AM March 4th Mark 15

March 4^th           Jesus crucified

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. 22: And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 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. 25: And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 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. 28: And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with 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. 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.

Jesus dies

33: And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 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? 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. 37: And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38: And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 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. 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.

Jesus buried

42: And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43: Joseph of Arimathaea, and honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 44: And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 45: And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46: And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. 47: And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Why did they pick out Simon to carry the cross? probably because he was dressed or appeared different from the rest of the crowd. He had the greatest privilege any man could ever have - to carry Christ’s cross. The details of this event are too numerous to mention. The soldiers crucify Christ at the place of the skull just outside Jerusalem and they take possession of his clothes casting lots for his coat. He was crucified at the third hour of daylight 9.00 am - the time of the morning sacrifice. The description of his crime is nailed above his head – King of the Jews. The people and the rulers mocked him calling on him to come down from the cross. He could not come down he was suffering for those who mocked at him. At the sixth hour – midday darkness came on the whole land of Israel. And a spiritual darkness came upon Israel that would never be lifted until Christ returns in glory.  At 3.00pm Christ cries with a loud voice, ‘My God my God why have you forsaken me?’ This is the only time he addresses his father as God, because he cannot speak on the basis of relationship. He suffered the separation of God against sin. Then he cried with a loud voice and gave up his spirit - he died. In the City - in the Temple, the thick curtain is torn from top to bottom – an act of God showing that there is now access to the presence of God. Because it was the day before the Sabbath – the Friday Christ was going to be hastily removed and put out of sight of Israel. Joseph went to Pilate to ask for the Body of Christ. It was granted and he with Nicodemus buried Christ in his own tomb because it was nearby. The women who followed saw where he was buried. And so ends the most important event in history. God himself in the person of Christ had made atonement for sin.