Mar 15:24 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord Jesus is so weakened by all the abuses that bearing the cross is a tremendous burden to Him. He Who bears the universe by the word of His power ( ) is so truly Man that His powers are exhausted because of the suffering that has been endured. Yet He does not attribute this suffering to those who do this to Him, but to His God ( ). The soldiers think that He may succumb to the burden before they have crucified Him. That is why they press into service a passer-by – for them coincidental – to bear His cross in His stead. It is symbolic that Simon was “coming from the country”. His task was done, he was finished. By taking up the cross of the Lord Jesus he is identified with the contempt that is the part of the Lord. Of Simon it is mentioned that he is the father of Alexander and Rufus. Rufus is later called by Paul “a choice man in the Lord” ( ). God blesses what the father does in his children. The soldiers take their Prisoner to the place of execution. Golgotha is a hill just outside Jerusalem, outside the camp ( ). Because of the shape of the hill that looks like a skull from a distance, this place is probably called so. It is also a symbolic name for the many executed. The crucifixion is the most gruesome martyrdom imaginable. To this end, convicts were given a mixture of wine and myrrh to drink that had the effect of anesthetizing them. That remedy is also given to the Lord, but He refuses to take it ( ). He wants to undergo the suffering in full awareness. Then the Lord is crucified. Mark and the other evangelists describe this act in austere terms. However, the suffering is terrible. The Lord is nailed to the cross, nails go through His hands that have always done only good. After they had bound His hands, they are now dug through. In this way man ‘appreciates’ Him Who has revealed God to them in grace and blessing. His clothes, which speak of His whole revelation among them, is the only thing that can be divided. He has no other possessions. He leaves no fortune. Only His clothes are worth anything. They cast lots for them to decide what each man should take. Who would later walk in a garment in which the Lord Jesus has walked? The time of the crucifixion is clearly indicated. The Lord hung on the cross for six hours. All six hours He was the burnt offering, i.e. an offering completely dedicated to God and in which God is completely pleased ( ). There are two time periods of three hours each. The first three-hour period is from the third hour to the sixth hour, according to our timekeeping from 9 a.m. to noon in the morning. In those three hours He was the burnt offering, but not yet the sin and guilt offering. Mark also mentions the inscription above the cross. That inscription indicates the accusation and the reason for His death on the cross. He hangs there because He said He is the King of the Jews. To increase His defamation and make His humiliation complete He is crucified in the middle of two robbers, as if He were the greatest robber. According to the Scriptures, He is numbered with the transgressors ( ). In the same way they had come to take Him prisoner. As if against a robber, they had come out against Him ( ).

‏ Mark 15:24

The Crucifixion

The Lord Jesus is so weakened by all the abuses that bearing the cross is a tremendous burden to Him. He Who bears the universe by the word of His power (Heb 1:3) is so truly Man that His powers are exhausted because of the suffering that has been endured. Yet He does not attribute this suffering to those who do this to Him, but to His God (Psa 102:23).

The soldiers think that He may succumb to the burden before they have crucified Him. That is why they press into service a passer-by – for them coincidental – to bear His cross in His stead. It is symbolic that Simon was “coming from the country”. His task was done, he was finished. By taking up the cross of the Lord Jesus he is identified with the contempt that is the part of the Lord. Of Simon it is mentioned that he is the father of Alexander and Rufus. Rufus is later called by Paul “a choice man in the Lord” (Rom 16:13). God blesses what the father does in his children.

The soldiers take their Prisoner to the place of execution. Golgotha is a hill just outside Jerusalem, outside the camp (Heb 13:13). Because of the shape of the hill that looks like a skull from a distance, this place is probably called so. It is also a symbolic name for the many executed.

The crucifixion is the most gruesome martyrdom imaginable. To this end, convicts were given a mixture of wine and myrrh to drink that had the effect of anesthetizing them. That remedy is also given to the Lord, but He refuses to take it (Psa 69:21). He wants to undergo the suffering in full awareness.

Then the Lord is crucified. Mark and the other evangelists describe this act in austere terms. However, the suffering is terrible. The Lord is nailed to the cross, nails go through His hands that have always done only good. After they had bound His hands, they are now dug through. In this way man ‘appreciates’ Him Who has revealed God to them in grace and blessing.

His clothes, which speak of His whole revelation among them, is the only thing that can be divided. He has no other possessions. He leaves no fortune. Only His clothes are worth anything. They cast lots for them to decide what each man should take. Who would later walk in a garment in which the Lord Jesus has walked?

The time of the crucifixion is clearly indicated. The Lord hung on the cross for six hours. All six hours He was the burnt offering, i.e. an offering completely dedicated to God and in which God is completely pleased (Lev 1:1-17). There are two time periods of three hours each. The first three-hour period is from the third hour to the sixth hour, according to our timekeeping from 9 a.m. to noon in the morning. In those three hours He was the burnt offering, but not yet the sin and guilt offering.

Mark also mentions the inscription above the cross. That inscription indicates the accusation and the reason for His death on the cross. He hangs there because He said He is the King of the Jews. To increase His defamation and make His humiliation complete He is crucified in the middle of two robbers, as if He were the greatest robber. According to the Scriptures, He is numbered with the transgressors (Isa 53:12). In the same way they had come to take Him prisoner. As if against a robber, they had come out against Him (Mk 14:48).