Presbyterian Church of Easton
Sermon Mark 15:33-39 “The Son of God”
Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021
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I am continuing, today, with our Lenten series tracing the events of Jesus’ life through Holy Week. On the church calendar, Holy Week begins today and continues through Easter. We have been on a very exciting journey. We sat with Judas as he watched Jesus be anointed for death. We joined the disciples around a Passover meal which turned out to be Jesus’ last supper. We prayed with Jesus in Gethsemane and were there as Jesus was arrested. Then we participated in trials before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate. Today we will be with Jesus as he dies. This Thursday evening at 7 PM we will accompany Joseph of Arimathea as he buries Jesus in a tomb. Then next Sunday we will see the exciting conclusion to the Gospel of Mark. But now let us bow our heads and pray.
Father in heaven, we have been following your son. As his death approaches help us as we grieve. Help us to understand the meaning of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. And bless us with your saving grace and transformation as we listen to your word today. We pray this in the name of our crucified Lord. Amen.
The Romans saw crucifixion as accomplishing two goals. First, it humiliated anyone who dared to threaten imperial authority. And second, it intimidated anyone who might be tempted to oppose the will of the Emperor. They crucified people on the main street just outside the gate of the city where it would have the maximum political impact. But as we read Mark we see a very different picture emerging. Jesus seems to be attending his own coronation as a King rather than a crucifixion.
Mark 15:21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
First, see that Jesus is not bowed over carrying the heavy crossbar, an important part of Roman humiliation. Rather Jesus is walking upright with someone else carrying it for him. It is almost as if Jesus is triumphantly walking to Golgotha as a king rather than as the condemned.
25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
When Jesus was crucified he was exalted, lifted up the same way as a king is exalted, sitting on a throne. And a king on the throne would have his principal advisors on his right and left. Notice that there are two bandits at the right and left of Jesus. And the king’s subjects are approaching the cross not with their petitions, but with taunts and demand for a miracle of Jesus jumping down from the cross. Even the inscription takes on a new meaning. The Romans were trying to use satire, but Jesus really is “The King of the Jews”. What we see here is Mark’s keen sense of irony. He has described for us, not a crucifixion but as a coronation for a king. But, of course, this is an execution. Here is what happened.
Mark 15:33-39 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." 36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." 37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son”.
In Genesis chapter 1 the Bible begins with creation. This is what it says.
Genesis 1:1-3 NRS Genesis 1:1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
At noon, on the day of the crucifixion, Jesus, the light of the world, was extinguished and the world was once again in darkness.
Chapter 2 of Genesis deals with the creation of women and men. This is what it says.
Genesis 2:7 7 then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
At 3 pm on the day of the crucifixion, the spirit of God left Jesus’ body and he died returning to the dust of the world.
In Exodus, God gave his people a commandment to place a curtain between them and his most holy presence. This is what it says.
Exodus 26:31-33 31 You shall make a curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, which have hooks of gold and rest on four bases of silver. 33 You shall hang the curtain under the clasps, and bring the ark of the covenant in there, within the curtain; and the curtain shall separate for you the holy place from the most holy.
At the moment of Jesus’ death, this curtain was torn in two thus removing all barriers that separate us from God.
As Jesus approached death he prayed a prayer which he probably memorized when he was growing up. This prayer was written by Jesus’ ancestor David. Jesus began singing the 22nd Psalm. Listen to what happened as Jesus was singing Psalm 22.
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.
Jesus in his agony prayed a lament letting his Father know the depths of his suffering. But then he remembered God, with whom he had existed from before the creation of the world. This is what he sang.
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried, and were saved; in you, they trusted and were not put to shame.
But Jesus was shaken from his prayer by those at the base of the cross mocking him. Jesus sang,
6 But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
Then Jesus remembered the teachings of his youth that God is faithful and just. This is what he said:
8 "Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver-- let him rescue the one in whom he delights!" 9 Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother's breast. 10 On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
Jesus watched as the religious leaders of his day taunted him. So he turned to his father and asked for help.
. 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls encircle me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
As the pain increased Jesus cried out:
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
Then Jesus noticed the Roman guards.
16 For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled; 17 I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Sensing that his end was near, Jesus cried out to God.
19 But you, O LORD, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
Then Jesus made a promise to God.
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation, I will praise you: 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me but heard when I cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
Then Jesus then made a prophecy about his church.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
And finally, as Jesus was dying, God revealed to him his next mission to bring salvation to those who had already died.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.
And with his dying breath, Jesus talked about us. This is what he said.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, 31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.
A Roman centurion was a witness to all of this. He saw the light of the world darken. He knew that the curtain separating us from God was torn in two. He listened as Jesus sang Psalm 22. And he watched as Jesus breathed his last. After witnessing all of this, this Roman centurion realized that what Jesus has said was true. Jesus is the Son of God. Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we are walking with you to the cross. This is a difficult journey for us because we love you so much. We ask that you send your spirit to comfort us as we grieve. And we ask that you prepare us for what happens next Sunday. All this we pray in your glorious name. Amen.
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