WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday June 9, 2019
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JESUS’
DEATH SEALED THE NEW COVENANT
(JESUS’
death opened the door to eternal life with GOD)
(Mark
15)
In
Mark 14:53-65 and 15:1-15 John Mark gives us his account of the “Trials of
CHRIST JESUS”. There, we see JESUS, first standing trial before the
“Sanhedrin”, the group that was the religious authority of the day, and
subsequently we see HIM before the Roman Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate.
During the time of JESUS’ trials, six in all, when we combine the
synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke together, we can see that the powers
of the Sanhedrin were limited. And even though they had full power over all
religious matters, according to Jewish records, judgment in matters of life and
death had been taken away from the Jews by Julius Caesar decades earlier.
While it is true that sometimes, as in the case of Stephen (Acts
7:54-60), (where they stoned him to death), the Jews did take the law into
their own hands. However, legally, they had no right to apply the death penalty
to anyone in those days, because Palestine was under the rule of the Roman
Empire. That is why they needed to bring JESUS to Pilate, a Roman official, to
be crucified (John 18:31).
The key word here in this passage is “Crucifixion”, as the Sanhedrin
wasn’t so concerned about observing Roman law, as the stoning of Stephen
proves, but rather, in this case, they also wanted to discredit JESUS, and
ensure that HE wouldn’t become Martyred by HIS OWN death.
Crucifixion on a cross was considered to be the same as being hung from
a tree. The Jews believed that anyone hung from a tree was “cursed of GOD”. They
based this belief on what is written in Deuteronomy 21:22-23. Therefore, in
their minds, Crucifixion (death by Roman method) would prove, once and for all,
that JESUS could not have been the MESSIAH, and in fact, HIS manner of death
would stand as proof that HE was, quite literally, “cursed of GOD”, and their
own claims, being HIS opponent, would be vindicated.
That is why the Apostle Paul has to explain in his letter to the Galatians
(Galatians 3:13-14) years later, that, JESUS’ death on the cross actually
“rescued” us from the “curse” pronounced by the law. There he was also
referring to the statement in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, and is attempting to
separate JESUS’ death on the cross from that context, and rightfully so.
When JESUS was hung on the cross, HE took upon HIMSELF, the “curse” of
our wrongdoing, and therefore the opposite occurred, and the curse became “a
blessing” for all mankind. In other words, JESUS’ death on the cross actually
broke the curse of our sin, and freed us spiritually to re-enter into a
personal relationship of friendship with GOD. HE did not add to the curse, but
rather, HE ended the curse.
In Mark 15:21-37, John Mark gives us his dictated account of the
“Crucifixion of CHRIST JESUS”. While the Apostles John and Matthew were
eyewitnesses of the event, John Mark, on the other hand, wrote of the Apostle Peter’s
recollections of the events surrounding JESUS’ death. Luke’s account is, by his
own admission, a result of careful investigative work, and interviewing of the
early Disciples, and other eyewitnesses to JESUS’ life and Ministry, here on
earth. What follows, will be my attempt to incorporate these four accounts into
one accurate depiction of this tragic and unjust event that is “the crucifixion
of CHRIST”.
All accounts begin with JESUS’ death walk to Golgotha (Skull Hill), where
HE is ultimately crucified by Roman method. However, Mark, Matthew, and Luke
include in their accounts of how, on the way, JESUS and HIS executioners make a
divine encounter with a man called Simon, who is compelled by a Roman soldier
to carry the cross of JESUS.
Here we see, in Simon, a man who has come all the way from Cyrene on the
continent of Africa to, no doubt, participate in the Passover Celebration, however,
he instead, ends up unexpectedly becoming the first Gentile to perform a
Christian mission, even though he was “forced” to do so by the Roman soldiers.
We know now, as Christians that, picking up the cross of JESUS, and
following HIM, can only be “a voluntary act” brought on by the desires of the
human heart. And keep in mind also, that, it was not GOD who forced Simon to
carry the cross of CHRIST JESUS, but rather, it was man. I wonder how many
people still try to do that now (force people to follow CHRIST), in this, the
twenty-first century.
Great crowds of people followed as JESUS was being lead to HIS death,
including many grief stricken women. As they were moving along, suddenly JESUS
turned and said to them, “Daughters of
Jerusalem, weep not for ME, but for yourselves, and for your children. For,
behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, blessed are the
barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then
shall they begin to say to the mountains, fall on us; and to the hills, cover
us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”(Luke
23:28-31 - KJV).
In those days, when a criminal was condemned to be crucified, he was
taken from the judgment hall, and put in the midst of four Roman soldiers. The
horizontal section of the cross was then laid upon the convicted person’s
shoulders, and he was marched to the place of his crucifixion by the longest
possible route. In front of him marched another soldier holding a placard, or
“sign” stating what the convicted person’s crime was.
In JESUS’ case, Pilate had the words, inscribed, “JESUS of Nazareth the KING of the Jews”. This was much to the
dismay of the Jewish religious leaders, who tried to get him to change it to “HE said, HE was the KING of the Jews”.
But Pilate probably saw this as his last chance to fire back at the Jewish
religious leaders for forcing his hand in the whole ordeal with JESUS’ trial.
