Mark 15:35-41
“Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.” And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.“
Mark 15:35-41 NKJV
From the vantage points of Jesus, the Messiah, and of the Gospel of Mark, Elijah had already come. John the Baptizer was the Elijah who was to precede the Messiah.
Those in power had John murdered, now they are doing the same to Jesus. Those who are at the cross to mock the Lord Jesus misunderstand what He said. They simply turn Jesus words into another way to mock, belittle, and humiliate Him more.
Little do these mockers know that what Jesus endures on the cross ends up defeating Satan and bringing life to those who will call upon Him as Lord.
Elijah didn't come and take Jesus down from the cross. However, God the Father did come and raise Him from death in His tomb.
What does it mean to proclaim the Word of God? Here’s one way I believe it can be defined. It is act of proclaiming the truth, with the goal of bringing faith and change in the lives of the hearers.
Each week when we gather to hear God’s Word preached or proclaimed, we should be asking God to speak through the preaching of His Word and to change us.
In Mark’s account of the death of Christ we are reminded of the seriousness of sin, how Jesus died as a substitute for our sin, and how Christ’s death brings us into fellowship with God.
The goal of this devotional is to help you prepare your own devotionals that you can preach to yourself, so that you can be strengthened and equipped to live for Christ.
At this moment in Mark 15 Jesus is experiencing the wrath of God for sinful men. This should serve as a stark reminder of the seriousness of sin and of the length that God had to go to in order to free us from our sin.
And as we remind ourselves of this truth it should serve to strengthen us in our fight against temptation and encourage us to flee from the things for which Jesus had to die in order to save us. By being the Substitute for Sin.
The people there say He cry’s a call for Elijah. Jesus does not call for salvation from His suffering.He gives a loud cry and final breath. Jesus knowingly and victoriously, gave up His life. At times we can struggle to believe that God will truly forgive our sins.
We may spend time beating ourselves up or living in guilt for the things we’ve done. We may even be slow in confessing our sin because we don’t feel worthy of forgiveness. We are not worthy, but Jesus died in our place, and because He did, we can confess our sins knowing that we will be fully and completely forgiven.
Also Our Access to God. Jesus purchased that access. By God tearing of the curtain. Through the death of Jesus we have been given access to God apart from the works of the Law. We no longer need sacrifices or an earthly priest.
Because of the work of Jesus we can know that we have fellowship with God. We have a high priest who brings us into the presence of God. We can come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy and help in the time of need.
When we respond to the Cross. We get a clear perspective of who Christ is. The centurion is the first person in the Gospel of Mark to refer to Jesus as the Son of God. Through His death Jesus showed definitively who He is and why He came.
As devoted followers we see in these final two verses that Mark tells us of these women who have followed Jesus in His life, and who now are there even at His death unlike His other disciples.
These women are examples of faithfulness and were also used by God as eyewitnesses of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
Yet even in this moment of horror and humiliation with His crucifixion, the cross touches the heart of a hardened soldier and opens His heart to the truth about Jesus He is the Son of God!!!
Father thank You for this day and the breath of life found in Your Holy Word. Lord let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Lord we are saddened that it took the humiliation of the cross to break through to our hardened hearts. Yes lord thank You for paying that price for us. Lord we pray that the story of Your birth, death and resurrection will reach hearts that no other story can. Lord help us to never be ashamed of the message of that cross. Lord use my Friend today to touch others with Your Gospel. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. !
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