Mark 15:21-32

Mark chapter 15, we'll look at verses 21 to 42.

Mark 15 · chapter mention

We're pausing from 1 Corinthians for just a few weeks.

! And over the next three Sundays, we're going to be focusing on the events of the crucifixion in Mark's Gospel.

Specifically, we're going to look at the crucifixion this week, Jesus' actual death next week, and then his burial the week after that.

And we often focus on these events on a Good Friday service, don't we?

But this moment we're in here, in Mark, is so important, so key to our lives, and key to our salvation, and to the whole Christian faith, that this deserves coming back to.

And so over the next few weeks, I want to encourage you, if you've been a believer for years, decades, your whole life, use this time to be brought back to the central moment of your faith.

And to simply remember what Christ went through for you.

Or if you are a new Christian here, maybe you've just been a Christian two or three years, maybe even less, and you know the cross is central to your life.

But maybe you've never actually spent time thinking about the actual event.

Well, I want you just to take it all in, and keep building your life on this moment.

Whether you're young or old in the faith, you never move past this moment.

Or if you're not a Christian here today, I would encourage you, use this time to see why this moment in history is so important to every single Christian around the world.

So would you please turn with me to Mark chapter 15.

Mark 15 · chapter mention

If you watched King Charles' coronation a few years ago, there was this huge build-up to it, wasn't there?

You had the crowds and the carriages and the flags and the cheers.

And inside Westminster Abbey, you had the choirs and the musicians and the trumpets and the robes and the scepters.

And as the king made his way through London and to the abbey and to the front of it, all the cameras were on him.

And the choirs rung out and the trumpets blared.

But as he took his seat on the throne, waiting to be crowned, and the archbishop slowly approached with the crown, do you remember?

Everything went silent.

The choirs stopped.

The servants stood still.

The broadcasters stopped speaking.

You could hear a pin drop in the abbey.

And if you were watching from home, you couldn't help but just stare in silence from your living room.

As the crown went on to our king, there was this sacred hush around the nation.

Because everyone knew something very special was happening here.

Something unlike anything else.

We knew this is a precious moment in history.

And we just watched on in wonder, knowing after all this weight and build-up, finally it's happening.

It's happening.

All in this holy silence.

Well, reading the moment of Jesus' crucifixion feels like that kind of moment, doesn't it?

We know this is important.

We know this is the central moment of our faith.

And just reading it, you can't help but think, this moment deserves a sacred hush.

There is this holy silence about it.

It's a moment where you put your phones down, and the conversation stops, and you must simply watch.

Because it is a moment unlike anything else.

And we are right to think that this is an incredibly holy moment.

In fact, the crucifixion is more like King Charles' coronation than we may realize.

Because this is Jesus' coronation.

This is where Jesus is crowned King.

And so even more than Westminster Abbey, the cross of Golgotha deserves a holy silence.

But at the same time, as we read this passage, it doesn't seem holy at all, does it?

It doesn't appear regal or special, or in any way a precious moment you want to savour.

There are no choirs, no carriages, no ceremony, no trumpets.

In fact, everything that we just read seems very, very far from holy.

This passage is filled to the brim with mockery, with blasphemy, with criminals, with loneliness, with suffering, with torture.

Unfolding at the place of a skull.

And it's a scene filled with a stench of death.

This is the last thing you would put into Westminster Abbey.

But what I want us to see today is that it is actually these unholy things that make this moment so holy.

It is actually these disgraceful things that are what make this Jesus' coronation.

Rather than tainting this coronation, all these things actually make this the central moment of our salvation.

It is because Jesus experiences this, that this moment must be the centre of history, and it must be the centre of your life.

And so I want us to see today, in a surprising way, two unholy things actually make this a holy coronation.

Two things crown Jesus in this moment.

The mockery crowns Jesus, and the nails crown Jesus.

And so in this sacred hush, I want us to listen very carefully to the mockery cutting through it.

Because this is what crowns Jesus.

The mockery crowns Jesus.

It's my first point today.

The mockery crowns Jesus.

I want us to picture the scene.

Up until this point, Jesus has been put on trial.

Beaten.

Whipped.

Spat on.

Verbally abused.

And if you look at the end of verse 20.

They led him out to crucify him.

Which is where our scene begins today.

And to be led out to be crucified means Jesus would have had to carry the horizontal beam.

Of the cross.

And carry it through Jerusalem.

Out of the gate.

To a place called Golgotha.

A patch of land just outside the walls of Jerusalem.

Where the vertical beam would be waiting for him.

But he is likely so battered and weary at this point.

That he can't actually carry it.

They have to call someone over to help him.

Simon of Cyrene.

We'll come back to him in a moment.

And when Jesus gets to Golgotha.

We aren't given the details.