And so, not only did he refuse to change it, but he also had the sign written
in three different languages, Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
In Matthew 26:29,
Mark 14:25, and Luke 22:18, JESUS promises HIS Disciples that HE will not drink
wine again until HE drinks it new, with them in the Kingdom of GOD. In Psalms
69:21, the Psalmist tells us that JESUS would be offered sour wine to satisfy
HIS thirst. We see Scripture being fulfilled in (Matt. 27:34 & 48, Mark 15:23
& 36, Luke 23:36 ,
& John 19:29 -30) where
JESUS is offered wine on two occasions and refused to drink. These can also be
viewed as final attempts by satan to trip JESUS up on HIS promise that HE had
made to HIS Disciples, during HIS establishment of the New Covenant at the Last
Supper.
We see further fulfillment of Scripture, with the Roman soldiers
gambling, or “casting lots” for JESUS’ clothing, (Matt. 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke
23:34b, & John 19:23-24). This fulfills one of the seven Prophesies found
in Psalms 22 (22:18 ),
which states, “They part MY garments
among them, and cast lots upon MY vesture” (KJV).
There were two criminals, who were crucified with JESUS that day, one on
each side of HIM. One, strangely enough, felt like he was in a position to mock
JESUS. The other defended JESUS’ innocence, and thereby, became the last person
directly saved by JESUS as a human being, during HIS earthly ministry (Luke
23:39-43).
Standing near the cross that day, were Mary, JESUS’ mother, her sister
Mary, the wife of Cleophas (who is said to be the same as Alpheus, the father
of James and Joseph), Zebedee’s wife (the mother of James and John), Mary
Magdalene, and the Apostle John. Looking down from the cross, and seeing HIS
mother’s anguish, JESUS consigns her care into the hands of the Apostle John,
the Disciple whom HE loved.
The statement that JESUS made to Mary and John was the third of seven
statements, or sayings, that JESUS made from the cross. Here, HE says to Mary “Woman, behold thy son”, and to John, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:26 -27). The other six statements
can be found in the following verses: Matthew 27:46, Luke 23:34, 43 & 46,
& John 19:28b & 30a.
At noon, darkness fell across the sky, and lasted until three o’clock.
At that time JESUS speaks HIS sixth utterance from the cross, “tetelestai”
(tet-el-es-ahee), the Greek word for “it
is finished”, or “paid in full”. HE then bows HIS head and utters HIS
seventh and final statement, “FATHER,
into THY hands I commend MY Spirit”, and HE gave up the GHOST.
There is an ensuing Earthquake, and simultaneously the curtains in the
Temple were torn from top to bottom. Later the Jews went to Pilate to request
that the bodies of the three be removed before the Sabbath, and that their legs
be broken to expedite death. Pilate granted the request and the legs of the two
criminals hanging beside JESUS were broken. However, they saw that JESUS’ body
had already expired and they didn’t break HIS legs. One of the soldiers did,
however, take a spear and pierce JESUS’ body in the side to ensure that HE was
dead.
In John 19:34, the Apostle John tells us that blood and water came from
JESUS’ wound, after HE had been pierced with the spear. We know that normally,
the body of a dead person will not bleed. It has been medically suggested by
some doctors that JESUS’ experiences, physically and emotionally, leading up to
HIS death, were so terrible, that HIS heart must have ruptured. When a person’s
heart ruptures, the blood of the heart mingles with the fluid of the
Pericardium which surrounds the heart. In all likelihood, the spear of the
soldier pierced the Pericardium, or maybe both, causing the blood and water
mixture to spew out.
This passage, by John, is final proof that JESUS was a real man, with a
real body, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. The water and blood, which
flowed from JESUS’ side, were to John, and, should be to all Christians, a sign
of the cleansing water of baptism, and of the cleansing blood that is
commemorated and experienced in the LORD’s Supper.
And so I conclude by saying, that, Pilate’s wavering during JESUS’ trial
should never be mistaken for virtue. For, a quick look at his personal history
shows us that he ultimately chose the path of least resistance, in order to
save himself, from his own, self-imposed, troubled career. However, he should
have known that the truth can never be compromised. We either hold fast to the
things of GOD, or we allow ourselves to be deceived by satan.
The Jewish leaders delivered JESUS into the hands of Pilate, and he
tried to compromise. He even, on the surface, convinced himself that he had
done all that he could, but actually he knew, even deeper in his heart, that he
had long ago, tossed away the option to do the right thing. Jewish history
implies that Pilate had unwittingly set himself up for blackmail by the Jewish
hierarchy, and they now saw this as an opportune time to call in their chips.
The permissive will of GOD allows for man to do many things, and
ultimately, through JESUS’ death, we also receive, in addition, GOD’s wonderful
and abounding Grace. However, GOD, through his wisdom, will never allow grace
to “trump” TRUTH. The TRUTH presented itself to Pilate that day, in the person
of JESUS CHRIST, and he ultimately decided to put TRUTH to death.
And, as for the Jews, in order to carry out the death of JESUS, they abandoned
every principal they ever had, especially, that day, when they uttered those
infamous words to Pilate, as it is recorded in John 19:15, where they declare,
“We have no King but Caesar”.
That put the final “brush strokes” on a “tragic painting”, of a maddened
mob that had been driven by anger. Driven by their hatred for JESUS, the Jews
lost all sense of proportion, and they totally forgot about the mercy they had
so often preached about in the Temple. They forgot all about justice, and in
the end, denounced GOD, and professed Caesar.
Never before in the history of man has hatred’s insanity presented
itself to us more vividly, and hopefully, it never will again. There can never
be “a right time” to do “the wrong thing”, as Pilate and the Jews ultimately
did. In their case, they took the most beautiful LIGHT that ever did live, and
then, they snuffed HIM out, on a cross.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
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