Christ Under Judgment

Bible Reading

Mark 15:33–41 NIV84

33 At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” 40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Introduction

Buildup to the climatic event - death of our Saviour.

Looked at the arrest of Jesus; trial of Jesus etc.

Looked at the crucifixion of Jesus - found guilty!

We will now look at the events surrounding the death of Jesus Christ.

7 things that we will notice.

1. The Darkness (v.33)

Three hours of complete darkness at midday till 3pm

What was the purpose / meaning of the darkness? Judgment of God.

We're used to hearing God being spoken of as light

“Light of the World, you stepped down into Darkness…” – now even this light of the world is being crucified, hung, killed, because those in the darkness hated the light.

1 John 1:5 (NIV84)

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

John 1:4–5 (NIV84)

4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

So in that sense - God is light... no darkness

But that speaks of God's character and nature

We may be tempted to think that this darkness was thus the removal of God's presence

But that is certainly not the case.

Instead, the darkness represents the very presence of God, but that presence as He comes in judgment

Various texts in the Old Testament refer to darkness being the characteristic of God's judgment being brought

Amos 8:9–10 (NIV84)

9“In that day,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.

10I will turn your religious feasts into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.

Micah 3:5–7 (NIV84)

5This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim ‘peace’; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him.

6Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them.

7The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.”

Zephaniah 1:14–15 (NIV84)

14“The great day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there.

15That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

What we have then as Christ hangs on the cross is the presence of God, but not as a source of comfort for the Son, but rather in a demonstration of God's judgment.

Link of the darkness to the Passover

Ninth plague in Egypt was a plague of darkness

Darkness was over the land of Egypt for 3 days

It was following that plague of darkness, that the final plague of the death of the firstborn son in every household would be required.

It was this that necessitated the shedding of blood of a lamb, so that those whose doorposts were covered could be spared.

Almost certainly, Mark's readers would have recalled this.

But what was this judgment for?

It was for the sins of people

God was coming in judgment of the sins of people

This would be God's judgment upon the sins of you and I, if we are in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV84)

21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 3:13 (NIV84)

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

2. The Cry of Agony (v.34)

This next aspect recorded is closely linked with "The Darkness"

The first was a demonstration fo the judgment of God

This is a revelation to us of the suffering of Christ as He endures that judgment

The 9th hour approaches - that is 3 in the afternoon...

By the ninth hour, Christ had been hanging on the cross for approximately 6 hours

Not only has Jesus been suffering for 3 hours on the cross, but He's endured the reality that the divine judgment of His Father is upon Him.

As He endures, and He at this point is experiencing the full weight of His Father's mighty wrath against HIm.

From Psalm 22...

Messianic Psalm - many references to the cross, Christ's suffering.

The quotation of Jesus identifies Jesus as the righteous One who suffers without cause.

"My God, my God..."

This is the only recorded place where Christ refers to God as my God... always "Father"

This is a cry of intimate knowledge of the Father...

"MY" God... - personal

Repitition = Emphasis... name relates to affection

"Simon, Simon..."

The expression speaks of unshaken faith in God... despite the suffering.

"Why have you forsaken me..."

What do we make of this question?

As already noted - this is not because God had disappeared - God is everywhere!

This was a deep sense of a loss of close fellowship with God

Christ was in this moment not the object of the Fathers gracious kindness and perfect sinless interaction.

Instead, He was experiencing the divine wrath of His Father poured out on Him.

Consider that Christ had been with the Father from all eternity.

There was a perfect inter-trinitarian relationship - Father, Son and Spirit.

Practical Examples of separation...

Benjamin - only mom home, watching TV, suddenly thought she was gone, he was alone.

Husband and wife - arguing / fighting...

Any relationship that we is entered into, when there is a separation - pain

Another sense - sin in life, we feel separated from God!! Christ was bearing our sin!!

3. The Mockery and the Sympathy (v.35-36)

As these bystanders watch, they hear the cry of Jesus.

Notice that the cry was recorded by Mark in the Aramaic - and he then translated to Gk

In all likelihood, the people there would have understood, and heard clearly!!

But they take this cry... twist it... pervert it... say calling Elijah (words similar in Aramaic)

So what was their purpose??

