Mark 15:22-47 (Rolling)

Mark 15:22–47 NRSVue

Then they brought Jesus 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 clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two rebels, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, who followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and summoning the centurion he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth and, taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

Mark 15:22 NRSVue

Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull).

There are many who look at this and try to figure out the exact location this happened. There continues to be debate. Frankly, I don’t care.

I care about the language.

Primarily the word, because it does not seem to be a Greek word, Golgotha.

It appears to be Semitic, Aramaic or more likely Hebrew.

The term for scroll, מגלח, comes from a root that means ‘to roll, or to roll away.’ It is the root word used for terms like: idols, wave, bowl, spring of water, etc. And it also has three other interesting uses:

It is the Hebrew root for Galilee

It is the root for the name Gilgal

The first camp of Israel in the promised land, where the covenant was renewed, and a passover held (Josh 4-5).

It is where Saul was confirmed as King (1 Sam 11:14)

Samuel gave his farewell address (1 Sam 12)

Elijah and Elisha journeyed there (2 Kings 2:1),

And it is linked to judgment (Amos 4:4, Hosea 4:15, Hosea 9:15)

Lastly, it is a term that means skull when it is spelled גֻלְגֹלֶת, which we know as the name Golgotha, the ‘place of the skull’ where Messiah is crucified (Mat 27:33, Mark 15:22, and John 19:17)

Nerd Note: Calvaria is the latin term that means skull or bald head, which is where we get the term ‘Calvary.’ So when you hear ‘Calvary Chapel’ you can think ‘Skull/bald Chapel.’ :-)

Is this the actual name of the place or is this a theological name to tells us what is happening?

I lean to there being an actual place where this happened

And the name given by the authors is theological

Allow me to demonstrate why this name matters:

Gilgal-Golgotha

Was anyone made king there? Yes

In 1 Samuel 11, Saul is anointed King of Israel

Jesus is charged with the crime of being the King of the Jews

Gilgal-Golgotha

Was anyone killed there? No and Yes.

In 1 Samuel 15 King Saul of Israel brought King Agag of the Amalekites to Gilgal. Saul was told to kill Agag, but he refused and determined it would be better to spare the wicked king Agag. Samuel comes and judges Saul as failing to obey God’s command and kills Agag himself.

‘It was 9AM when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’’

Historically, the King of Israel was willing to let the King of God’s great enemy live

Here in Mark, the leaders are willing to kill their Messiah, their King.

Gilgal-Golgotha

Did major events happen here? Yes

In Joshua 4-5 Israel crosses the Jordan coming into the promised land at Gilgal

Joshua 4: Crossing the Jordan and Setting up Memorial Stones

Command to Set Up Memorial Stones: God instructs Joshua to have one man from each of the twelve tribes take a stone from the Jordan River to serve as a memorial (Joshua 4:1-7).

Stones Taken from the Jordan: The stones are carried to the Israelites' camp at Gilgal as a reminder of God stopping the Jordan's waters for them to cross (Joshua 4:8-9).

The Ark of the Covenant and Priests: The priests carrying the Ark remain in the Jordan until all the people have crossed (Joshua 4:10-18).

Crossing Completed: The entire nation crosses the Jordan, and the river returns to its normal flow once the Ark is removed (Joshua 4:19).

Memorial Set Up at Gilgal: Joshua sets up the twelve stones at Gilgal, explaining their significance to future generations (Joshua 4:20-24).

Joshua 5: Preparation for the Conquest of Jericho

Fear Among Canaanites: The kings of the Amorites and Canaanites are terrified after hearing of Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 5:1).

Circumcision of the Israelites: God commands Joshua to circumcise the Israelite males who had not been circumcised during the wilderness journey, renewing the covenant with God (Joshua 5:2-9).

Celebration of the Passover: The Israelites celebrate the Passover at Gilgal, marking their transition into the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10).

End of Manna: After celebrating the Passover and eating the produce of the land, the manna that had sustained them in the wilderness ceases (Joshua 5:11-12).

Encounter with the Commander of the Lord’s Army: Joshua encounters a divine figure who identifies himself as the commander of the Lord’s army, signaling divine support for the upcoming battles (Joshua 5:13-15).

Now that we have seen that, let’s read part of this again:

Mark 15:29–32 NRSVue

Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

Mark 15:33–35 NRSVue

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.”

I have covered the link between his cry and Psalm 22, that it indicates the spiritual warfare that is happening at this moment. Read Psalm 22 for yourself. You won’t find bulls and lions at the crucifixion, but you will find the gods they represent at the cross putting the Son of God through their version of death.

Gilgal-Golgotha

Departure Foretold: At Gilgal, it is revealed that the Lord will take Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, initiating Elijah and Elisha's final journey together (2 Kings 2:1).

Elijah Tests Elisha’s Loyalty: Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind, but Elisha demonstrates unwavering loyalty by insisting on accompanying him (2 Kings 2:2).

Symbolic Beginning at Gilgal: The journey begins at Gilgal, a site symbolizing new beginnings, marking the transition from Elijah’s prophetic leadership to Elisha’s (2 Kings 2:1-2).

There are links to Elijah the Prophet and Gilgal

And what happens next really tells us something about the events…

Mark 15:36 NRSVue

And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”

Get what is happening here…you wonder why people will stand around and film someone being beaten or murdered…

These people obviously know the stories in scripture because they know about Elijah

They know the tradition that Elijah will return and if he does, he will save Messiah

The are mimicking the devil during the temptation (God will send his angles to save Messiah from being dashed on the rocks)

What do they do?

They offer him a drink to keep him alive longer

To give Elijah time to arrive

It is nothing short of torture

Mark 15:46 NRSVue

Then Joseph bought a linen cloth and, taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

One of the meanings of the Hebrew root גלל, the root for Gilgal, Golgotha, etc., when in a verb form is to:

Roll something.

Like in Joshua 10:18, when a large stone was rolled against the mouth of a cave trapping 5 kings. Joshua set guards at the stone.

Like in Psalm 22:8, where a strange use of the word occurs, ‘Roll away to Yahweh; Yahweh will rescue him; Yahweh will deliver him; for Yahweh delights in him.’

Let’s read a bit of Psalm 22 to close out…

Psalm 22:14–19 NRSVue

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they bound my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me; they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!

I picked out this portion because it is the moment the Psalmist speaks of one who is in a situation very much like Jesus.

Each of us find ourselves, at some point, crying to God to help, to come quickly.

Now, as I have said before, sometimes there is not an application, but it is good for us to just sit in the story.

Have you noticed something missing?

Something so critical to our faith that it is shocking it is not discussed here?

What is the crucifixion for?

Forgiveness

Where is forgiveness discussed in this event?

If all the places for the gospel writer to talk about forgiveness, here is a great place

But it is nowhere to be found

I wonder why…

Mark 15:22-47 (Rolling)