Mark 15

Mark's account skips some details, but gives us the most important ones...

Jesus taken before Pilate and condemned to die.
Jesus beaten, abused, mocked, and crowned with thorns.
Jesus crucified.
Jesus buried.

Jesus, the Beloved Son of God.. the Lamb, perfect, innocent, kind, and compassionate..
was bound
was accused and cursed
was mocked and beaten beyond imagination

They nailed Him to the cross and 9:00 in the morning; the world turned dark at 12:00 noon; and at 3:00 - He gave up His life. The centurion, a Roman soldier, brutal and hardened by his work as an executioner.. "saw the way He breathed His last.." said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

Watching from afar we find Mary Magdalene and Mary "the mother of James the Less and Joses and Salome."  One Mary, delivered from demons;  one Mary, the mother of Jesus, James, and Joses...
They would not leave Him even in the end. They followed Joesph of Arimathea as he took the body of Jesus, wrapped Him in linen, set Him in a tomb, and rolled a stone across the entrance.

"O sacred Head, now wounded, 

with grief and shame weighed down; 

Now scornfully surrounded,

with thorns, thine only crown;

How art Thou pale with anguish,

with sore abuse and scorn;

How does that visage languish,

Which once was bright as morn!"

How can it be?  That  You, My God should die for me?

Father, we pause to think again of this great sacrifice, unbearable pain, complete surrender and restraint.. for the One who is the Heir of all things, the One through whom all things were made, the One who is the radiance of Your glory and the exact representation of Your nature... the One who upholds all things by the word of His power... allowed evil men to bind Him, mock Him, beat Him, and crucify Him... "What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend... What Thou My Lord hast suffered, was all for sinners gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain."   Amazing grace, amazing love.. that You delighted in us.. You loved us so much.. that You gave Your Beloved Son to die this way, for us.  All praise and thanksgiving we give to You!  We having nothing else to offer...but ourselves.  We are Your servants forever in Christ Jesus the Risen Lord!  Amen.