Crumbs 149

 

Crumbs 149 The Death

Scripture Mark 15:33-41

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema 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 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, 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, saw how he died,[b] 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 Joseph,[c] 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.

Crumbs

When pure goodness meets complete evil something horrible and epoch happens. The cross happens. With Christ it was pure goodness. So much so that the centurion was compelled to declare Christ to be righteous, the Son of God. Even in His dying moments the gooodness shone through.

Not all the mob was filled with contempt Some felt pity. Some saw the hand of God within it all as the prophets had predicted what was God’s plan all along. Among the compassionate were some women. Many societies had relegated women to a lower position. Of the men it is written that they all forsook him and fled. Not so these women..

For years the Law had required a detailed fulfilling of regulations. To many God seemed remote, His holiness inhibiting a relationship of intimacy. The veil is torn from the top to the bottom. A new intimacy is established..

Finally we must listen to the final cry of Christ. Marks gospel doesn’t tell us what it was. Was iit “ It is finished” Or was it, “ Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”?

One tells us that the work of Christ is completed. There is nothing to be added. The second statement leads us to something deep. How great was the cost of our redemption ! “The Father turns His face away.”

Questions

1. What do we learn about the nature of sin in this passage ?

2. What new insights about our Saviour do we gain from this passage ?.

3. How should we respond to this passage?