Sarcasm

Malachi 4:5 (NIV84)

5“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

Elijah would precede the Messiah - they would be together.

So where is Elijah? they ask... mockery of Jesus continued.

Superstition

Elijah didn't die

Was taken up into heaven in a chariot

The Jews - even to this day, hold to various traditional beliefs concerning Elijah

But their tradition taught that Elijah would come regularly down to earth to help Jews in distress

They further hold that Elijah comes to reveal secrets of the Torah to the scholars.

They also believe that Elijah visits their homes during the Seder meal

May have been Jews themselves - mockingly seeing if Jesus would be saved / supported in His trial

Or it could have been the Romans themselves, who mocked Jesus as a Jew, saying lets see if this tradition holds any weight

Whichever way you look at it, the mocking of Christ on the cross continues.

In the middle of this mockery, however, there is a brief moment of sympathy

John 19:28 (NIV84)

28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

Verse 36

"One man" - probably Roman soldier

Wine vinegar - soldiers drank this to quench their thirst

Fulfilment of Psalm 69:21

Psalm 69:21 (NIV84)

21They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

But the verse closes with them saying (probably the soldier included)... now let's leave him...

4. The Death of Christ (v.37)

Mark records that there is a loud cry

While Mark doesn't record what precisely that cry was, other Gospel accounts do.

Two important things to take note of

1 - Christ voluntarily gave Himself up, and committed Himself to the Father.

Luke records some words: "Father into your hands I commit my Spirit..."

Matthew 27:50 (NIV84)

50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

It was Christ that gave up His own Spirit on the cross

Jesus died voluntarily - He gave Himself up.

Isaiah 53:12 - "because he poured out his life unto death,"

John 10:11 (NIV84)

11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

This remained an act of the will of the Son, to lay His own life down for you and I

Even on the cross... even to that last moment, Christ could have changed things.

In fact, here would have been the greatest temptation - at the final point just before death.

2 - Christ recorded that what He had come to do was now complete

John records for us part of that cry - "It is finished"

Jesus was confirming here that all that God the Father had purposed for God the Son to do in this world, in taking on humanity, had now been completed.

Mark 10:45 (NIV84)

45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

And so the cry of Jesus, in as much as it was filled with great anguish, was really a cry of triumph.

The Son had come for you and I, He wanted to lay down His life for us, so that we could receive God's forgiveness and mercy.

He did that perfectly for you and I!

5. The Curtain of the Temple (v.38)

The death of Christ leads Mark to record two important events following Christ death

The first is that the Curtain of the Temple is radically torn from top to bottom

The curtain that is spoken of here is that curtain which sits between the Holy place, and the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place)

Exodus 26:31–33 (NIV84)

31“Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman.

32Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.

33Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

What was the Most Holy Place? Significance thereof?

The place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept

Held the stone tablets with 10 commandments.

On top - mercy seat...

Where God figuratively dwelt amongst His people.

Only High Priest could go in - once a year, special conditions

Day of Atonement - process...

TEMPLE - emphasized God's presence with Israel - limited accessibility

Most Holy Place - emphasised the Holiness of God - Inaccessible

If anyone who wasn't supposed to entered the MHP, they would be killed.

With that in mind, significance of the curtain tearing?

Many Ideas / Thoughts on this... mention 5 significant points...

1. Veil of Sonship removed

This event took place right at the death of Jesus

The importance of who Jesus was is now revealed.

This was demonstration of the powerful working of God

Matthew records there was an earthquake!

Centurion even perceived that Jesus was the Son of God.

This was the most clear demonstration of the Sonship fo Jesus

2. Ceremonial / Sacrificial systems rendered obsolete

This was a depiction of the fact that atonement was no longer to be made through the sacrificial system.

Atonement would now be made through the Son.

Mark 14:23–24 (NIV84)

23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

24“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

Hebrews 9:6–12 (NIV84)

6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.

7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.

12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

3. Coming destruction of temple - symbolically beginning

You will recall that Jesus has already pronounced to the Jewish leaders that destruction will come.

He spoke of Jerusalem, the Temple, and God's judgment coming upon them.

Well here was a foretaste, and indicator to them, that what they held to dearly to was indeed going to be done away with.

