The death of Jesus

Mark 14:22-41,15:1-47

Key Verse 15:34

We studied that Jesus healed born blind guy and ruled over the fish, which lived in the lake of Galilee. He even rose up Lazarus from the dead. He declared that he is the promised Messiah through all his life. Peter , who had been lived with Jesus for about 3 years, confessed “you are the Christ, Son of living God.” He realized that Jesus is the promised Messiah and living God who came to this world as the flesh.

Why did Jesus come to this world? He came to this world to die for accomplish God’s redemptive work. The climax of his ministry is the cross. Cross is not failure of his life but his magnificent victory.

Without Jesus’ death, there is no resurrection. Without his death, no salvation was not occurred. There are three important meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion;

First, how serious sin is,

Second, the accomplishment of the gospel,

Third, the forgiveness of sin for those who believe this truth.

Fourth, the reconciliation between God and men was done.

· Jesus’ preparation for his death

1. Why did Jesus come to this world as the flesh? (Jn 1:29, Mt16: 20-21,Mk10: 33-34) How did Jesus teach the meaning of his death upon his disciples before he arrested? (Mk 14:22-23) How did he prepare his crucifixion? (Mk14: 32-41) why did Jesus need prayer in that time and why do we need prayer to accomplish God’s will? (Lk 22:42-46)

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

a) His death is not an accident. He already prophesied several times. His main purpose to come this world as the flesh is to accomplish God’s redemptive through his death and resurrection.

-Everybody come to this world to live in but Jesus came to die. After his disciples realized that he is the promised Messiah, he diligently began to teach his death and resurrection even though they didn’t want to listen and accept this truth because they were filled with their worldly ambition. They thought that Jesus would be the king if he would arrive the Jerusalem. One of them would be a second position. The main purpose of Jesus coming into this world is to accomplish God’s redemptive work.

b) The old covenant was the covenant of work or deed. God already knew men’s weakness and friability. He opened the new covenant since Adam broke the covenant. He revealed it through many prophets. –New covenant is the covenant of grace. The covenant of faith.

c) Jesus had never been agony the time of cross. He knew that he had to take the burden sin for his people since Adam sinned. The sting of death is sin. If we even take the burden of one’s sin, headache comes upon us. Think about his pressure of His cross. We cannot know unimagined the vast pressure before he took the burden of men’s sin.

d) He prayed. He even wanted to avoid that way of cross if there was the other way. He prayed three times. He prayed until he had confidence of taking cross.

e) However his disciples slept. We should pray to overcome Satan’s temptation. We should pray to overcome the weakness of bodies.

f) Jesus arrested by himself even though he knew that he would die on the cross.

· Jesus before Pilate (15:1-15)

2. What decision did the Sanhedrin reach? Why did the Jews hand Jesus over to Pilate? What did they evidently charge him with? (2,Mt27:19)? Why was he surprised at Jesus’ answer, then with his silence? (2-5,Mt2:2)

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

a) They already decided to crucify Jesus and looked for the plot to kill him. Jesus’ ministry had threatened their religious position as leaders. They only focused on their political and religious security.

b) The religious leaders didn’t have the right capital punishment under the Rome’s reigning. That is why they brought Jesus to Pilate.

c) Jesus clearly testified that he would not die because of his sin but die as the son of God. “The promised Messiah”. That is why he only answered “you have said so.”

d) He already decided to die. He was silent before false accuses. He even testified that he would come back as the judge (Mt 26:63,64)

3. What did Pilate know about Jesus’ innocence? (10, Mt27:19) How did he attempt to compromise? How and why did he fail? What kind of man was Pilate? What do these trials reveal about Jesus?

10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

-Religious leaders-they concerned their security. They were filled with jealousy against Jesus and plot to kill Jesus. They used people for their evil plot.

-Crowds- changed according mood.

-Pilate already knew that Jesus is innocent and wanted to release Jesus. However he was greatly frustrated by the madness of people. So he compromised toward evil decision due to his political secularity. He throw away his right responsibility as right judge and leader before threat of mob.

Outwardly, he had the authority and power he was very weak. He is known historically that he crucified Jesus in the apostle creed.

-Jesus- he could avoid his cross. He took the cross. He is real victor.

· The crucifixion of Jesus (16-32)

4. How and why did the Roman soldiers mock Jesus? (16-20) How did they mockery emphasize his kingship and how did their treatment of him fulfill The Scripture? (Isa 53:3-5) What does this mean to us? (1Pt 2:24,25)

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[f] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

a) -Roman solders were known as notorious behaviors.

