Mark 15:16-41. As I read this I though that the story was pretty straight forward, not much to say.  But as I thought about it I realized I needed to change how I was looking at it, I needed to remember that the story was written by Mark to those believers in Rome and that he included that particular detail that he included for a reason.   That’s not to say that there weren’t certain parts of the story that stood out from the beginning but I realized I needed to look a little deeper.  So I compared Mark’s telling  of the story with Matthew and Luke’s.  John’s telling of the story is somewhat different (Though not contradictory) and reflects his purpose.  The details that ate included in Mark and Matthew are often quite similar and Bible experts like to argue about who wrote their “Gospel” first and who copied from whom. The fact of the matter is they are both telling the same historical story.  Matthew was an eye witness but Mark’s source (at least one of his sources, Peter, was too) and we should expect the stories to be similar.  And just because Matthew was an eye witness doesn’t mean that he didn’t talk to others when writing his story down.  The same sources mark could have used, and Luke basically tells us that he used multiple sources for his account.  It would be fairly impossible to know if they copied from each other or whose was written first unless they told us or clearly quoted the others work.  In the end though I’m not sure it is important.  We know that each of these guys wrote their story down for a particular audience to read and included the things they though were important for that audience to hear.  In that respect comparing them can be helpful especially if we keep in mind the reasons behind what they included.  So back to my comparison.

As I said experts think that mark and Matthew are very similar and they are but one thing that is different is the part about Simon carrying Jesus cross (or part of it maybe).  It’s interesting that Mark mentions Simon’s sons, Alexander and Rufus, especially when we are talking about something that took place maybe 30 years earlier and 1200 miles away (and that is if you are going by boat).  The reason it’s interesting is that it seems like he expected his readers in Rome to know these guys.  There are five other times someone named Alexander is named in the New Testament.  In Acts 4:6 we see a relative of the high priest named Alexander (probably not this guy).

Twice (Acts 19:33) a guy named Alexander is named in a story about a riot in Ephesus that happened when Paul was preaching in their outdoor theater.  This guy appears to be a believer and was either a citizen of Ephesus or a traveling companion of Paul.  It is interesting in this same story Paul mentions wanting to go to Rome.  It is possible that this Alexander was a companion of Paul and actually went there with him.  It is also possible that this guy is the son of Simon.  On the other hand Paul mentions a guy in 1 Timothy 1:20 who is giving Timothy trouble.  He says the guy has suffer “shipwreck” with respect to his faith and is “blaspheming” (remember that word from a couple of days ago, it means to defame some one, particularly God).  Paul left Timothy as the leader and  pastor of the church in Ephesus, so this may be the guy mentioned in Acts 19.  Alexander the Great was a famous king of Greece around 400 BC who eventually conquered all of that part of the world so I’m sure there was more than one boy named Alexander in the time of Jesus.  Finally Paul mentions a guy named Alexander the coppersmith who did a great deal of harm to him in 2 Timothy 4.  Probably not Simon’s son nor the guy from 1 Timothy but we just don’t know.

In the letter to the Romans that Paul wrote he mentions a guy named Rufus, it’s the only other time a guy named Rufus is mentioned in the New Testament.  It’s in the closing part of the letter (Romans 16:13) and Rufus is called a “choice man in the Lord”.  In that part of the letter Paul is basically telling the readers to say “hi” to the people he mentions.  He also tells them to greet “Rufus’ mother and his” clearly talking about the same person.  Remember this letter (Romans) is to believers in Rome.  Paul probably doesn’t mean that he and Rufus were brothers but rather that Rufus’ mother treated him like a son when they were together.  This could be the same Rufus mentioned in Mark

Who ever all these different guys were it is clear that the believers in Rome were familiar with Rufus and Alexander, Simon’s sons.  We know that Simon lived out in the country near Jerusalem so it may seem kind of odd that his sons are known in and maybe even living in Rome, 1200 miles away’ even stranger if their mother was there.  But Mark was there, writing his history of Jesus, Peter too.  And Paul eventually makes his way to Rome, twice I think, and he made at least three journeys around the Mediterranean world telling people about Jesus.  So it’s not impossible that these two boys who heard an incredible story about a man convicted and executed for being the “King of the Jews” (Mark 15:26) from their dad (or even witnessed it for themselves) eventually joined Paul and became “ambassadors for Jesus” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Two other things I noticed while reading today’s section.  First was verses 24, 27, 28, and 34 all include events which were predicted before hand.  According to John 19:24 rolling dice to see who gets his cloths (casting lots is like rolling dice) was predicted in Psalm 22:18.  What happens in verse 27 was predicted by Isaiah in Isaiah 53:12.  Verse 28 points this out clearly but in many of your Bibles it is probably included in bracket of in a footnote because  it was probably not written by Mark but was a note someone wrote on an early copy of the book that was eventually included as part of Mark’s original.  If verse 28 was really someone else’s note on verse 27 it is interesting that someone back in the day saw that as the point of verse 27.  Finally verse 34 is also a quote from Psalm 22:1.  Together these verses point out that Jesus did not die because of the actions of power hungry leaders but because it was the “plan”.

