2.14.19 4.2.2023 Mark 15.6-47 End of the Beginning

Start:

Entice: There has always been a disconnect between the brutal reality and the beautiful results of the cross. People do not wear necklaces or tattoos of the cross because of what it is but despite what it is. If we reflected upon crucifixion as a means of Empire-sanctioned torture and execution, we would probably try and forget it and the sting of mocking harassment hurled at the infant Church.

Engage: Do you ever think about the reality of the cross, maybe when fasting the clasp of your necklace? Here at the cross we focus on the faith of Jesus that led Him to Golgotha and find there the beginnings of our own faith.

Easter faith really began long before Easter. The disciples, despite their wavering had demonstrated it, and they would demonstrate it again after He rose. Even the process of His death nourished the embryo of what would become full-fledged Easter faith when He rose from the grave. Yet first we must deal with the violence done to Jesus on the old rugged cross. The shame and guilt of the cross are swallowed upon in the victory

of grace and the shout of Easter.

Expand: We’ve got to get through it. Hard as it is.

Mark 15:16–32 ESV

16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. 21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

Did Jesus imagine the taunting, the scourging, the humility, and the helplessness? Surely, He considered what it meant to be abandoned by His associates and mourned only by a few women who were surely thought to be harmless. All that prepares us for this.

Mark 15:33–47 ESV

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Excite: They did not know that day that their witness, their testimony would be a part of the story we tell today. They were unaware that in this seemingly hopeless beginning the gospel would Spring forth in full bloom Soon the resurrected one would breathe His own life into us, His people, His Body, His Church.

Explore:

Easter faith was first proclaimed on Pentecost, it was first expressed around the cross.

Expand: Amid the disaster of that day there were positive responses that demonstrate the beginnings of resilient faith.

Body of Sermon: The first of these witnesses is physical not personal. Consider the witness of

1 The Temple.

The witness of the sanctuary and the torn veil tells us that

1.1 God’s Glory is accessible.

1.2 God’s Worship is universal.

Next, consider the witness of the

2 The Centurion.

The witness of the centurion contrasts what He was before with what He became

2.1 What He was.

Business like cruelty.

Just following orders.

Represented Empire

2.2 What He became.

A believer.

He likely knew only the basics of Jesus’ biography and ministry. Yet standing there before the cross he saw enough to know this is God’s Son!

A witness.

Not knowing everything he simply said what he saw and drew an appropriate conclusion.

Next there is the witness of

3 The Women.

Maybe the most basic witness of all. They took with them to the cross, all that they carried in their hearts during His ministry.

3.1 Loyalty.

3.2 Labor.

3.3 Love.

Finally, consider the witness of

4 Joseph.

4.1 Risk.

4.2 Responsibility.

4.3 Respect.

Shut Down

Each of these individuals we have discussed this morning saw some part of what happened to Jesus on His way to the Cross or when nailed to it or in His suffering. Each of them bore witness to sacrifice and service. Each saw His Love. From that day forward the story of the cross along with the story of His resurrection have been the facts upon which our faith and mission rest.

Today the cross is a symbol of that far-off reality. Yet the impact of the cross is not symbolic. It is real. It is as real as the saving grace we proclaim today. It is as real as the promise that we all can be “crucified with Christ” to die to self and rise in His own everlasting life.

There’s room at the cross for you, There’s room at the cross for you, Though millions have come—there’s still room for one. Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.