From Tragedy To Triumph Series

Easter is upon – the day when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – and at Easter time we wish to hear why the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is significant to us. We want to hear of the hope that we no longer have to be condemned to an eternal spiritual death, but that we will have eternal life in the Lord if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.

Jesus’ death and rising brought us the gift of salvation and brand new spiritual life, but do you know what else it accomplished? It gave us the promise of renewal and transformation in our everyday lives and our everyday “trials and troubles.” You see, there is another victory, besides the one over sin and death which we can claim through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; and that is victory over injustice, suffering, and spiritual and emotional pain. “So how do we have this victory?” you may ask. That’s the question we’re going to answer this morning; and we will begin by reading the account of the crucifixion found in Mark 15:16-37.

Experiencing Pain and Loss (Mark 15:16-37)

16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. 25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.” 29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

In the Scripture here, we observe that Jesus underwent intense pain and agony. A crown of thorns was fashioned and mashed down on His head until He bled. He was beaten on the head, and probably upon His entire body, with a reed that was lined up and down with sharp rocks in order to tear at the flesh. He was also spat upon; and as though this weren’t enough, He was delivered to be crucified.

During crucifixion, spikes were driven into His wrists just below the hands, spreading the bones apart as they went through. While being nailed to the cross, Jesus’ feet were placed one on top the other while a spike forced its way through both of them. His knees were bent so that He would have to push up in order not to slide down and suffocate under His own weight. The position He was in, with His hands above His head, caused suffocation if He were to slide down, because His lungs would be pressed together. That’s why it was common in crucifixion to break the victim’s legs, for it would cause Him to die faster. Jesus’ legs burned with fatigue while trying to stay up, while His wrists and feet ached and bled.