BACKGROUND:Someone found a purple robe and threw it around the shoulders of this supposed “king.” Someone else, with a brutal sense of humor, twisted some long, sharp thorns into a crown that was then jammed onto Jesus’ head. Matthew added that they put a stick in his hand, like a king’s scepter. They beat him, striking him on the head. They insulted him by spitting on him and kneeling down in mock worship. Yet even all of this had been prophesied (Isaiah 50:6; 52:14–53:6).
After having their fun, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put Jesus’ own clothes on him again. Then he was taken out to be crucified. Probably only four soldiers under the command of an officer actually went out to the site to perform the execution because John mentions that the soldiers at the cross divided his clothing “among the four of them” (John 19:23).
Colonies of Jews existed outside Judea. Simon was from Cyrene, in northern Africa and was either on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover, or he was originally from Cyrene but resided in Palestine. His two sons, Alexander and Rufus, are mentioned as if Mark’s readers in Rome knew them. Rufus may be the same man mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:13. If so, this could mean that Simon became a Christian through this incident. Simon, on his way into the city, was randomly picked out of the crowd and forced to carry Jesus’ cross.
Some scholars say Golgotha (translated Skull Hill) derived its name from its appearance, a hill with a stony top that might have been shaped like a skull. Golgotha is the Hebrew word for “skull.” The familiar name “Calvary” is derived from the Latin calvaria (also meaning “skull”). Golgotha may have been a regular place of execution in a prominent public place outside the city along a main road. Executions held there served as examples to the people and as a deterrent to criminals.
Wine drugged with myrrh was offered to Jesus to help reduce his pain. Myrrh is generally understood to be a narcotic that was used to deaden pain. Tradition says women of Jerusalem prepared and offered this drink to condemned men. This also may allude to Psalm 69:21. But Jesus refused to drink it. He chose to suffer fully conscious and with a clear mind.
Mark’s words are simple and direct: They nailed him to the cross. Indeed, Mark’s Roman readers needed no elaborate description; they knew it all too well. Crucifixion, instituted by the Romans, was a feared and shameful form of execution. Death came by suffocation as the person lost strength and the weight of the body made breathing more and more difficult.
Contrary to the discreet paintings of the Crucifixion, Jesus was crucified naked. Roman soldiers had the right to take for themselves the clothing of those crucified, so they gambled for Jesus’ clothes. This act had also been prophesied (Psalm 22:18).
Jesus was placed on the cross at nine o’clock in the morning. A signboard stating the charge against him was fastened on his cross as a warning. Because Jesus was never found guilty, the only accusation placed on his sign was the “crime” of calling himself King of the Jews. This sign was meant to be ironic. A king, stripped and executed in public view, had obviously lost his kingdom forever. But Jesus, who turns the world’s wisdom upside down, was just coming into his Kingdom. His death and resurrection would strike the deathblow to Satan’s rule and would establish Christ’s eternal authority over the earth. Few people reading the sign that bleak day understood its real meaning, but the sign was absolutely true. Jesus is king of the Jews—and the Gentiles, and the whole universe.
Insult was literally added to injury when it came to public crucifixion. People passing by shouted abuse at Jesus. They again used the twisted accusation that had been brought against Jesus at the council, taunting him that if he could boast of building the Temple in three days, surely he had the power to save himself from the fate of the cross. Ironically, Jesus was in the very process of fulfilling his own prophecy. His body was being destroyed, but in three days he would rise again. Because Jesus is the Son of God who always obeys the will of the Father, he did not come down from the cross to save himself. If he had done so, he could not have saved us.
Mark recorded the final scene of Jesus’ earthly life with graphic imagery. The dark sky was pierced by an anguished cry of abandonment. Those watching were gripped with awe. Jesus had been put on the cross at nine o’clock in the morning. Death by crucifixion was slow and excruciating, sometimes taking two or three days. Three hours passed while Jesus put up with abuse from bystanders. Then, at noon, darkness settled over the land for three hours. We do not know how this darkness occurred, but it is clear that God caused it. Nature testified to the gravity of Jesus’ death, while Jesus’ friends and enemies alike fell silent in the encircling gloom. The darkness on that Friday afternoon was both physical and spiritual. All nature seemed to mourn over the tragedy of the death of God’s Son.
