Mark 15  Mark seems to rush through the details here.. from the early morning delivery of Jesus into Pilates hands.. to the release of Barabbas, the insurrectionist and murderer.. to the shouting crowd..  to the mocking and abuse of the Roman soldiers.. to the cross. 

I want to stop the movement.. and see.. really see Jesus in these moments.. 

They bind His hands.. the Hands that fed the hungry, healed the sick, raised the dead.. embraced the children...  and  they lead Him to Pilate. 

Pilate asks Jesus, "Are You king of the Jews?"  Yes.. "It is as you say."  Jesus answers.  In other gospel accounts He says more.. but Mark keeps it simple and to the point.  Jesus will not answer the accusations of the chief priests. He has no more to say to them. They have rejected the Son of God.. they have rejected the One and only True God who sent His only begotten Son. But Pilate needed to know this Truth. 

Barabbas, the "son of a father".. was set free.. while Jesus.. the Son of the Father was sent to His death.  The man who killed and stole and rebelled walked away.. while Jesus the Man who healed and helped and restored what was lost.. was beaten and mocked.  Even Barabbas needed to know this Truth. 

Jesus was so weak and bruised and bleeding that He had to have help carrying the cross up the hill to Golgotha.  Simon the Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.. was pressed into service.. "to bear the cross".   We do not know this man's story.. but he must have become known to Mark to be identified so clearly.  We do not know his interaction with Jesus.. but in my imagination I think there was a deep connection made as he came in contact with the bruised body and the blood of the Savior. Simon also needed to know Jesus.. the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Jesus endured the nails. He refused the wine and myrrh. He heard the taunts. He saw the wagging heads and fingers. He would not come down.. knowing that the Father was pouring out the cup on Him.. so that sin would be conquered.. so that death would be overcome.. so that we might be rescued from the dominion of darkness. 

For three hours the sky turned black. He remained bound to a wooden cross with nails piercing His hands and feet.. and then.. at the 9th hour He cried out to His Father... "and Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last." (v37) 

The veil tore in two from top to bottom. The centurions proclaimed "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

The women watched Him die. They followed Him in life and they followed Him in death. 

Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate asking to take the body of Jesus to bury Him. He took His body down from the cross, wrapped it in linen, and laid Him in a tomb. 

Father in heaven,  blessed be the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.. the Beloved Son who gave His life for us. His Body was broken.. His blood was poured out.. His pain was greater than we can imagine.. His compassion for us.. so strong that He stayed on that cross until it was finished. Thank You Jesus! Thank You Father. Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.. on the Truth who was "with God.. who was God.. who became flesh and dwelt among us".. who gave His life that we might be saved. We will cling to You with hearts of love and overflowing gratitude. Hallelujah! What a Savior!. Amen