But the readers of Mark would have been very aware.

In verse 24.

It just says four words.

And they crucified him.

Only four words.

But they involve a lot.

Jesus would have had thick metal nails.

Like tent pegs.

Nailed through his wrists into the horizontal beam.

Then he would have been attached to the vertical beam.

Then nailed to that through his feet.

Then raised up.

To hang there by the side of the road.

So that the weight of your body pulls on the wrists.

And to find any relief.

You have to push up on the nails in your feet.

And for those crucified.

You would have likely died eventually from shock.

Or either suffocation.

Because you just can't lift yourself up.

In fact the word excruciating.

In our language.

It comes from the word crucifixion.

And verse 25.

It's the third hour.

Around 9am when this starts.

In verse 27.

He's hung up there with two robbers.

Either side of him.

But we just get four words.

And they crucified him.

Mark never gives us the details.

That's not his focus.

And what does Mark focus on instead?

It's the words hurled at Jesus.

Verse 29.

Passersby ridicule him.

And wag their heads.

Shaking in disapproval.

And they say.

Aha.

You who would destroy the temple.

And rebuild it in three days.

Save yourself.

And come down from the cross.

And then verse 31.

The chief priests and the scribes.

Start laughing between each other.

He saved others.

He cannot save himself.

Let the Christ.

The king of Israel.

Come down now from the cross.

That we may see and believe.

Even the words above him.

The king of the Jews.

Is meant to be biting sarcasm.

And to top it off.

Even the two robbers.

Start mocking him.

This is the scene.

And it's the opposite.

Of what you would expect.

For a king.

Isn't it?

King Charles had.

Helpers.

And publicists.

And organizers.

And a cheering crowd.

But Jesus had no one.

Only the words of mockery.

From the crowd.

It's like.

In this holy silence.

Mark wants to turn up.

The volume.

Of the insults.

So we don't miss a thing.

And he's doing that.

For a reason.

It is because.

This is how.

Jesus becomes king.

This unholy.

Blasphemy.

Against the son of God.

This is actually.

What makes this moment.

So holy.

Because it is through.

This exact humiliation.

This is how.

He bears the sins.

Of his people.

It is not only.

By physically.

Bleeding.

That he suffers.

For our sins.

Which is essential.

But it is also.

Through the humiliation.

Of severe mockery.

That Jesus saves us.

God's punishment.

On sin.

In this moment.

It's taking the form.

Of both.

Death.

And derision.

And so.

His suffering.

Goes deeper.

Deeper.

Than only.

The physical wounds.

His suffering.

Goes deep.

Into his soul.

And mockery.

And mockery.

Does that.

Doesn't it?

Having everyone.

Turn against you.

It's a pain.

Worse than loneliness.

Isn't it?

Because people.

Are our comfort.

And support.

Aren't they?

So when you're running.

A marathon.

Or a 5k.

The cheers.

From your family.

On the sideline.

They lift your soul.

Don't they?

They give you that second wind.

When someone encourages you.

You can ride the wave of those words for years.

And so when those words are not only taken away.

But turned into painful.

Biting scorn.

That goes deep down into your soul.

And that is even more intensified in Jesus.

Because he is so innocent.

The man who dined with sinners.

And loved them.

Now battered with hatred.

The man who spoke truth and grace.

Every day of his life.

Now hurled out with lies.

Not a drop of sin in his heart.

Yet lumped up there with the robbers.

The man whose heart was filled with compassion for a lost people.

Now cut off from all comfort and support.

And not only that.

It's all public.

It's painful enough to weep into our pillows.

But this man has to deal with it on a roadside.

And so if you.

If you ever feel pain in your soul.

There is someone that you can know.

Someone that you can actually call friend.

Who truly knows the darkness of sorrow in the human soul.

The wounds of Jesus are far deeper than we realize.

But that is what makes this moment so holy.

This is all integral to him bearing our curse.

Because this.

Because this.

This is what our sins deserve.

This is how we should be treated.

We take for granted the comfort that we have in this life.

We every day.

We take for granted the comfort that we actually feel in our souls.

But we deserve none of it.

And so in this mockery.

This is Jesus bearing what our sins deserve.

Feeling the true sting of being cursed before God.

And so in this holy hush.

We are actually witnessing Christ tasting hell for us.

Because in hell.

It will be both the torments of body and soul.

And in hell.

All the comfort and support of this life.

Will be taken away.

No encouragements.

No relief.

And it will all be turned into weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A fate worse than loneliness.

And so it is no coincidence that all these events take place the way that they do.

This is the Lord making very clear for all to see.

This is the one being cursed for sinners.

Hanging next to criminals to be publicly and visibly numbered with the sinners.

Audibly mocked to make his humiliation unquestionable.