Pilate let romans soldiers flog Jesus to satisfy Jews’ religious leaders.

Romans- 40 numbers was flogged none romans -40 numbers was flogged. However, Jews-120 numbers was flogged. -The end of whip, there were pieces of bone or lead. Some of criminals died during the whip. It was horrible.

He was completely humiliated by notorious romans soldiers.

-he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed. (Isa 53)

5. How might Simon’s experience in Jerusalem change his life? (21,Note the name of his sons (Rom 16:13,Acts 13:1). Why do you think Jesus refused the painkilling drug? (22,2) What does “crucify” mean? (24-25) What do the facts about Jesus’ death recorded here teach us about who Jesus really is and what sin is? (26) What does it mean that he died as a sinner among sinners? (27)

21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.

a) he carried the cross by force. It was the moment of divine grace and conversion for him. we can see that God blessed his family. Simon’s decedents became a very influential Christian leaders who raised many gospel workers. (Rom 16:13, Acts 13:1)

b) –Crucifixion is the lonest way of execution. Tortured, drained, covered with blood, terrible pain is not over until death. V23, he refused wine, he might obey the will of God thoroughly.

c) -the physical suffering- when nails were pieced in hand and feet, horrible pain irritated nerve.

-the mental suffering- shame by people, shame by Roman soldiers with mocking.

-the spiritual suffering-he took all burden of whole mankind’s sin. Jesus was forsaken by Heavenly Father at that moment. He called the God instead of Father.

People easily compromise to commit sin. – *but Sin is such a serious as much as Jesus suffered for it. Jesus who doesn’t have sin at all, has to be completely humiliated and mocked and crucified because the wage of sin is death.

-c) soldiers nailed his hands and his feet with hammers. They projected a ledge of wood between his legs, then they raised the cross upright and set it in its socket. It is unbearable suffering with pain, thirst, hunger.

-d) they gambled for his clothes, it was their privilege to take the clothes of the executed criminals. These soldiers closed their eyes and hardened their hearts and cast lots to get a little bonus out of the clothes of the dead criminal.

e) Jesus was treated as transgressor or a sinner.

6. What is the challenge and temptation to Jesus in the words of the mockers? (29-32) How did the chief priests, Pilate, the solider, and even the disciples try to save themselves? Why did Jesus not? (Mt 16:25-26)

29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

a) –why didn’t Jesus come down from the cross? To fulfill God’s salvation work. If he had come down and saved himself, he could not have salve others. But in order to save others, he didn’t save himself and died on the cross with incredible pain and suffering. -Satan- make us complete self-centered mind and seek self-glory.

b) The way of Salvation in this world- save yourself. Take off our cross as much as you can and crush others for myself. Jesus was able to save himself, he didn’t save himself and took cross for others. He used his ability for saving others.

· The death of Jesus (33-41)

7. Note the time (25,33) what was the response of nature to Jesus’ death? (33) What did Jesus cry out at the 9th hour? What was the most painful thing about the crucifixion? (34,35) why was he crucified? (Isa 53:3-6,Jn 1:29,1Pt 2:24) How did the people react? (36)

34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

3He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

a) -The spiritual suffering-he took all burden of whole mankind’s sin. Jesus was forsaken by Heavenly Father at that moment. He called the God instead of Father. He was forsaken by his people, even his disciples. –he was abandoned due to our sin. The result of one characteristic of sin is separation from God. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were forsaken from the Garden of Eden. Have you experienced abandonment from your most close person? –sin is serious.

-God forsook him at that moment and cursed him by hanging him on the tree. (Gal 3:13). (Jn1;29).

b) -Pain and injustice made the world be darkened. Even nature could not endure to look at the anguish and injustice.

8. What happened when Jesus cried out and breathed his last? What does the torn curtain mean? (Ex 20:18-19,25:22, Heb 4:16, 6:20) What was the centurion’s testimony? How did the women of Galilee show their love for Jesus? (40-41)

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

a) He removed the immovable and non-breakable huge barrier between holy God and sinners. He opened the new and living way to come to God through His Cross (Eph 2:14)

· The burial of Jesus (42-47)

9. How did the burial of Jesus confirm the fact of Jesus’ death? How did Joseph reveal his faith and set the scene for the resurrection?

42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

-His death is certain, his resurrection is sure.

Without Jesus’ death, there is no resurrection. Without his death, no salvation was not occurred. There are three important meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion;

First, how serious sin is,

Second, the accomplishment of the gospel,

Third, the forgiveness of sin for those who believe this truth.

Fourth, the reconciliation between God and men was done.