LESSON TWELVE
TRIED AND CRUCIFIED
Mark 15

Mocking the KING of the Jews

Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his [head],
15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
15:19 And they (repeatedly) smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing [their] knees worshipped him.
15:20 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.

During all this mocking and violence, Jesus suffered silently. He was not only the King of the Jews, but King of kings and Lord of lords, but He opened not His mouth to defend Himself against this onslaught of hate, mockery and violence.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: ..and justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

The prophets John and Daniel tell us these "mockers" will be raised to life to see Jesus as King of kings coming in the clouds of glory.

Dan. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
Rev,1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

During their lifetime, Jesus called them: "I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof." Proverbs 1:24, 25. That voice which now calls them from their graves, awakens memories which they would like to forget. With vivid power they remember words Jesus spoke, adjured by the high priest,
"Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:64.

Now they behold Him in His glory.




The lesson asks: "These men had no idea what they were doing. Why, will their ignorance not excuse them on Judgment Day?"

In those who don't know or have rejected truth there are moments when conscience awakens, and the Holy Spirit calls for them to turn to Christ. The evidence was there, even in those demonic infused hours, when Jesus was tortured and abused, the evidence was there that this was NOT an ordinary man. There was another Spirit also at work, the Holy Spirit, stirring up people's minds to see truth.

We see the thief on the cross, hurling insults at Jesus, but he suddenly changes. He sees and remembers things concerning this man, The Holy Spirit illuminates his mind, and little by little the chain of evidence is joined together. In Jesus, bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, he sees the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the helpless, dying soul casts himself upon a dying Saviour. ?Lord, remember me,? he cries, ?when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.?

There was the centurion, a Roman soldier and captain over 100 solders, taking part in the crucifixion. He heard the voice of the Holy Spirit, as He looked at Jesus, the divine patience of the Saviour, and His sudden death, with the cry of victory upon His lips, had impressed this hardened soldier. In the bruised, broken body hanging upon the cross, the centurion recognized the form of the Son of God. He could not refrain from confessing his faith.

LESSON TWELVE
TRIED AND CRUCIFIED
Mark 15

My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?

Did God forsake Jesus? The Father was still there!
But yet there was a "forsaking."

Jesus, was bearing the sins of the whole world, upon the cross; the guilt was like a huge ocean sitting upon Him, engulfing Him that had no sin. Swamped with all the sins from the the worst criminals to the most pious, Jesus "tasted" the second death of the lost.

He could not feel the Father's presence, He could not see beyond the tomb. The sins (not His) that rested on Him were terrible, horrendous, sins, separating Him from connecting with the Father.


I peter 2:21-24 Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ....
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

During this time, Jesus could not depend upon feelings. His feelings told Him He was abandoned by all friends, abandoned by God the Father Himself. The light on the other side of the tomb, was not shining.
He had to rely on faith alone. Faith in the promises of the covenant.

Two things we learn from this.
1. When we feel God isn't present, don't give up. Faith believes even when feelings don't confirm our faith.
2. Jesus tasted the second death, the final death of those whose sins are not forgiven, who die having no hope for eternal life. He was dying to forgive those sins He was carrying, they were not His sins, but was His own righteousness enough to bring Him through to victory?
Because His righteousness was enough, we never have to taste the second death, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.