In verse 34 Mark actually quotes an Aramaic version of Psalm 22:1 then translates it for his readers.  It is interesting that, of all the things Jesus said from the cross, that this is the only one Mark includes.  The words make it clear that in some respect God and Jesus were separated, God left Jesus behind (the meaning of both the Greek and Aramaic words for “forsaken”).  That is an important part in the “legal” aspect of our salvation.  Way back in the book of Genesis God told Adam and Eve that in the day they ate from the forbidden tree (their original act of rebellion and disobedience; sin) they would die.  Although physical death eventually was a consequence of their actions the more important death or separation that happened that day was the spiritual separation between Adam and Eve and God.  Jesus not only died a physical death on that cross but he also was “separated” from God the father and suffered spiritual death for us as well.  The good news is that that death did not last and as Jesus told the religious leaders in Mark 14:62 he eventually joined God the Father in Heaven sitting at his right hand.

Here in our reading today though Jesus is hanging on the cross, bleeding, suffocating, in excruciating pain.  Some in the crowd recognized his pain and offered him a sip of cheap wine or vinegar.  Although some see this as an act of compassion, this too predicted, in Psalm 69:21.  From that Psalm it is clear that the action is not intended to comfort.  Others in the crowd were mocking what Jesus was saying and the vinegar too was part of that mocking.  And with that Mark has Jesus breath out his last breath, giving up his own life, giving his life a ransom for many (mark 10:45).

Verses 38-39 record two important results of the death of Jesus.  The veil of the Temple was torn in two.  This is a clear indication that God was now available to the common man and not kept behind the curtain where only the high priest once a year could approach him.  All their rules and religion were now overtaken and fulfilled by Jesus.  The religious leaders were out of a job and Jesus became the only way to the Father (see John 14:6).  The other thing that happened was that the roman soldier standing there watching over the execution was fully impressed that Jesus was God.  Roman soldiers were in the business of death. As we have seen in today’s reading they were completely hardened, torturing and humiliating their prisoners before executing them in the most brutal way.  In a way that soldier represents the Palate and the whole Roman government.  That doesn’t mean that the whole government turned to God but it shows that God has more power.  Later Paul was writing from Rome to the believers in Philippi and he sent greeting to them from members of “Caesar’s own household”.  Evidently not even the king of Rome’s family was immune to the power of Jesus.

Today’s reading really points out the power of God.  Although mankind acts and chooses and messes up the world it is never outside of God’s knowledge and ability to fix.  God is not surprised by the history of mankind and he has had a plan to fix it that he made before he even create it all (see Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20).  That he knew is clear from the prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled by Jesus.  It also points out the personal nature of what God wants with us.  He doesn’t want some religion he wants a relationship.  He doesn’t want us coming through some priests, he wants a direct fact to face relationship with us.  Finally today’s reading points out that we part of something that is bigger than all the powers of the world.  That Roman soldier knew the power of the king more than we can probably understand but he was more impressed with the power of the king, not just of the Jews but ultimately of the whole world and even the universe.  This certainly would have been comforting to those facing mocking, beating, and even death.  Tomorrow we will see the ultimate victory, one in which we will share, but for today we need to stand at the foot of the cross in awe and recognize that Jesus truly is God.

I think the last two verses in today’s reading should give us comfort too.  Who’s missing from this picture?  The twelve, no where in sight, just the women who had been serving Jesus are there, and even thy are keeping their distance.  That is the picture Mark is painting of the followers of Jesus, distant of missing.  But again that is not the end of the story.  Just the picture Mark is giving his readers of that day.  We need to come in from the distance and get up close and personal with Jesus.  Eleven of the original twelve did, those women did, those in the early church in Rome certainly could, and we can to.  The thief on the cross was hurling abuse at Jesus but then recognized Jesus for who he was and turned to him.  Jesus’ response?  Join me today in paradise.  God can and will judge sin, but e can put it all behind us by the death of Jesus on the cross, we just need to see and confess and give it and ourselves to him.

God thank you for you amazing love.  Thank you for you immense forgiveness.  We can go from abusing you one minute to having assurance of eternity with you the next.  Amazing.  Thank you for loving me.  Help me in my struggle to honor you with my life.  Thank you that I am not out with just one strike, or three, but that I can return to the plate time and again and you will help me live better for you.  Let me recognize who you are with my life and my words and share the good news with those around me.  

