Mark's Passion 5

So the soldiers blind fold and beat Jesus, mocking Him to "prophesy!" And, unbeknownst to them, His prophesies to Peter are played out just as He said. Traded for Barabbas, the Lord begins the journey to His death. We can assume that the physical, mental and emotional toll on Jesus is the reason that Simon is compelled to carry the cross. Perhaps the spiritual weight of the event.

The mention not only of Simon, but of his sons Alexander and Rufus are a tantalizing detail. Obviously, Mark is writing for people who knew the sons. We can speculate what Simon's experience was like, maybe it led him (and his boys) to the faith. We only know these brief words.... How they remind us of Jesus' invitation to carry the cross if we would be His disciples. "Suffer with Me," says the Lord.

The ongoing mocking continues. Everyone wants Jesus to do somethnig amazing and come down from the cross. How similar that is to the prayers of many Christians. Aren't we sometimes (often?) inclined to say, "IF you are who you say you are THEN do something about this!!!" We prefer winners, people who overcome the bad guys. We do not want to be counted among the victims. Yet, there Jesus is. Powerless and suffering, He embraces the cross and shows us the way.

Mark says Jesus was crucified at nine and died by three. Six excruciating hours.The summary found in the words, "My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me?" These words succinctly summarize the event. Everyone has deserted Jesus, even the Father. The horror of sin: broken relationship. God made Him to be sin who had never sin, on our behalf. I preached on these words tonight (and will again tomorrow). SO many have felt the absence, the distance of God. God, in Jesus Christ, redeems that experience of desolation. In all of our lives these words have resonated at some point.

Jesus cries out and dies. The Temple curtain is torn in two. Is this a sign of  mourning? Is it God's response to the high priest who tore his clothes? Is it an indication that God is absent from the holy of holies? Is it the sign that in Jesus the access to God is complete and perfected? It is a sign. We know that. And the sign is paired with words, "Truly, this man was the son of God." The third time we are told this in Mark. The first two, by God, at the baptism and Transfiguration. The last time, by a Gentile, a Roman Centurian. The Gospel is preached by someone outside of God's People. We fall to our knees and quake with fear and we worship God. What more can we say or do?

Jesus is buried in the tomb of Joseph. A man of standing in the community. Several woman watch. They are named, probably because it is their testimony which we hear. The men are long gone. Only the church ladies remain behind. They watch. They see where the body is laid.

What feelings must they all have had. Even though Jesus had told them again and again. Here is happened. Death, predicted or not, still has a sting. Even when we know what is coming, we are never quite prepared.
The stone is rolled across the tomb's entrance. In the dark silence the corpse of Jesus lies. The mystery of death is compounded by His death. The son of God dead? What happens in the unseen dimensions? What is going one with God and Jesus? We do not know. All we see is a battered corpse. Where once He spoke and looked and smiled, He is now ashen. He is gone. He is dead.