And hanging on a wooden cross.

A tree of all things.

The most cursed way to die in the Bible.

Making it clear for the world to see.

Not just that cursed is the man who is hanged on a tree.

But cursed is that man hanging on that tree.

And it is through bearing this curse and mockery.

This is how he becomes the saviour.

This is how he becomes our king.

So in one sense, we want the mockery to stop.

It isn't right.

But actually, we don't want it to stop.

Because this is how he saves us.

This mockery is actually his crowning.

Which is why there's so much irony in this passage.

Did you see?

They put the sign, King of the Jews, to reject him as king.

But actually, him taking that ridicule actually makes him the king of the Jews.

They mock him for claiming to tear down the temple and rebuild it.

But that mockery makes him the very cornerstone of the temple.

They say he can't save himself.

But with those very words, brothers and sisters, he is saving you and me.

And at this point, it would be very tempting to point the finger at the crowd and say, how could they do that?

And as with all events in the Bible, we look at this scene and we try to figure out where we are, which character are we?

And we think we're above the crowd.

But we need to realize in this holy moment, we shouldn't be pointing the finger.

Because as he hangs there, Jesus is bearing our mockery.

Every time we said in our hearts, Jesus, I wish you weren't in charge of my life.

Jesus is hanging for that.

Every time we entertain the thought, I think my life will be better without him.

Jesus is hanging for that.

Every time we were ashamed of him and avoided talking about him in front of our friends,

hoping that they won't ask us what we're doing on Sunday.

Jesus is hanging for that.

For all our past, when we refused to see he was king, and we just went our own way,

and we simply didn't care, Jesus is hanging for that.

But he is hanging there to forgive you.

Saying, I will bear it.

I will bear your mockery.

With every insult that hit his eardrum,

that was Jesus making sure that you are forgiven.

And that is what makes him king.

And so the crowds, they hurl this abuse,

but they have no idea what they're really doing.

They're making this whole scene into a coronation.

And in this sacred hush,

just like Westminster Abbey,

a crown is going on to Jesus.

A king is being enthroned.

But not with a headpiece.

No, the mockery crowns Jesus.

This is why such unholy, blasphemous words

actually make this the most holy moment of history.

But there's something else to see.

Something else that makes this holy.

Another surprising thing that makes this actually a coronation.

I want us to see in this sacred hush,

something else crowns Jesus.

I want us to see the nails crown Jesus.

The nails crown Jesus.

Come back with me to verse 21.

Have a look at verse 21.

I've always puzzled over this verse.

As Jesus carries his cross out the city, verse 21,

they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene,

who was coming in from the country,

the father of Alexander and Rufus,

to carry his cross.

I've always puzzled over this verse

because it makes you think,

doesn't this take away from Jesus' work?

Because we can see here,

he had help.

Simon of Cyrene,

a Jew visiting from Africa,

picked up Jesus' cross

and carried it for him.

It seems like it almost detracts away from Jesus' work,

doesn't it?

Or maybe lessens his suffering in some way.

Well, I want us to see the opposite is actually true.

Rather than taking away from his suffering,

Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross

is actually Jesus plunging himself

into worse suffering.

And actually,

this is Jesus all the more determined to save us.

Because think about it.

Jesus had been flogged so severely

and beaten to a pulp

that he physically wasn't able to carry his own cross.

That's why Simon of Cyrene had to step in.

But what would have happened if Simon didn't?

What if he had stayed back to the side

and Jesus kept trying to carry the beam

but just collapsed on the way into the dust

and died there on the road?

What would have happened?

He wouldn't have been crucified.

He wouldn't have felt the nails.

He wouldn't have experienced that crowning mockery.

And so actually,

without Simon of Cyrene,

Jesus wouldn't have felt the full weight of suffering.

And so in God's providence,

Simon of Cyrene was there to make sure

Jesus goes all the way to the cross.

And not just skim the dark waters of sorrow

but be plunged all the way down into the depths.

Simon of Cyrene doesn't suffer.

He isn't the one that dies.

No, it is only Jesus.

And so Simon of Cyrene is not about Jesus

less involved in his crucifixion

but actually all the more.

This shows Jesus is determined to save us.

Which is also why he refuses the wine.

Did you see that in verse 23?

And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh

but he did not take it.

Wine mixed with myrrh

would have been like an anesthetic.

It's a drug to numb the pain

or make someone fall asleep

to make it all easier.

But what does Jesus say?

He says, no.

I cannot take the easy way out.

The only way to save my people from sin

it's not to numb the suffering

but I need to bear it.

It's like Jesus saying, no.

I must feel the nails.

He's determined to suffer for us.

And so the nails, as the nails pierced his hands

and his feet

and he hung there on the tree

Christian, you need to realize this

you are there in his heart.

