Mark 15.16-41. The Cross of Christ
The Cross is central to Christianity without it there would be no faith, it is the crucial work of Christ upon that cross which brings atonement (at one with God) The cross not only has a big impact on our lives but also on our language. The word crucial is derived from the Latin word crux for cross. The cross is crucial to Christianity.
• The Cross of Christ is crucial to Christianity. All the gospels lead us up to it and climax.
• The Old Testament with a prophetic voice reveals the cross to us.
• The Acts of the Apostles tells us how the first preachers proclaimed the Cross.
• The New Testament Epistles brining out the great meaning and the ethical demands of the Cross.
• Believers through the centuries have centered on the proclamation of the cross.
• Our baptism is into the death of Christ - Rom 6; 3.
• When we partake in communion we proclaim the Lords death until he comes 1cor.11; 26.
Liberals today feature more on the teaching of Christ like the Beatitudes, with its ethical teaching giving the idea that this will liberate the people of the world once everyone adheres to such things. I do not want to degenerate such things. But if we are to be true to the N.T. we must see the Cross as at the very heart of it all. Changes will only arise when individuals come to the cross.
1. The Cross-is a place of Rejection.
Rejection has to be one of the worst things we as human beings can do to another. Rejection we see it everywhere in our world – in our communities – even in our families - nobody is immune – no doubt we have all experienced it to some degree or even been the instrument of rejection.
But the worst type of rejection any human being can demonstrate is the rejection of Jesus – There appears to be a growing subtle rejection – BA air hostess who was banned from wearing the cross at work.
Subtle rejection: On Thursday I was in school and we sung ‘he made the stars to shine’ the head was very uncomfortable with the words ‘but this is why, I love Him for me He bled and died, the Lord of all creation became the crucified.’ The head was very uncomfortable with these words - but this is the centre of the message of Christianity, a message which she obviously rejects at this moment in time.
But here at Golgotha it’s not subtle, its open and blatant rejection, for all to see........
a. The Roman soldiers are violent towards Him v19
The soldiers were hard and callous trained to be so; it was clearly demonstrated towards Jesus.
Were they just doing their job? Yes and No - like any solider they are used to violence – here they were probably went beyond their remit. Mark 15 v19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. We see that humanity as a tendency to go beyond the call of duty.
Christians today around the world are facing violent - torture in place like N Korea –Indonesia- Iran –Iraq –The words of Jesus become a reality to them. John 15:20. ‘If they persecuted me they will persecute you.
b. The crowds are insulting Jesus. V29 those who passed by hurled insults at Jesus
Just the everyday people of that time and place, who were present just want to throw insults at Jesus no doubt - told by the religious elite here was a man who was no good a man leading the people astray with lies. And so they hate him and cast insults at Jesus they reject him.
Type of rejection we see today as people in passing use the name of Jesus as a verbal insult.
John 1:11 He came to his own but his own received him not. His own people the Jews he died for yet so many rejected him - He came to us also as the head of humanity - have you rejected him as Saviour?
c.v31 The religious elite mocked him among themselves.
They are rejecting his claims to be Messiah and Lord V32 amongst themselves. Oh how sad it is to that there are many religious people who will not accept the claims of Christ upon their lives - those amongst the religious elite of all religions who reject Jesus as the Son of God and so reject the claims of Christ has upon our lives.
Ghandi said “I could accept Jesus as a martyr, an embodiment of sacrifice, and a divine teacher, but not as the most perfect man ever born. His death on the cross was a great example to the world, but that there was anything like a mysterious or miraculous virtue in it, my heart could not accept.
d. The rejection of God: v34 “My God My God why have you forsaken me?” No cry of Father here but only God as Jesus is forsaken Why?
True story: On 21st February 2003 a man sneezed in a lift in a Hong Kong hotel six weeks later, more than 2,300 people in 17 countries have been infected and nearly 80 people have died.”
True story Far greater epidemic - At the beginning of creation one man and one woman our ancestors chose to disobey God as a result of that one action every individual on the face of the planet has the hereditary disease called sin which was conceived in Adam and Eve..
The dilemma: Gods is holy perfection - with no sin - We are not – since the fall of humanity.
The antidote is Jesus: God demands justice for our sins, yet God is a God of love, who loves people intensely - so to satisfy His holiness – and meet the demands of His justice – and to demonstrate the depth of His love towards us. His Love and justice are meet upon the cross.
That’s why was Jesus rejected?
• Cor.5.21.God made him who had no sin to be sin. (Our sins )
• Rom.3.25. God presented him as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, he did this to demonstrate His justices – (His justice)
• Rom 5:8 God demonstrates His love towards whilst we were still sinners Christ died for us. (His love)
2. The Cross is a place of acceptance
a. By the centurion v39 ‘surely this man was the Son of God!’.
