Mark 15:21-32

The cross of Christ is central to all that Christians believe

Mark 15:21–32 ESV

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. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 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, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 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.

Carrying the cross of Christ

The crucifixion as history

Grounded in reality and real people like Simon, who the church must have known based on the wording

New Testament manuscripts are extensive

The crucifixion is for anyone

Simon: Hebrew name, but the guy was from Africa; Rufus: Latin name; Alexander: Greek name

No matter who you are, this was for you. You were worth it. Invitation is open.

Mocking the Christ of the cross

Because we don’t understand his words

Because we don’t accept his terms

When we find out satisfaction in doubts, not answers:

It will keep us from a personal, sincere faith

It will create a culture that abuses those with sincere doubts

He told his disciples to take up their crosses, not avoid them. Saving himself would not save us, and would set a bad example for us.

Because we don’t see his worth

Understanding the cross of Christ

Fulfillment of prophecies… wasn’t super obvious

References to Psalm 22 and other passages

Mark 10:33–34 “saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.””

The crucifixion as the glory of God

The crucufixion as the payment for sins

The cross was done for us and by us.

Follow the Christ of the cross

Whoever wants to save his life will lose it (doing your own thing, living on your own terms)

Because we understand his words

Because we trust in his promises

The cross is a symbol of promises kept and made.

What stood out to you from the sermon or the text this week?

How does understanding prophecies about Jesus’ death give deeper meaning to it?

It shows us that God keeps his promises

It gives us hope for the promises that haven’t come true yet

What warning or instruction does Jesus give in Mark 8:34–35 regarding following Him, and what does it entail?

Mark 8:34–35 “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Warning against doing our own thing and living on our own terms

What might it look like to lose our lives for the sake of Jesus and the gospel?

How can we take up our crosses and follow Jesus now?

How can the invitation of the crucifixion being open to anyone be applied in our daily lives as Christians?

What practical steps can we take to avoid mocking Christ’s cross?

Understanding and accepting His words and terms

Why is the cross of Christ central to all that Christians believe?

How can we pray for each other from this text?