Mark 15:16-31. The Suffering of Jesus
The more the Bible is studied it becomes apparent that the stories included have been carefully selected for a purpose. In Mark’s description of the suffering and death of Jesus he has chosen to emphasise those aspects that teach us something about the gospel.
1. The timing of Jesus’ death
Mark has emphasised that Jesus’ death took place at the time of the Passover festival (Mark 14:1, 12). John emphasised that after the raising of Lazarus from the dead many came to recognise that Jesus came from God and that this really concerned the Jewish authorities. They were determined to kill Jesus (John 11:53). Jesus then withdrew with his disciples away from Jerusalem, only to return as the Passover approached (John11:55). He and his disciples all knew he was going to Jerusalem to die. Jesus was to die as the ultimate Passover lamb. His death was to gain peoples freedom, just as the first Passover was the final miracle that won the Israelites freedom form being slaves in Egypt. His death was planned by God to win people’s freedom from the captivity of sin and enable them to be right with God.
2. The suffering of Jesus for us
Jesus voluntarily went through this grotesque ordeal for you and me!
“The love of Christ surpasses knowledge.” Ephesians 3:19
“But God demonstrates his love for us in this: that while we were still sinners, christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
These verses highlight God's unconditional love and sacrifice for humanity, even when they were in a state of sin and unworthiness. They emphasise that God's love is not conditional on our actions or merit, but a free and gracious gift.
What did Jesus’s death achieve?
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..” 1 Peter 3:18
Mark stresses how situations were reversed. He took our place in order that we could stand in his. He suffered as a criminal so we could be set free. He, before whom the whole world will stand in judgment allowed himself to be unjustly sentenced by evil men to a cruel death. He did this to free us from hell. Much of Mark’s account describes a reversal of situations for a reason.
3. Insulted by Roman soldiers v. 17
They clothed him with purple and put a crown of thorns on his head, struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him. They mocked him as if he were the King of the Jews. He was treated as ‘the scum of the earth’ just as the early apostles were (1 Corinthians 4:13). This is a parody. Jesus is the Messiah, which means ‘God’s chosen King’, spoken about in the Old Testament. He was a direct descendant of King David, he was born in Bethlehem, he did do many remarkable miracles and he was to die by crucifixion and rise again.
He did all this so that we, vile as we are, might have glory and honour with him because we belong to him. We will receive the crown of glory that is imperishable that he has won for us:
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:25
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4
4. Stripped and crucified naked v. 24
He did this so that we, who have no righteousness of our own might be clothed in perfect righteousness and not stand naked and ashamed before Almighty God. We will be given a white wedding garment that permits us to remain in God’s presence.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” Revelation 19:7-8
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.” Matthew 22:11-12
“The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white.” Revelation 3:5
All who truly turn to live for the Lord Jesus will be given these righteous clothes. Anyone without Christ’s righteousness will not be admitted into God’s presence, into heaven.
5. Suffered the most ignominious humiliating death
A man executed in this way was considered to be accursed by God.
‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” Galatians 3:13
He did this to remove the curse we all deserve:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” Galatians 3:13
He became a curse for us so that we can be blessed by God.
6. Reckoned as a sinner. v. 27
“With him they also crucified two robbers.”
He who had done no sin was ‘numbered with the transgressors’ This phrase was used in the famous prophecy about the death and resurrection of the Messiah in Isaiah 53:
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12
Jesus explicitly applied this prophecy to Himself:
“It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment.” Luke 22:37
When I was at school, I remember an English master, who had just become a Christian, reading from one of Luther’s commentaries. It shocked me. Jesus took responsibility for our sin and so became the world’s worst murderer, adulterer, and thief. Paul wrote:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” Galatians 3:13
In his ‘Lectures on Galatians’ (1531), Martin Luther said of this verse:
“Therefore Christ was not only crucified and died for us, but He also bore sin itself—our sin, the sin of all men, saying: I have committed the sins that all men have committed. Thus Christ was made the sin of all men, thief, robber, murderer, adulterer, and so forth.”
Luther is expressing the depth of Jesus’ substitutionary atonement. Jesus took on Himself the guilt of humanity’s sin as if they were His own. He became the legal bearer of sin before God’s judgment, though He remained personally sinless.
7. Mocked as he died. v. 29-32
Some Christians, when they suffer and are dying are attacked with thoughts that come from Satan. We have been promised that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are and can follow the example of Jesus through great trials with great assurance.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” Psalm 23:4
How much we owe to the Lord Jesus. Through his death we are acquitted. What love our creator has for each of us. What greater incentive is there to turn our backs on the very sin that sent Jesus to the cross and daily live, not for ourselves but for him. Let the cross be our motif.
BVP