And he's feeling this pain for you

because he knows you need him to be there.

This is how he saves us.

And so we see again

that the great irony

of the crowd's mockery

verse 31

He saved others

he cannot save himself

let the Christ, the King of Israel

come down now from the cross

that we may see and believe.

Jesus could have come down.

He could have sent

a thousand angels from heaven

to bring him down

and remove the nails

and just end this mockery.

He could have drunk the wine

and lessened the pain

and just slept this away.

He could have collapsed on the way

and spared himself the grief.

He can save himself

but he doesn't.

He refuses to.

And why?

Brothers and sisters

why would any man

choose to go through this?

Because he loves you.

It is not only the nails

holding him up there

and it's not only our sin

but for those in Christ

it is his love for you

that drove him to the cross

and it's keeping him up there.

Because this is how he saved you.

This is how he becomes your king.

Not only the mockery

but also the nails crowned Jesus.

And so if you have

if you have any doubt

about Jesus' love

if you have any doubt

about how he feels about you

if you think the sin

that you've committed this week

can take away that love

you must never ever forget these nails.

He went there

not because he might love you.

No, he went there

because he forever loves you.

And please remember this

if Jesus stayed up for you then

do you think he will ever abandon you now?

He is still very, very determined to save you.

And so these nails

may be an unholy weapon of torture

but actually they are what make this moment

so holy.

In these nails

a divine love is on display.

They crown him.

And so no wonder this moment

deserves such a sacred hush.

It is the most holy of coronations.

But I don't want us

to leave here today thinking

this is just

a coronation

far off in the midst of history.

I don't want us to think

this is just like

reading about Henry VIII

coming to the throne.

That's how coronations can feel

can't they?

We watch the king's coronation on TV

and it all just seems

very far off

and I'm detached

and just watching.

No, Jesus' enthronement

isn't like that.

I want you to realize

this coronation

couldn't be more relevant

to your life.

In fact

you can actually be

a part of this coronation.

And we see that

with Simon of Cyrene.

Now he doesn't add

to Jesus' saving work here

but he does have

the privilege

of being a part of it.

Simon is mentioned here

to show us

that this crucifixion

has a significance

that goes beyond

Jesus to others

to nobodies like Simon.

And like Simon

we can have

an involvement

and share

in these sufferings

and actually

be defined by them.

Did you notice

we get specific details

about Simon

which would have

really mattered

to the church

when this was first written.

Did you see Mark says

it's not just

any old Simon.

He writes down

you know him.

it's Simon of Cyrene.

It's like saying

oh it's Paul of Hanwell.

And you know his sons

he's the dad

of Alexander and Rufus

you know them.

They were known

to the church

they're Christians.

And these Christians

Simon of Cyrene

and his family

have been forever

defined

by one thing.

He's the one

that's shared

in Jesus' crucifixion.

He was a part of it.

And he's mentioned here

because

you need to know

that can be you as well.

When you trust

in the Lord Jesus

his crucifixion

actually becomes yours.

You share

in this coronation.

You actually

participate

in this

victory

and in his glory.

It becomes yours.

And like

Simon of Cyrene

you and your family

forever

become defined

by one thing.

You become defined

by this

one holy moment

of history.

You no longer

become

that guilty sinner.

You no longer

become

the one

enslaved

by sin.

You are no longer

the lost.

No you become

the one

who shares

in this crucifixion.

it's unlike

any coronation.

And you may

have lived your life

mocking Jesus

and you

maybe

you have thought

just some awful

things about him

and you had

all the arguments

against him

and you watched

all the YouTube videos

and learned

all the arguments

and you never

once recognized

him as king.

And if that is

you here today

well now

is the time

to look to

his crucifixion.

and you

can actually

be

a part

of this.

Jesus

can take

all that

mockery

from you

and it

can be

paid for.

Whatever

sin you

have

the king

can take

it all

away

because for

everyone in

Christ here

today

that is

what has

happened

to us.

but only

only

if this

crucifixion

defines you

if you

are a part

of this.

And so

there is

a question

we must

all ask

ourselves

today

as we

witness

this holy

moment

in this

sacred

hush

how will

you be

involved?

Like the

crowds

will you

stand back

and just

watch

and refuse

to acknowledge

the king

or will

you be a

part of

this

coronation?

Will you

trust in

the king

and have

his crucifixion

define you?

Wherever you

are in life

today this

crucifixion

it doesn't

have to be

this far

off event

this can

be yours

right now.

And so

I urge you

today

don't stand

back

don't stand

back

come to

the king

trust

in this

savior

and all

of this

all of

this

can

belong

to you

come to

this cross

and you

will find

his love

you will

find

forgiveness

let's pray

for

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

!