PALM SUNDAY – March 28, 2021 – Mark 15:1-47
“PATICIPANTS OF THE CROSS”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Mark 15. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- One can only imagine how the events of the crucifixion of Jesus affected the many people who were involved in it. Some had an official role – but it was not their usual business. Some were seemingly just observers, but virtually all who witnessed the whole business ended up participating in some manner. Some were fellow “criminals” being crucified. Still others were there for personal reasons – the women, and John.
- So, if you had been there, what might your role have been? Would you have gone with the crowd, and joined the riotous call for crucifixion? If you were Pilate would you have insisted upon administering only justice, regardless of the consequences? If you were with the women, would you have been terrified, abhorred, sorrowful, or simply astonished?
- We have similar times today – when Jesus is present, or Jesus is the topic, or perhaps it is only someone using Jesus’ Name in a derogatory manner. In fact, Jesus is with us always, in all of our doings, our labor, our care for others, and our love for others. He is also very specially present within the life of the church, particularly in worship, but also in all of our churchly activities. So, what is our role in the presence of Jesus today? What is our relationship with His people, the church?
- This morning we can consider our own participation in Jesus as we consider some of the “PARTICIPANTS OF THE CROSS” mentioned by Mark in our text. First, we consider:
I. Those Complicit In The Crucifixion
A. First, And Worst Of All, The Religious Leaders Of Judaism
Text: “As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. And they bound Jesus and led Him away and delivered Him over to Pilate. . . . And the chief priests accused Him of many things. . . . But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release for them Barabbas instead of Jesus.”
B. Pontius Pilate
Text: “He perceived it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up. . . . So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” [several times Pilate declared Jesus innocent]
C. Some Of The Soldiers
Text: “The soldiers clothed Him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him. And they began to salute Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they were striking His head with a reed and spitting on Him and kneeling down in homage to Him. And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the purple cloak and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.”
D. The Thieves Also Joined In
Text: “Those who were crucified with Him also reviled Him.”
E. The Mob
Text: “And all who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You Who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross.’”
Statement: It still angers me to read of these people. Of course, we have similar instances of injustice today, and instances where violence is inflicted when it is not required. Also, we are well aware of mob behavior involving violence and evil. And yes, even religious leaders can engage in grotesque abuses, especially those involving false doctrine which can murder souls. And pragmatic but immoral governmental leaders? Well, I suppose given human nature it would only be a matter of time before democracy became a matter of immoral acquiescence to evil. The majority of our population promote abortion, adultery, fornication, and sexual freedom, homosexuality, and now freedom of gender identity. So, what does a person have to espouse in order get elected?
Application: Yet, there have been times in our lives where we have been complicit with the majority, or kept silence at the horrid blasphemy against God that is common in our times. There are things we have refused to do, or conveniently overlooked doing, because of our lukewarm love for Jesus and His people. Some have even rejected the fellowship of the church altogether! And none of us is as committed to Jesus, His Word, the Gospel, and His church as we should be. And so we also have things to consider confessing with deep sorrow, that we might also receive the absolution, the forgiveness, from Jesus!
And we also consider:
II. Those Who Were Neutral In The Crucifixion, But Benefited
A. Barabbas
Matt. 27:16 “And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.”
Text: “And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.”
Text: “So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas.”
B. Simon Of Cyrene
Text: “And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry His cross.”
Statement: Not much is known about Barabbas, other than what we can read in Scripture. Interesting to read that even in the Roman empire, in Jerusalem, at the time of Jesus, murderous insurrections and riots took place! And one of the leaders of this was Barabbas – who the crowd chose over the noble and beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ. He benefited immediately from the crucifixion of Jesus.
Not much is known either about Simon, who was an African. However, the mention of his sons seems to indicate that they were well-known in the early church. Paul mentions Rufus and his mother as “chosen in the Lord” and beloved Christians. [Rom. 16:13] Commentators believe that through his experience Simon became a believer in Jesus.
Application: We too have benefited through Jesus’ crucifixion. Our sins were also taken away, and He also took our place under the wrath and justice of God. Much like Barabbas, Jesus’ death saved our life and has given us freedom – only a much greater life and freedom! That which Simon of Cyrene and his family share with us! So, as tragic as the crucifixion may be, and disturbing, let us be among those who grasp what it was about – and rejoice that God is reconciled to us, and scurry to Him for His gracious love, mercy, and salvation! For then we take our place along with:
III. Those Who Were Blessed And Faithful At The Crucifixion
A. The Repentant Thief, Whose Repentance Is Not Mentioned By Mark
Luke 23:41-43 “But the other thief rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but the man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And He said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
B. The Women Who Were Supporters Of Jesus
Text: “There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. When He was in Galilee, they followed Him and ministered to Him, and there were also many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.”
C. The Centurion, And Some Of The Soldiers
Text: “And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that in this way He breathed His last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’”
Matt. 27:54 “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God.”
D. Joseph Of Arimathea, And Nicodemus
Text: “Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that He should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that He was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped Him in the linen shroud and laid Him in a tomb that had been cut our of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”
John 19:38 “Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews.”
John 19:39 “Nicodemus also came, who had come to Jesus earlier by night.”
Statement: These were the people most blessed at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. They were the ones who were able to see in all of this the blessings of Jesus’ crucifixion – our forgiveness, our salvation! There was awe and wonder. There was deep sorrow. There was deep repentance and joy in God’s paradise. And there was also God-given courage, and service to God in taking care of the burial of His Beloved Son!
Application: Let us be among them – seeing with sorrow our own sin and guilt which necessitated this gruesome crucifixion. But let us see with joy that this means we too will be with Him in paradise. Our sins are paid for and forgiven! Let us be filled with awe and wonder, that this was the Son of God. And let us also find courage, so that like Joseph and Nicodemus we too take up the tasks placed before us within the church, the kingdom of God! Then we too will be richly blessed!
Conclusion: The crucifixion was not in our place in time and history. We will never be eyewitnesses to it, but we can read and contemplate the eyewitness accounts – like our text. And we can learn much about life, about sinful human nature, and about the blessings of God brought to us by Jesus.
It is lost on those who persist in the dismal unbelief and cynicism of the people principally responsible for the actual crucifixion of Jesus. It was not lost on those who believed and witnessed the crucifixion.
It is not lost on us either, those of us who know and believe the love that God has for us! We have been blessed, and we too have been en-couraged to take our place with Jesus, to side with Him, to “deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.” This is the fruit of His love and sacrifice. Thanks and praise be to God! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.