In The Word
Read Mark 15:22-41
The Crucifixion
22 Then they *brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.24 And they *crucified Him, and *divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
27 They *crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.28 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”] 29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32 Let thisChrist, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
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. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom wereMary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
It is not how we start the race that matters, but how we finish. How many of us start the race only to give up when things get tough, uncomfortable, or when sacrifice is required? Jesus did not quit, even though most men would have given up their fight during the scourging or during the agonizing, humiliating parade to the cross. Jesus had the power to call on an army of angels at any time, but He willingly chose to finish what the Father asked Him to do.
He knew what waited at Golgotha:
- A rough and rugged cross that would soon be soaked with His blood
- Nails to hold Him to that cross (only because He chose to stay)
- His feet nailed so that He must push Himself up to breathe until He suffocates and dies
How do our everyday excuses line up with what He endured to finish? He is our example of how to finish this race. We are to be like Him, even if that means being obedient to the point of death.
When I read these scriptures, I remember images of the movie, The Passion of the Christ. I meditate on a worship song that says, “So what can I say? What can I do? But offer this heart, oh God, completely to You!”
Don’t just start, but finish strong for Him and for His glory! Do this in remembrance of Him!