Mark 15:16-21 | Christ our Mediator

INTRO

If you are new or visiting, over the last 18 months we have been making our way through the gospel of Mark - (Expository Preaching).

Now, we come to the end of the road that Jesus has been travelling and we have been following -  The road that takes us outside the gates of jerusalem, to stand upon a hill known as golgotha, looking up at the cross of Jesus.

This morning we come to an end of looking at this text that takes us from the roman palace where Jesus is mocked in vs 16 to his final breath in vs 41 - and we are dealing with this event over 5 weeks with each sermon looking at a different aspect or theme that Mark highlights in his account of our saviours suffering. 

This morning we take one last look at the crucifixion according to Mark. This morning we consider the nature and role of the man hanging on the cross. And to do so, i want to take you not to firstly to Mark, but to 1 Timothy.

Read

1 Timothy 2:5–6

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

—-

Convo with a Man at Dela’s Dinner.

He asked - ‘How can I know that your God is the right one?’

There are many religions, who proffess to know the divine- to worship God… and could it not be that no one is wrong, that all paths lead to the same end.

Whether a person practices a Hindu faith, or submits to the teachings of the Quran, or is trying to walk the path of Buddha, who is to say that these are not all different Avenues that lead to the same garden.

Different paths that lead to the same God.

ADD Transition to 1 Timothy

Reliability of God’s word

revelation of God

Jesus - John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

His word

There is One God

Context, v. 4, desires all people to be saved.

There is 1 God, not multiple. If there was many Gods of different peoples. Then each God would want thier people to be saved. But since there is only 1 God, this God desires that all people come to the knowledge of the truth.

One Mediator

There is 1 way to come to the one God.

Why do we need a mediator:

Becuase the one God is Holy = Wrath, and Man = sinful in rebellion

WAR - Emnity. humanity has no way of bridging the gap.

From an entirely human perspective - No paths lead to God. all are created, or prideful or selfish.

BUT

Paul says there is 1 mediator. One who can intercede between the armies at way.

> What is a mediator

Presented in Covenental terms. like the negotiator between two parties.

see - Heb. 8:6, 9:15, 12:24

There is one God and one Mediator:

ERROR: that God the Father is full of wrath and so the Son steps in for us, completely independent of the fathers will.

That is not the case,

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 3:23–25 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

Instead the One God, the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit provides a mediator.

The Man Jesus Christ

This was according to his eternal purpose which he has now realised in Christ Jesus our Lord…. Eph 3:11

God’s Eternal plan to provide a mediator

Baptist Confession

The life, ministry, cross and mediation of Jesus - does not happen in isolation.

In fact, all the strands I have drawn our attention to over the last 6 weeks, have you noticed - I have done so, by showing, how they fit into the bigger story of God’s redemptive plan.

More specifically, by showing you that this is what Mark is doing.

Christ is king - God’s rule as king beggining in the garden.

The Physical Sufferings of Jesus as a window through which we see the Love of God for sinners - the Suffering servant of Isaiah, the seed of the woman who’s heel would be peirced, though he would crush the serpentts head

Jesus received God’s wrath, and the darkness of his displeasure, so that we might recieve his grace, and the warmth and light of his love.

The new temple - God’s presence in the garden, God’s presence in the New Heavens

Joy to the Nations - God’s mission, going back to Ab in Gen 12 - to bless the nations

Likewise - Christ’s death as our mediator, was always according to the wisdom and foreknowledge, and eternal plan of the triune God.

Which Brings to Mark for this morning and a strand of his crucifixion account that is maybe less explicit than the others we have considered although one which is equally notable. And that is - the Nature of the man on the middle cross.

Who is the one mediator. The Man, Jesus Christ.

Truly man he has a body Infact, his body was broken and his blood was spilt. When the centuruian looks up at the cross he doesnt see an ethereal spirit, but a man.

Truly God Now this is a point that Mark has been labouring since he introduced us to Jesus in Chapter 1. Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” He has shown us through his power, his teachings, Mark took us up the mount of transfiguration where Jesus revealed his glory… all, So that by the time we get to Mark 15, it is assumed knowledge - that Jesus is divine. And he reminds us of this, by Linking the crucifixion with his baptism:

Jesus himself does this explicitly in (Mark 10:38) Baptism - Death/crucifiction

Elijah -

Mark The Tearing of Temple Veil and the Centurion’s Confession (15:38–39)

In Jesus’ baptism, John appears in the garb of Elijah (1:6) and is later identified with Elijah (9:13). In the crucifixion, bystanders think that Jesus is calling for Elijah to rescue him.

Tearing (Heavens/Curtain)

Proclaimation (God/Centurian)

Why both God and Man

Only a man can pay the penalty for humanities sin

Hebrews 2:14–15

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

And Divine, becuase only an infinite being can consume the infinite wrath of God for sinners.

Gave himself as a Ransom for all

Ransom - Redeemed

Does this mean all will be saved? That Christ, the God/Man’s Death upon the cross was effective for all people.

Well the Biblical account is quite clear, that not all people, walking whatever path, will get to the same outcome.

All peoples - previous verse =

therefore the question we must as is,

is the ransom of Christ, effective for all people, or offered for all people?

offered to all - proclaimed to all through the gospel

effective for those whom God would save.

Ephesians 1:3–10

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Revelation 5:9–10

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

What does this mean?

There is only one way to come to God, only one way to be made right with God, only one sacrifice by which our sins might be forgiven. Errors: - Multiple paths, multiple Gods - Multiple Mediators - praying to saints Danger of Modern Mediators. - Pastors or Worship Leaders - The gifted -

2. Christ’s Mediation is final and eternal

1 John 2:1

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Romans 8:34

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

We wrestle with sin. But we have an advocate.

The righteouss

Who is to condemn - often… me…