that in Biblical times, the day started at about 6:00 am.  So the third hour of the day is about 9:00 am and the sixth hour was about noon.  Finally, death by crucifixion usually took about 3 days.  That’s why Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead when Joseph came to ask for his body.  The Romans invented crucifixion as the ultimate in torturous ways to die.  Since I don’t know if the kiddos are in the room, I encourage you to do a quick Google search on crucifixion.  Don’t worry, it won’t take you long…you probably won’t be able to stomach it much beyond the first few hits.  

Mark Chapter 15:1 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests had a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin. After tying Jesus up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. 2 So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You have said it.” 3 And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things. 4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Are You not answering anything? Look how many things they are accusing You of!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed. 6 At the festival it was Pilate’s custom to release for the people a prisoner they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. 8 The crowd came up and began to ask [Pilate] to do for them as was his custom. 9 So Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed Him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?” 13 Again they shouted, “Crucify Him!” 14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why? What has He done wrong?” But they shouted, “Crucify Him!” all the more. 15 Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified. 16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard (that is, headquarters) and called the whole company together. 17 They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on Him. 18 And they began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They kept hitting Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying Him homage. 20 When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the purple robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. 21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’ cross. He was Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 And they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place). 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. 24 Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get. 25 Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge written against Him was THE KING OF THE JEWS.  27 They crucified two criminals with Him, one on His right and one on His left. [ 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says: And He was counted among outlaws. ] 29 Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself by coming down from the cross!” 31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking Him to one another and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him.  33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ” Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni ?” which is translated, ” My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? ” 35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink, and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down!” 37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. 38 Then the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “This man really was God’s Son!” 40 There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they would follow Him and help Him. Many other women had come up with Him to Jerusalem. 42 When it was already evening, because it was preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went in to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He had already died. 45 When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. 46 After he bought some fine linen, he took Him down and wrapped Him in the linen. Then he placed Him in a tomb cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. 47 Now Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where He was placed.

What happened between the 6th hour and the 9th hour when everything went dark?  I read that some early church fathers intimated that the darkness extended beyond Palestine.  What caused Jesus to cry out to God about being abandoned?  His anguish sickens me.  Do not skim over this, because payment is being made here for our sins.  God hates sin.  He loves us but he hates sin.  It must be paid for.  For 3 hours everything went dark and for 3 hours God’s wrath, his hatred of all our sin, past, present and future, all of it, was poured out on Jesus.  Jesus didn’t deserve it, but he loves us so much, he was willing to put himself in harms’ way, to take on the punishment that we deserve, and the misery of separation from God.  And he shed his blood as the sacrificial spotless lamb that’s required by God’s law for the forgiveness of sins, once and for all.  But that’s not the end.  Let’s pray.  Jesus, my heart is bowed low in humility before you.  I am so casual about my sin sometimes, I forget the price you paid for it…please forgive me.  Thank you for dying so that we could live.  Amen. 

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!