A Roman officer had accompanied the soldiers to the execution site. Undoubtedly, he had done this many times. Yet this crucifixion was completely different—the unexplained darkness, the earthquake, even the executed himself who had uttered words of forgiveness . The officer observed Jesus’ alertness throughout the crucifixion and his relatively quick death. This Gentile Roman officer realized something that most of the Jewish nation had missed: “Truly, this was the Son of God!” Whether he understood what he was saying, we cannot know. He may simply have admired Jesus’ courage and inner strength, perhaps thinking that Jesus was divine like one of Rome’s many gods. While the Jewish religious leaders stood around celebrating Jesus’ death, a lone Roman soldier was the first to acclaim Jesus as the Son of God after his death.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read?)
I want to give you this morning five proofs that God loves you.
#1. I KNOW GOD LOVES ME BECAUSE HE MADE ME.
Psalm 145:17 says, "The Lord is loving to all He has made." God has never made a person He didn't love. He made you so He loves you. Psalm 103:13-14 says, "God is like a father, tender and sympathetic. He knows that we are but dust." It doesn't say that God is a judge, a policeman, a drill sergeant, a boss. It says God is like a perfect father. He cares about us.
God, the Bible says, is love. God is so full of love He said, I'm going to create people that I can have a relationship with.
#2. I KNOW THAT GOD LOVES ME BECAUSE HE NOTICES EVERY DETAIL OF MY LIFE.
Matthew 10:30 says,"God knows how many hairs are on your head." God is interested in every little detail of your life. He loves you completely. And He's interested in every part. I used to think God was only interested in me when I went to church or when I read my Bible or when I did something "spiritual". No. God is intimately interested in every detail of your life. He's interested in when you're happy and when you're sad. He's interested when you make a sale and when you fail to make a sale. He's interested when you succeed and when you don't succeed. He's interested when you're down, depressed, discourage. He's interested in the hobbies that you're interested in. Why? Because He made you.
God is always aware of every detail of your life. Why? Because He always cares about every detail of your life. He made you. He notices every detail.
Some of you are going through a tough time right now. Whatever that tough time is, no matter what you're going through, God is acutely aware of it. He cares about that financial problem, that sexual problem, that physical problem, that mental problem, that social problem, that problem at work, that problem in your marriage, that problem at school. He cares and He is aware because He loves you.
#3. I KNOW GOD LOVES ME BECAUSE HE HAS GOOD PLANS FOR MY LIFE.
Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life, to five life in all its fullness." Jesus didn't come to give a religion. He came to give a relationship to God so you could get to know God. That's what we celebrate on Easter. God came to earth in the form of a human being and He gave Himself for you so you could get to know God. Until you follow God's plan you're not living, you're just existing. You get up in the morning, go to work, come home, go to bed, watch tv in the evenings go to parties on the week ends and you think you're living. You're not living, you're just existing. You're not living until you know God's plan for your life.
#4. I KNOW GOD LOVES ME BECAUSE HE SENT CHRIST TO DIE FOR ME.
This is the ultimate proof of God's love. It's why we celebrate Easter. God had a purpose and plan. Romans 5:8 says "God proves His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Christ died for us it says. He cares about us. The ultimate proof. I don't know how many people you know who would die for you. I don't know many people who would die for me. The Bible says that even while we didn't even know God, while we rejected God, God sent His Son to pay the penalty. All the things I've done wrong, God says they've already been paid for. When you go to heaven and you stand before God and He says, "Why should I let you in?" you either say, "I paid for all my sins" which you don't have enough credit to do or "I accept what Jesus did for my sins. I accept His payment." That's Plan B. You don't stand a chance on Plan A.
#5. I KNOW GOD LOVES ME BECAUSE HE FORGIVES ME WHEN I ASK HIM.
I've discovered that the number one reason people don't get to know God is guilt. Do you remember when you were in school, you didn't like to get to know people you didn't think liked you. So you'd stay away from those people. A lot of people stay away from God because they think God doesn't like them because they know they're guilty. God says, "I will forgive you". Maybe you've felt, "I can't have a relationship to God because of all the things I've done wrong." You're wrong. Maybe you've thought, "I could never be forgiven." You're wrong.
"Yes, all have sinned [I've never met anybody who says they're perfect. I don't measure up to my own standards much less God's standards. I don't have any problem with that first part. I've blown it. I've made mistakes. I've sinned and so have you.] yet now God declares us not guilty if we trust in Jesus Christ who freely takes away our sins."
What's been keeping you from a close relationship to God? Some of you were close to God in the past but you've drifted away. You don't feel close to God any more. Why not this Easter come home to Him?
I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.
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