Jesus did what we could not do for ourselves—redeem us from our sins.  Only Jesus, “who knew no sin” could place all our sins upon His shoulders while allowing soldiers to drive the nails signifying our sins into His body as a Roman designed cruel way of punishment for criminals.  He chose to lay down his life for our life.  He chose to fulfill the scriptures proclaimed by God to His designated prophets centuries earlier with the cruel way this would happen.  He chose to obey His Father who sent Him into the world to seek and to save the lost.  He chose to die alone because our sins were so great, our Perfect Father in heaven would have to turn and look away from His Son who carried them.  Jesus chose to love us beyond our thinking.  All of us. 

In fact, it was Jesus’ love for us that held him to the cross—not the ropes or nails—but His love—”while we were yet sinners.”

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

They Bound The Hands Of Jesus In The Garden Where He Prayed;
They Led Him Thro’ The Streets In Shame.
They Spat Upon The Savior So Pure And Free From Sin;
They Said, “Crucify Him; He’s To Blame.”

He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels
To Destroy The World And Set Him Free.
He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels,
But He Died Alone For You And Me.

Mark 15, The Message

The Crucifixion

²¹ There was a man walking by, coming from work, Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made him carry Jesus’ cross.

^22-24 The soldiers brought Jesus to Golgotha, meaning “Skull Hill.” They offered him a mild painkiller (wine mixed with myrrh), but he wouldn’t take it. And they nailed him to the cross. They divided up his clothes and threw dice to see who would get them.

^25-30 They nailed him up at nine o’clock in the morning. The charge against him—the king of the jews—was scrawled across a sign. Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”

^31-32 The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—but he can’t save himself! Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then!” Even the men crucified alongside him joined in the mockery.

^33-34 At noon the sky became extremely dark. The darkness lasted three hours. At three o’clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

^35-36 Some of the bystanders who heard him said, “Listen, he’s calling for Elijah.” Someone ran off, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

^37-39 But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath. At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle. When the Roman captain standing guard in front of him saw that he had quit breathing, he said, “This has to be the Son of God!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Mark tells us that everyone mocked Jesus as they passed by on their way to the city.  That was the “big finish” of the Roman designed punishment.  Criminals were nailed to a cross which was then plunked into a hole and hoisted up for all to see as a deterrent for others that think of committing crimes or rebellions against the Roman government.  Even the real criminals on crosses on either side of Jesus, began mocking Him!

When you consider all that Jesus had endured since His arrest, it is not surprising that His strength failed. Indeed, he could have called “more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53), yet He willingly bore the suffering on our behalf. There was a higher purpose behind this act: The victim carried the cross because he had been found guilty, but our Lord was not guilty. We are the guilty ones.  He chose to carry it for us.

Every detail we read in this passage was foretold by the prophets. Crucifixion is one of the most horrible forms of death ever devised by man. For example, read Psalm 22 for a description of some of our Lord’s agonies as He hung on the cross.

Max Lucado, who has a powerful way with words because of his love for Jesus, writes:

“Judas betrayed Jesus, and the religious authorities arrested God’s Son. The disciples scattered, and Peter denied him three times. Jesus, beaten and mocked throughout the night, provided salvation through his death and resurrection.

The hours before Jesus’ crucifixion were extremely painful for him, yet he faced the sacrifice with love, courage, and conviction so great that he willingly gave up his life for us!

He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.

Men clad in soldiers’ garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.

Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought, by killing this false one.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn’t leave. “I will stay,” she said softly. “I will stay.”

All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.

“It must be done,” he said, and withdrew.

But as he stepped back in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He wrenched at tomorrow’s agony.

The angel spoke again. “It would be less painful . . .”

The Creator interrupted softly. “But it wouldn’t be love.”

(Max Lucado, “Encouraging Word Bible”)

He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels
To Destroy The World And Set Him Free.
He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels,
But He Died Alone For You And Me.

To The Howling Mob He Yielded; He Did Not For Mercy Cry.
The Cross Of Shame He Took Alone.
And When He Cried, “It’s Finished.” He Gave Himself To Die;
Salvation’s Wondrous Plan Was Done.

Lord, Jesus,

Thank you. Thank you for all you did and still do to save us from sin and selfishness by your lone act of loving sacrifice. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus Name, Amen