Mark 15:33-41 comments: quoting Psalm 22 from the agony of the Cross

33 ¶  And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

 

This is noon, our time. Here is a physical sign for the Jews and the Romans.

 

Amos 8:9  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

 

Part of Jeremiah 15:9 says….her sun is gone down while it was yet day:

 

See how this links with His Second Advent;

 

Joel 2:1 ¶  Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

 

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

 

This is 3pm our time. He is quoting Psalm 22 for you to see.

 

Psalm 22:1  To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

 

Read the rest of the Psalm and notice those of us who are born again through Christ.

 

Psalm 22:30  A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

 

We deserve to be forsaken by our God. If we had not received what Christ did for us on the cross, we would be doomed to Hell. At that point, God the Father turned his back on what was a worm on the cross. This is what Jesus Christ did for us. This makes me more ashamed when I am led apart by my own lusts and sin.

 

God the Father turned His back on God the Son and the Son could not even have the sun on His face in His desperation. The darkness is a sign of God’s utter rejection of sin.

 

2Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

35  And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

36  And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

 

Psalm 69:21  They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

 

The Jews were looking for Elijah to come back.

 

Malachi 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

 

But they didn’t know that a type of Elijah had already come but he wasn’t received.

 

Matthew 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

37  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

 

John 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

 

38  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

 

The Holy of Holies is open to all of us now. It was not torn from bottom to top by a man but by God from top to bottom. This is a religious sign for the Jews. Both nature and the temple have revealed Him.

 

39  And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

 

This person was saved at this point. The acknowledgement, responding to what he hears, understanding that Jesus is God in the flesh, is what is necessary for salvation.

 

40  There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41  (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

 

Women played a prominent role in Jesus’ earthly ministry but are not given a command to lead. They are not responsible for what the apostles are given. This does not imply inferiority. There are several Mary’s other than His human mother.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." Paul writing to the Romans in Romans 3:22

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Paul writing to the Romans in Romans 10:4

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption..." Paul writing to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:30

" And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto* the resurrection of the dead. " Paul writing to the Philippians in Philippians 3:9-11. *to understand or 'wrap your mind around' - see definition in Psalm 139:6 and Proverbs 1:5.

Romans5:1 ¶  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:9.

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Paul writing in Ephesians 2:14-18. Jesus made peace between us and God the Father.

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace..." Paul writing in Ephesians 6:15.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" Isaiah writing in Isaiah 52:7.

"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah writing in Isaiah 55:12

"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." Paul writing in Romans 14:19. Not too many in churches today with that attitude. Not many peacemakers, either preaching peace with God or with each other. Seems like a lot of preachers are more interested in politics than peace with God or between the brethren.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:8.

"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." Paul writing in 1 Timothy 1:5-7 (Pure heart linked to a good conscience and faith that isn't a put on.)

"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Paul writing in 2 Timothy 2:22 (see further condition of having a pure heart.)

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." Peter writing in 1 Peter 1:22-23 (again notice that love that isn't a put on, love of one's brothers and sisters in the Lord)

Remember what Jesus said about the importance of His own loving each other in that this is how people will know we belong to Him. " A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Jesus speaking in John 13:34, 35

Here is the chapter about charity, which is the active love a Christian is supposed to have for other Christians. "1 ¶ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.



4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.



8 ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 13. (charity isn't our our typical definition here- see verse 3)

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:7

"For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." James 2:13.

Mercy is linked with compassion (Deuteronomy 13:17), helping one in distress (Psalm 4:1), healing and giving strength (Psalm 6:2), salvation (Psalm 13:5), not holding youthful sin against one (Psalm 25:7), helping the desolate and afflicted (Psalm 25:16), helping (Psalm 35:10), being generous (Psalm 37:21), not holding sin now against one (Psalm 51:1), and many more things are identified with mercy if you just search out the word. It never seems to be something someone deserves but is based on the character of the one who is showing mercy.

When was the last time we showed mercy to someone who didn't deserve it as God has done to us?

Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount", part 5

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:6

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" David in Psalm 42:1,2

 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary." David's Psalm 63:1,2.

" Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Jesus speaking in Matthew 6:25-34

Mark 15:22-32 comments; The scene at the Cross

22 ¶  And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

 

Golgotha is the Aramaic word while Calvary is from the Latin. Interpreted is translated as in an interpreter at the U.N.

 

23  And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

24  And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

 

Psalm 22:18  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

 

25  And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

 

This is nine o’clock in the morning.

 

26  And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27  And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

 

The entire human race is on a cross. Either you are on his left hand or on his right. One will receive Him and one will reject.

 

28  And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

 

Isaiah 53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

29  And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 30  Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

 

Proverbs 22:7  All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8  He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

 

31  Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. 32  Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

 

In Luke we find that one of the malefactors hanging on the crosses on either side of Jesus believed on Him.

Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" study, part 4

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:6

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" David in Psalm 42:1,2

" O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary." David's Psalm 63:1,2.

" Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Jesus speaking in Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" study, part 3

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:5

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever." David in Psalm 22:26 (This is the Psalm Jesus started quoting on the cross and is very important.)

"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." Psalm 25:9 in another Psalm of David.

"But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Psalm 37:22 in another Psalm of David.

" The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground." Psalm 147:6 Look at the contrast between the meek and the wicked.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Jesus in Matthew 11:29. Look who is meek.

What do you think meek means in the context of the Bible?

Jesus' "The Sermon on the Mount" study, part 2

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:4.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Paul writing in Romans 15:4.

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." Paul writing in 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." Paul writing in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Don't worry. You're grieving now but one day your joy at the reunion to come will be unspeakable.

Mark 15:15-21 comments: Pilate's political compromise

15 ¶  And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

 

Proverbs 29:25 ¶  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

 

Pilate is a typical politician, pandering to the people. Even though he was not elected but appointed he is afraid of the people rising up damaging his position. All of them lie and are afraid of the people. Rarely do they have the courage of their convictions and usually too late after a long line of cowardice. It is very hard to be a Christian and a politician if you want to get re-elected. Politics is the art of compromise. Compromises can be good but many compromises, such as this one, are just hideous.

 

Scourging is a hideous whipping with a whip with bone and glass intertwined in it.

 

Christ was to be crucified. It was a bloody death but without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

 

Hebrews 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

Blood is life.

 

Genesis 9:4  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

 

Blood made atonement for the soul.

 

Leviticus 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

 

He, God in the flesh, paid for us, those who believe and trust Him, with His own blood, not a sacrificial animal.

 

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 

Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

 

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

16  And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17  And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

 

The Romans put this robe on him. The robe is to make fun of him, a mockery of his kingship.

 

18  And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19  And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20  And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

 

Notice the mockery of Jesus.

 

Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

 

Isaiah 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

21  And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 

Alexander and Rufus must have been important Christians eventually. Rufus is mentioned in Romans 16. There are a couple of Alexanders mentioned. But the one in 1 Timothy 1:20 might be him.

Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" study

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:3.

Cross references for definition purposes based on the principle that a text must define itself whenever possible -

'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17

"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psalm 34:18

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15

A broken heart is synonymous with a contrite heart in the first passage and a broken heart is synonymous with a contrite spirit in the second which is synonymous with a humble spirit in the third.

Is your spirit poor? Do you realize that without Christ you are spiritually bankrupt? Are you sorry, not only for your sin, but the wicked sins of the world? The murders, the rapes, the cruel, abusive treatment of those without the strength to resist the powerful.

And you, are you not sad at what you've done to others and to yourself? Just think of the lies and the pain you've caused those you love and even your own self. To understand this is the beginning of blessings to come.