What happened at that cross transformed this man’s life- to come to the point of recognising that Jesus was the SON OF GOD. Here is a Roman Centurion whose only allegiance was to Rome and to Ceaser who was venerated as a god by his citizens.
Here is a man who would have overseen countless crucifixions in his life and was even party to the death of Jesus’ crucifixion. Yet at this very moment a divine spark of faith is ignited in his heart as he saw the way Jesus died and the Words that were uttered out of his mouth: ‘surely this man was the Son of God.’
• Words of acceptance ... It’s ironic, he sees what many in the crowd, soldiers and religious leaders cannot. Jesus the Son of God. What about you?
b. By the women v41.In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for His needs.
These women had followed Jesus they had sacrificed themselves to care for Jesus throughout his ministry again and again they had showed acts of love towards Him as He had shown to them. These women had accepted Jesus as their Lord. They were with Jesus throughout when others had left the side of Jesus. They would minister to his needs after his death as they go to anoint the body of Jesus and would be part of announcing to others JESUS IS ALIVE! These women had come to accept Jesus, what about you?
c. By God v38 the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
• Access denied:
The way to God has been opened up access is no longer denied - God has accepted the sacrifice – we all can enter into Gods presence no longer through a priest – but the high priest Jesus alone who was also the sacrifice as the lamb of God. God has accepted the sacrifice, the tearing of the curtain is a symbolic picture of that very truth.
3. The Cross is a place of response.
The criminal had none rejection all his life no doubt and even had been party to the rejection of Jesus for some time taken up with the crowd. His life was slowly ebbing away to certain death.
But in his dying hours, he was going to demonstrate a great act of faith. For the first time he stops the insults himself and takes note of what exactly is happening.
It’s here we see Gods amazing grace at work - saving faith often comes to so many people often when they are dying - people leave it so late to respond to Jesus on their death bed.
• Carl from Blackpool dying of cancer - currently in and out of hospice. Yet last week over the phone he received the Lord Jesus into his heart.
But look it’s no guarantee – it will work for you! It’s really a waste of a life on earth living without God waiting until your deathbed.
J.C. Ryle said “One was saved that none might despair and only one that none might presume
Not by works but by the grace of God. Immense grace – here is a criminal – all his life terrorising the community in which he lived – in and out of jail finally it’s all caught up with him - crucifixion awaits if anyone deserves death and crucifixion its this man. Yet here he in his dying moments he responds to Jesus.
• Luke: 23. 40-43 Key text.
V40 Realisation: In regard to the identity of Jesus Christ
Previously he himself was mocking and insulting Jesus with the other criminal. It is as he hangs dying upon the cross he is lifted up and above the crowd. In the hours of His death comes the awareness of God.
Through the witness of those around him. He hears the religious sneer, v35“He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one.
• His thought: They speak of him as the Christ who has saved others could he save me!
He hears the Roman soldier’s v37. “If you are the king of the Jews save yourself!” He sees the placard presented upon the Cross v38. Then he hears the criminal alongside him v39 Aren’t you the Christ save yourself and us!” The penny finally drops the light dawns he speaks to his one time partner in crime.
V40 “Don’t you fear God?” Do you fear God? Proverbs: ‘The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.’
V41. Repentance : He openly confesses his sin to his college and explains that he deserves such punishment but Jesus doesn’t. We deserved to be punished. He knows he is not deserving of pardon. But he is convicted of his guilt and is sorrowful over it. Here we see a true repentance over sin without repentance there is no forgiveness.
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v42. Response: ‘Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
This where we all need to be at some point in our lives at the cross calling out to Jesus for help.
A hymn writer wrote “Nothing in my arms I bring, but simply to the cross I cling.”
V42.In regard to the kingdom (Paradise)
This simple thief demonstrated more insight than any disciple did he was aware that Jesus had a Kingdom to enter and his desire was to be remembered as he entered! Awe-inspiring was this man’s faith! He saw beyond the coming death to the future Glory! By all appearances Jesus kingdom was finished as far as the religious leaders, the Roman soldiers and the criminal and even the disciples were concerned he was dying!
v43. The reply: ‘Today you shall be with me in paradise.’
Friends have you come to the cross of Christ -you will have to at some point you will symbolically represent one of these criminals. Which one will you be?
I will leave you with the words of Brownlow North. “There is nothing that may not take a man to Christ, but there is nothing but Christ can take a man to Heaven.
Audio sermon available to download @ cbchurch.org.uk