Mark 14:66-15:15. Yesterday I mentioned that I had basically skipped verse 54 where Mark informs us that Peter had tagged along and was warming himself outside with some of the guards.  In today’s reading we return to Peter out side by the fire.  Yesterday we saw Jesus being faithful to the job God had given him.  In the first part of today’s reading we see Peter and so did one of the servant of the High Priest and she recognized that he had been one of Jesus’ followers.  When she asked him about it he denied knowing Jesus and moved away.  Either she followed him or ran into him again on the porch and started telling the people around that Peter was one of Jesus’ followers.  Peter again denied being a part of Jesus group.  He must have done a lot of denying because pretty soon the people around him picked up in his Galilean accent and assumed that he must be a follower of Jesus who was from Galilee too.  At that point Peter wanted to make it very clear that he was not a follower of Jesus and asked to be cursed if he was lying.  Wow!  That’s a lot of fear going on there.  After denying Jesus the third time Mark tells us that a roosted crowed a second time and Peter remembered Jesus prediction.  One scholar pointed out how ironic it was that while the guards were inside asking Jesus to prophesy that one of his prophecies was being fulfilled outside.  I think this comparison is important and I’ll come back to it at the end of the post.

The next part of today’s reading involves Jesus’ trial before the Roman governor, Pilate. He was governor from 26-36 AD.  In the morning the whole Jewish council affirmed the decision they had reached in the night.  Under Roman law only the Roman government could execute a person, other types of punishment were variously allowed to subject peoples, but not execution.  Pilate was well know for being cruel and he dislike the Jewish people he governed.

It seems unlikely that Pilate would be particularly interested in executing Jesus for a blasphemy (literally that word means “to hurt a persons reputation”.  Specifically the Jewish leaders felt that Jesus had hurt God’s reputation by saying he and God were equal.  As I pointed out yesterday the High Pries had asked Jesus if he were the promised Messiah or chosen one.  To the Jewish people that would be synonymous with being the King of the Jews because that is the only picture of the Messiah that the Jews understood.  Jesus is the king of the Jews and ultimately will reign over them and the whole world but at that time he was here for a more important task; to be the suffering servant of Isaiah 52-53 and the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (see also Mark 10:45).  Jesus affirmed that he was the Messiah and would rule in power and that likely gave the religious leaders enough of a charge to get Pilate involved.  Certainly claiming to e the king of the Jews would be seen as rebellion, something no Roman governor could or would tolerate.

Pilate questioned Jesus about the charge but Jesus sort of avoided the question.  Although some translations translate Jesus response as basically a yes, Jesus answer is something more like “what ever you say” or “you said it”.  If the question was one of rebellion, Jesus wasn’t there for that.  Any trial for promoting rebellion should come back with a  “not guilty” verdict.  Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, not set up a physical kingdom.  The Jewish leaders grew impatient and kept pushing Pilate.  Although Pilate disliked the Jews and didn’t really want to be involved in their internal fights he was also a politician in the Roman Empire and was skilled at “playing” the people.  Pilate was amazed at how calm and quiet Jesus was in the face of such opposition.  Although Mark doesn’t make it as clear Pilate came to the same conclusion, Jesus wasn’t a political rebel or insurrectionist.

There is much more to this trial than what Mark tells us (See Matthew 27 and Luke 23) so we need to see what point Mark might be making for the readers back in Rome.  The main picture we see here is of the Roman leader being caught up in the movement of God’s plan.  Although he seemed to be in control the crowd and the leaders were really controlling him.  Or were they?  All of their intrigue and the outcome was just what God intended, on the very day God intended it.  The real Passover lamb was going to be sacrificed on Passover dealing with sin permanently (See Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10).  Although these people made their own decisions based on their own motives God blended their actions together perfectly to obtain the right outcome.  And so Jesus was delivered by Pilate to be beaten and then executed.

I think the contrast between Peter who was faithless and Jesus who was faithful is important.  Jesus is the only one who could die for our sins because he is both God and man.  It is important to know that Jesus will always be true to the plan; Jesus will always have our back.  Peter on the other hand is a different story, at the end of the day he’s just a guy, controlled at least in part by his fears like all of us.  I think this story would be good for the Roman believers suffering persecution because it teaches that we can have faith in the one we need to have faith in, Jesus, and we can take comfort that even the “best” of the followers of Jesus ran and hid sometimes.  Peter, James, John and the rest of the twelve (except for Judas) went on to tell the world about Jesus.  The believers in Rome were proof of that fact.  And all but John (and Judas) lived hard lives and wound up dying because of their faith in Jesus.  So Peter was a good example of just how forgiving God could be, I mean the guy actually asked God to curse him if he was lying about knowing Jesus.  That is amazing love on God’s part, and it is available to us all.

Finally I think it would have been important to those early believers to see that the government isn’t above God; God’s plan will be accomplished.  And that is not just his plan for Jesus but his plan for us too (remember that his plan for Peter was working out just as he promised, bumps in the road and all).  Good to know God has a plan for us and is working it out (see Ephesians 2:10).

God I’m glad you are in control.  I’m thankful that you died for me.  I’m sorry that Peter was unfaithful and I’m sorry that I am too.  Help me be more faithful.  Help me overcome my fears.  Let my life be pleasing to you.  I’m glad that you are always faithful and that your plan involves loving us.  Help us all be better at loving you in return rather that turning our backs on you.