Abandoned and Forsaken: Mark 15:33-37
“33) When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34) At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35) When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” 36) Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37) And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.” Mark 15:33-37
Mark devotes the least space to the words of Jesus uttered from the cross than any gospel writer. The question is “why?”
I have a theory, but it is mere speculation. The simple answer is that “he was not present.”
Notice that earlier I skipped any comment on Mark 14:51-52. The text says, “51) A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they *seized him. 52) But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.” Many believe this was Mark.
He ran away in utter humiliation. Of the twelve disciples, only Peter and John can be confirmed present for the trial of Jesus. John stuck by His side right through the crucifixion.
Think about this, Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Jesus, and nine others abandoned Jesus. Only John persevered to the end.
If you have ever let Jesus down, you stand among this company. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” These men were radically transformed after Pentecost. All Christians stumble on their way through sanctification toward maturity. The Christian life exposes our weaknesses. The Christian life is an ongoing cleansing and healing process.
Notice, the one statement from the cross Mark did include; “34) At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”” He most likely borrowed the quote from other witnesses.
Jesus was abandoned even by His Father. He had become sin. The One who is light had to turn away from His only begotten Son who was now clothed with human sin and darkness. (1 John 1:5-7)
Another irony in the story must be noted. In Mark 15:32, His critics taunted Him to come down from the cross to prove He was the Christ, the King of Israel. Watch what happened next very carefully.
He did come down from the cross, but totally dead. By so doing He proved He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29, Revelation 5:5-14) He proved He was the Savior of the world. He died for our sins.
One reason I do not embrace the crucifix is that Jesus is no longer on the cross. He died for sins once for all time. Nor is He still in the grave! He is the resurrection and the life! He is alive!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“33) When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34) At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35) When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” 36) Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37) And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.” Mark 15:33-37
Mark devotes the least space to the words of Jesus uttered from the cross than any gospel writer. The question is “why?”
I have a theory, but it is mere speculation. The simple answer is that “he was not present.”
Notice that earlier I skipped any comment on Mark 14:51-52. The text says, “51) A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they *seized him. 52) But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.” Many believe this was Mark.
He ran away in utter humiliation. Of the twelve disciples, only Peter and John can be confirmed present for the trial of Jesus. John stuck by His side right through the crucifixion.
Think about this, Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Jesus, and nine others abandoned Jesus. Only John persevered to the end.
If you have ever let Jesus down, you stand among this company. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” These men were radically transformed after Pentecost. All Christians stumble on their way through sanctification toward maturity. The Christian life exposes our weaknesses. The Christian life is an ongoing cleansing and healing process.
Notice, the one statement from the cross Mark did include; “34) At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”” He most likely borrowed the quote from other witnesses.
Jesus was abandoned even by His Father. He had become sin. The One who is light had to turn away from His only begotten Son who was now clothed with human sin and darkness. (1 John 1:5-7)
Another irony in the story must be noted. In Mark 15:32, His critics taunted Him to come down from the cross to prove He was the Christ, the King of Israel. Watch what happened next very carefully.
He did come down from the cross, but totally dead. By so doing He proved He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29, Revelation 5:5-14) He proved He was the Savior of the world. He died for our sins.
One reason I do not embrace the crucifix is that Jesus is no longer on the cross. He died for sins once for all time. Nor is He still in the grave! He is the resurrection and the life! He is alive!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
