Sermon Tone Analysis

*“The Wonderful Cross”*

*Mark 15.21-47*

There are some who attempt to soften the message and teachings of Jesus because people are offended by some of the things he had to say.

And in an attempt to minimize offense, many have suggested that we ought to emphasize the life and ministry of Jesus and minimize his seemingly harsh words.

I would strongly caution you from adopting this method for several reasons.

Jesus’ harsh words were often directed to those who would misrepresent him and true religion.

We, as Christians, are expected to continue to declare his message of repentance and faith.

And, thirdly, the events of the cross make no sense apart from this gospel message.

It is entirely too short-sighted to believe that Jesus dying on the cross serves an example of suffering and humility.

This is the most significant event in all of history that Mark and the other gospel writers have recorded!

This event encapsulates our hope and our message to the world!

There is a great temptation to think that we can attract people to Jesus by merely being nice, inviting, gentle and kind.

And these are certainly good things!

My reading of Scripture would suggest that these are insufficient and actually contrary to the teaching and ministry of Jesus.

I was reminded of this yesterday as my Bible reading had me in John 15 where Jesus says, ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

The reason I bring this up at the outset of the message today is because we see much of this bubble to the surface in these events.

You should have noticed throughout our study of Mark’s Gospel, that Jesus does not have the effect of unity of all people.

Rather, he is a wedge that divides them.

We don’t like to think this way.

We naturally want all people to be on the same team and get along.

It would be tremendous if all the world would trust Christ and become brother and sister for all eternity.

But we know this is not the case.

Luke 12.51-53 Jesus states, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division.

For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.

They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

The quote in the bulletin puts it well: ““The Cross of Jesus Christ divides men into classes as the Last Day will.

It, too, parts men—’sheep’ to the right hand, ‘goats’ to the left.

If there was a penitent, there was an impenitent thief; if there was a convinced centurion, there were gambling soldiers; if there were hearts touched with compassion, there were mockers who took His very agonies and flung them in His face as a refutation of His claims.

On the day when that Cross was reared on Calvary it began to be what it has been ever since, and is at this moment to every soul who hears the Gospel, ‘a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.’”

As much as it is our desire to win all for Christ by attracting people to him, we must acknowledge that this is not possible.

Like I mentioned, we see this play out at the events of the cross.

Let’s turn to Mark 15 as we continue our study.

We will be concluding Mark’s Gospel next Sunday, Lord willing.

We are covering Mark 15.21-47 this morning.

Let’s read as we get underway.

As you can see there is a lot packed into this text.

We have some very significant events taking place, a lot of details with cultural influence, and a lot of different characters with different responses in the narrative.

While following the storyline, I hope to be able to clarify some of the ambiguity of the event while also acknowledging that we tread lightly on holy ground and must be content not to grasp the */full/* magnitude of the death of Jesus, the Son of God on the cross.

Last time, we witnessed the kangaroo court that saw a crowd manipulate Roman authority to acquit a guilty insurrectionist and sentence the sinless Son of God to crucifixion.

It was truly a glimpse into the depravity of man as religious leaders stirred up the crowd, as Pilate caved to the fear of man and showed himself to be a spineless leader with no moral compass.

And all the while we acknowledged that God uses such things to carry out his plan of redemption – to pay for the sins of his people.

Jesus was first scourged before being led away by the Roman soldiers where he was mocked by the whole battalion.

They had dressed him as a king in jest by clothing him with a purple cloak and placing a crown of thorns on his head.

They mock him by hailing him the King of the Jews.

They hit him with reeds and spit on our Lord Jesus.

Then they removed the purple cloak, return his clothes and lead him down the road to the place where he will be brutally killed.

We enter our passage as Jesus is led to a place outside the city – Golgotha.

We remember that scourging would sometimes lead to the death of a prisoner before he arrived at his place of execution.

And at the very least, it appears as though Jesus is so beaten that he is unable to bear the cross without some help.

Simon of Cyrene had likely come to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem.

And he is given the tremendous privilege to carry the cross of Jesus Christ!

The first point is *Carry the Cross.

*What do we know of this individual who comes out of nowhere to carry Jesus’ cross?

Not much.

Cyrene was located on the northern tip of Africa, west of Egypt.

The mention of his sons, however, may provide some more information.

It is possible that Rufus is one who is mentioned in Paul’s letter to the church at Rome.

It comes in chapter 16, where Paul sends greetings to Rufus who was chosen of the Lord.

Recall also that at the outset of our study, we thought that Mark may have been writing his account specifically for believers in Rome.

If these are both true, it is possible that this family (including Simon) were disciples of Jesus.

That’s pretty neat to consider, isn’t it?

Who knows if they came to Jerusalem believing in Jesus or if these events convinced them of who he was.

According to verse 22, they are led to Golgotha which is believed to be a hill to the west of Jerusalem.

Many speculations have been offered as to the description of the “Place of a Skull.”

Some say it is identified as such because the hill is shaped like a skull.

And others say it is because of the many crucifixions.

Ultimately, it is not important for our understanding.

Perhaps the significance we would find in the place of execution are the words from Hebrews 13.12 which state that “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify people through his own blood.”

We had noted before that crucifixion is a terrible way to die.

They would hoist the criminals up and put nails in their wrists and their feet to hold them to the wood.

They would predominantly die of asphyxiation or shock from their body position and difficulty in breathing.

The only “relief” would come from pushing yourself up from your nail-pierced feet to gasp for breath.

And knowing that this was an excruciating ordeal, there was offered to him wine mixed with myrrh.

This was known to have a mild numbing effect and in a very minimal way lessen the pain.

Jesus, however, refused this opportunity in order to keep his mind clear for his last great fight until death.

In verse 24, Mark tells us that they crucified the Lord Jesus – the Son of God.

It was customary that the garments of the criminals would be distributed.

These were viewed as some sort of reward.

And this is why they would cast lots for the more valuable pieces of clothing.

For the astute student of Scripture, one would have been aware of the many fulfilled prophecies being carried out on this day.

As the soldiers divided up Jesus’ clothes, the words from the Psalmist would have been ringing in their ears.

Psalm 22.18, “they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

And it was the third hour when they crucified him.

This is the equivalent of 9 am.

It is here that Jesus will spend the next six hours in excruciating pain for your sin and my sin.

And if that were not enough, he will do so as he is ridiculed and mocked by those looking on.

It was customary also that they would place an inscription that would describe the charges brought against the criminal.

Pilate noted that it was his affirmation of being the King of the Jews.

We saw last time that this would have posed a threat against Roman rule and was punishable as a capital offense.

And with this inscription, Pilate justifies his actions.