4. Jesus enters God's presence

Through His death, Jesus has completed all sacrifices for atonement, and He fulfills the meaning of the atonement.

Hebrews 9 - speaks about how the consciences of the people under the Old System could never be washed clean

Hebrews 10:17–22 (NIV84)

17Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Do you have the joy of knowing a clean conscience because of what Christ has done for you?

5. Gentiles have access to God

6. The Confession of the Centurion (v.39)

As part of this process, there is a Roman Centurion there - a commander of 100 men.

This was a military man - worked his way up through the ranks.

Witnessed killings... hardened... wasn't afraid of looking on death

A Roman - submitted to Caesar, including the fact that the only person the you honour as great is Caesar!!

This Roman commander had seen Jesus - the way He conducted Himself

Not only that, He sees Jesus breathing His last breath and crying out.

Significance - not normal!! Normally crucified people too tired...

Furthermore, he witnessed the reaction of nature responding to Jesus death.

Matthew 27:51–52 (NIV84)

51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

This even alone caused the centurion to cry out "Surely this was the Son of God."

That was a profound statement by this man.

This was the first recorded person in Mark's Gospel to make this confession.

The disciples had confessed Christ to be the Messiah - the deliverer.

But we don't have another record of title of "Son of God"

Matthew records for us that even the Roman soldiers with the Centurion - those guarding Jesus, acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God.

Here is a great confession.

A Gentile, not a Jew, confesses that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.

The Gospel of Christ (as recorded by Mark) begins with God speaking from the heavens, saying at Jesus' baptism: This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased."

As we near the close of the Gospel record of Mark, we have a Gentile man confessing that Jesus is the Son of God.

It's interesting to note that verse 37 mentions the death of JEsus, verse 38 the tearing of the Temple curtain, and only then verse 39 the confession by the Centurion.

As one commentator notes: "Though the centurion does not see the tearing of the temple curtain, its symbolic meaning is what makes his confession possible.." (Geddert, T. J. (2001). Mark (p. 382). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press. )

The way is opened up for all to be able to understand who Christ is and confess Him.

"Some hear Jesus’ cry and think he is calling Elijah. Some see his suffering and think it proves him a fake. If we take up our positions facing the crucified Messiah, says Mark, then the discerning eye and the discerning ear will lead us also to affirm: This was God’s Son." (Geddert, T. J. (2001). Mark (p. 382). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.)

7. The Ministering Women (v.40-41)

A strange addition in these last two verses.

Mark outlines a number of women present here at the crucifixion.

These same women reappear at Jesus' burial

Again they will appear at th empty tomb as witnesses.

The reason for their inclusion is because were witnesses to all of these events.

It is striking that Mark mentions these women... even in fact that they were there...

1 - no disciples of Jesus present, but women were.

Jesus had been abandoned by His disciples.

At the Passover meal, there is no mention of the women..

At Gethsemane, no mention...

But they had followed Jesus to the cross.

They followed Jesus ultimately all the way to the cross of suffering...

We ought to follow these women in this example - that we will follow Christ wherever that may take us.

2 - It was these women who cared for Jesus' needs

Luke 8:2–3 (NIV84)

The Twelve were with him...

2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Evidence of hearts filled with love and sympathy

3 - Witnessed death, burial resurrection - all important for redemption.

"Women were not valued as witnesses in a first-century Jewish context (M. Evans: 35). But Mark considers the testimony of two women to be valid. Otherwise, he would not portray them as witnesses of Jesus’ death, his burial, and his resurrection." (Geddert, T. J. (2001). Mark (p. 383). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.)

Conclusion and Application

Romans 5:1–11 NIV84

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

1. We have peace with God (v.1)

2. We have gained access in God's grace (v.2)

3. We rejoice in the hope through suffering (v.2b-3)

4. We are loved by God (v.6-8)

5. We are justified (v.9)

6. We are reconciled with God (v.10-11)

Boast in the Cross

Galatians 6:14–15 (NIV84)

14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.

It's through the cross that God brings about the new birth.

This is where our spiritual life is found.

Because of the cross, I can and do die to self.

Have you died to yourself, and are you living for Christ...