A Journey to the Cross - Easter 2024

Crucifixion

This morning we are finishing out our series on A Journey to the Cross in the Gospel of Mark.

This morning we will be looking at the Crucifixion in Mark 15:22-39.

During our Sunrise Service we looked at the Resurrection and somethings that we could learn from the resurrection

Now looking at the Crucifixion there are some things from our text that we can learn.

Look first we me at our fist set of text.

Mark 15:22-24.

Pray

I. The Place

The soldiers brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha which is an Aramaic word meaning skull.

Once they arrive there, the soldiers offer Jesus a drink of wine mixed with myrrh.

This drink was used to temporarily deaden the pain, the Romans allowed this to be administered to victims of crucifixion, not out of compassion, but to keep the person from struggling while being crucified.

It is believed that Jesus refused the drink so that he could face death in complete control of himself.

None of the Gospel’s give a detailed description of the actual crucifixion.

But the soldiers took Jesus’ clothes and divided them up, this is in fulfillment of Psalm 22:18

Psalm 22:18 NASB95

18 They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.

II. The Crucifixion

Mark 15:25-31.

The time that they actually crucified or hung Jesus on the cross was the third hour, which would be 9 a.m. for the Jews.

They crucified Jesus, again we are not given a detail description in the Bible, but we have come to know what a Roman crucifixion is based from historical records.

It was and still is considered the worst form of the death penalty there is.

Jesus was nailed to the cross, not through His palms but through his wrist driving the spike through a tendon in the wrist providing support.

He was also nailed through the tops of His feet between the second and third metatarsal bones down through the arch of the foot, one on top of the other.

At 9 a.m. they nailed Jesus to the cross, a slight bend in his arms and a little more of a bend in his legs, this causing the weight of his body to come down on his chest and back.

He would have to push up with His feet ever so often to take a breath.

For 6 hours Jesus suffered on the cross, and we must remember that he had been beaten nearly to death just before being led to Golgotha.

There were two other guys, robbers that were crucified with Jesus.

This was to fulfill Scripture.

Isaiah 53:12 NASB95

12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

Was numbered with the transgressors, many believe that the two thieves were guys that had accompanied Barabbas in his crime.

As people went by they insulted Him, mocked Him and ridiculed Him.

III. The Death

Mark 15:32-39.

Now we are at the sixth hour, which would be noon.

We are told that darkness fell upon the whole land for three hours until the ninth hour which would be 3 p.m.

Many have tried to explain what this darkness was, by saying that it was a total solar eclipse, but that is not what it was.

The darkness was a divine judgment, it is when God had to turn from looking at His only begotten Son, because of my sins and the sins of the world upon Him.

Jesus cried out with a loud voice at the ninth hour saying, My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me.

As horrific as the crucifixion was, and how much pain and agony Jesus was in from all the torture, nothing compared to God the Father turning away.

During those three hours from the sixth to the ninth hours, Jesus had accepted the sins of the world, so that we could have forgiveness of our sins and so that we do not have to pay the penalty of them.

Jesus took the penalty, the wrath that was meant for me and you and He paid our price.

Jesus endured all of this so that He could open the gates of heaven and so that we can have access to God the Father.

With His blood and sacrifice on the cross He has provided us a way out of Hell’s damnation and freed us from the guilt of Sin.

The Call

We are told in Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Everyone of us here has missed the mark of perfection, as Jesus is the only one that has ever lived a sin free life.

We must all realize we have sinned and admitted that we need a Savior.

As God loves us so much He Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God demonstrated his unconditional love toward us, and He is waiting to save each and every person that will come to Him.

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

God sent His only begotten Son to the cross because He desires each and every one of us to be saved.

But God is not going to force it on us, we must accept it freely, by His grace.

If it was not for God sending His Son to deal with sin, we could not be saved from the penalty of sin.

Romans 6:23 NASB95

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The wages or consequences of sin is death, not physical death but spiritual death, being separated from God for all of eternity.

The wages of sin is eternity in Hell’s damnation separated from God.

But God provided the free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord, we have to receive what Jesus has offered.

If you are here this morning and have never received salvation, today is the day to do that as we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

We are told in Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:9–10 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

If you will believe in your heart today that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and three days later rose from the grave to provide victory, than you can confess today that you are receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

We know this as Romans 10:13

Romans 10:13 NASB95

13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Will you call on Jesus for salvation today, if so come and let me speak with you during our invitation, if you are watching on Facebook then please reach out to us through messenger so that we can speak with you.