After the Crucifixion

Announcements

Call To Worship

Say: Let us now begin to worship the Father the Son, the Holy Spirit, Our Call to worship Comes to us from

Introduction

MAny of you know the story of the Soviet Union and the infamous KGB in the book Divine Mosaic

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott The Fall of the KGB and Raising of the Cross

Paul-Gordon Chandler describes how, having visited the massive KGB headquarters, “this international powerhouse of espionage,” he visited it again after the collapse of Euro-Marxism. The enormous statue of the founder of the KGB, Felix Dzerzhinsky, was gone. High in its place was a huge wooden cross, and underneath it, painted in red, the inscription: “This is where real power is found.”

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Text

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.

Observations and Background

Main Idea to summarize the text

The Crucifixion is the menas by which God creates a new people. Jesus the prophet, priest, and king goes to the cross to accomplish all this offices perfectly. This act is him becoming a king and welcoming in all his people

Point 1 The Divine Backdrop

The whole of the crucifixion was in Mark’s testimony including everyone. It was the founding of New Israel, the beginning of the inclusion of all people into the people of God. He is writing this to let his gentile audience know they are God’s people now. Yes you Christian are God’s chosen nation.

I want you to see today’s text in light of a conversation between God the son and God the Father in Isa. 49

Isaiah 49 ESV

1 Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.

That’s Isaiah recording JEsus speaking

Isaiah 49 ESV

3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4

The Father Responds

Isaiah 49 ESV

But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” 5

Jesus Demands More then Israel for his work. He wants more for the work of the cross.

Isaiah 49 ESV

And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

So the Father Gives him the world, gives him all nations, all kings, you and me.

Isaiah 49 ESV

8 Thus says the Lord: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, 9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’ They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; 10 they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up. 12 Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene.”

The Father give all.

Isaiah 49 ESV

13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Isaiah 49 ESV

14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. 17 Your builders make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you. 18 Lift up your eyes around and see; they all gather, they come to you. As I live, declares the Lord, you shall put them all on as an ornament; you shall bind them on as a bride does. 19 “Surely your waste and your desolate places and your devastated land— surely now you will be too narrow for your inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up will be far away. 20 The children of your bereavement will yet say in your ears: ‘The place is too narrow for me; make room for me to dwell in.’ 21 Then you will say in your heart: ‘Who has borne me these? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and put away, but who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; from where have these come?’ ”

Isaiah 49 ESV

22 Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. 23 Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers.

Nations, and Families will bring theor children to Jesus. As a note you are to bring your children to him. The nations are to steward their people to faith in Christ as their highest good. So America should be making a place that people can even easier believe in Jesus. Leaders of all shades should as their ultimate aim, amongst their many responsibility point all the people to Jesus. To do otherwise is dereliction of duty.

Isaiah 49 ESV

With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.” 24 Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? 25 For thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children. 26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Families, men, women, and children will be rescued. Earthly evil, Spiritual evil will be defeated. Everyone shall know him as their God.

Jesus would comment on this in his ministry later John 10:27-30

John 10:27–30 ESV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

The crucifixion is the seal. This is Jesus taking his people to himself.

So when You look at todays text this is what is happening. He is redeeming us, thank God for the cross. You are his, you will never be removed from him.

Point 2 The Darkness and Curtain ripping as Judgment

Mark 15:33 ESV

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:38 ESV

38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

This was Mid day. 12:-3 PM

The Roman reader would have picked up on this. Their myths and history spoke of this kind of event happening when Great kings and leaders died.

History says that happened when Julius Caesar died and Alexander the Great.

The Jew would have read this and thought of the great judgments of God.

Mark Explanation of the Text

The ninth plague against Egypt in the exodus account was darkness covering “all Egypt for three days” (

What Your seeing is God judging nation of Israel for her unfaithfulness and creating a new Israel.

Paul Speaks of it this way Romans 11:11-12

Romans 11:11–12 ESV

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Romans 11:16–18 ESV

16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Application

Listen to the warning here, we see the judgement on Israel for her faithlessness. You must live wortly of your calling to him

Romans 11:19–22 ESV

19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Are you living in a worthy matter? Are you stoking up God’s judgment? Historically Christians saw when great evil rose up it was because of their lack of faithfulness.

Point 3 Gentiles brought in and Faithful Israel

Mark 15:39–47 ESV

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.

When you see the Centurion cry out. He is keeping with Mark’s gospel which is that you and I are included in.

When You see the Centurion cry this I need you to look with me at two texts

Mark 1:11 ESV

11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

What God that Father has said, man now Confesses.

The Bible teaches in Psalm 22:27

Psalm 22:27 ESV

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

All families will be grafted in.

Notice who is there.

The Romans soldier, The women, and a wealthy Jewish man. Not the Scribes, not the people Jewish people.

(Explain a women’s testimony, explain the value of gentiles and how Jews view walking in their lands)

You are God’s people

Listen to Paul

Romans 11:19–27 ESV

19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. 25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

You must be grafted in, you must say with the Centurion this is the Son of God, you must call on him or you will be consumed.

Application: GIVE THE GOSPEL

Benediction

Say: As we close our service of worship dear brother and sister please stand for our benediction and receive by faith this blessing from God

The crucifixion