MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St. Mark

St. Mark 15:33-41

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THESE VERSES continue Mark's account of the death of Christ, which with the resurrection is the most significant event in all history. Let us dwell on it together.

First we are told of the three hour period of darkness during the last half of the time Jesus hung on the cross. This darkness was not natural. There could have been no eclipse of the sun at this time because the time for an eclipse was not present. Further the length of this darkness is far too long to explain it by an eclipse. God acted supernaturally. Because of this the darkness has meaning and significance. I would offer two thoughts concerning its significance. Firstly that this darkness symbolised the darkness of hell, which is separation from God. The darkness from natural light symbolised the spiritual darkness that is hell when a person is shut off from God forever. Human beings having been created by God and for God, find their happiness and satisfaction in God, so that to be completely separated from God is too awful to contemplate. The darkness showed that Jesus was suffering this separation to atone for our sin. Suffering hell so that we may never have to suffer it. God poured out all his wrath and justice against sin on his pure and dear Son. This is love unimaginable.

Secondly I see this darkness as an act of God to hide from the sinful prying eyes of people the awful humiliation, degradation and condemnation that was heaped on Jesus at this time because he was atoning for the sin of the world. Satan was not going to be able to gloat over the spectacle of the Son of God degraded before the sinners he came to redeem. We benefit from this pain and degradation, but we are not meant to look upon it.

Then this account of Mark gives us the most heart rending saying of Jesus on the cross. It came at the end of the three hours of darkness. Jesus cried, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me'. It was a cry expressing the hell of separation from God Jesus was and had been suffering because this was the penalty for sin, and he was bearing our sin and guilt. It expressed the true reality that he went to hell for us. It expresses the deep deep anguish of the sufferings Jesus endured for us. The infinite value of this suffering is in the fact that for Jesus to be separated from the Father was far far greater than any separation we would endure in hell. The reason for this is that Jesus was one with the Father from all eternity. The deep closeness of the unity between Jesus and God is too deep for words. The infinite pain of his atoning sufferings is seen in the pain of this separation. The Godhead was rent asunder to save us. What infinite love there is in God revealed towards sinners in redemption.

Then we are told the reaction of the crowd to these words of agony from Jesus. They seemed to be indifferent to their deep significance. They were still in a derisory mood. They did not seem to understand the words, interpreting Eloi (MY GOD) as a reference to Elijah. This illustrates the blindness and hardness of heart of humanity in sin, completely unmoved by this great sacrifice of love. It is wonder of all wonders that God should have gone to such awesome lengths to save such worthless and ungrateful people, but he did. The further love of God is that he does not leave the choosing of salvation to sinful human will, for if he did no person would apply for it. No! he graciously draws his elect by irresistible grace. This does not coerce the will, but makes the sinner willing and longing for Christ.

Jesus cried with a loud voice and breathed his last. This is most remarkable. We when we are at the point of death after such an awful experience as crucifixion would be too weak to even whisper. Jesus had all his faculties to the very end. There was no diminishing of his senses, both physical and spiritual, at any time during his ordeal, so that in no way was the sufferings for sin mitigated. He breathed his last at that moment when he had fulfilled all the justice of God against sin. He was in control to the last. So great a Saviour that we have.

Note that Jesus truly died. His death was no fiction. People who will not believe can't avoid the truth by pretending Jesus fainted or some other silly excuse for not believing. Jesus gave himself truly to bear our sins in his body on the cross.

How awesome to the Jews must have been the torn veil in the temple, but how assuring for every believer. The veil was a thick heavy curtain which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. It symbolised the holiness of God and how sinful humanity can not approach a holy God and live. Only the high priest once a year with the blood of the atonement entered to make atonement for the sins of the people. Now the way into the holiest of all is opened by the blood of Jesus. This miracle revealed the way into the presence of God now was open to all who believe in Jesus. This rent veil shows the greatness of what Jesus has done for us, which is that he has reconciled us with God and won entrance into his presence without fear. How terrifying for the Jews. It symbolised the end of all their religion and practice. It symbolised that there was no more need for sacrifice. All the Mosaic law now was abolished. Christ had offered the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Then Mark records the great testimony of the Gentile centurion. Having seen the whole awesome scene and heard the sayings of Jesus and his majestic demeanour on the cross, his cry from the heart is "Surely this man was the Son of God". At the very least this was an expression of the greatness and goodness of Jesus this centurion saw, but much more likely it was an expression of the dawning of faith, where he saw the Saviour of the world and owned him in faith. The Jews, chosen by God for special privileges and with years of living in those privileges, were totally blind to glory of the Son of God, nor did they perceive him as their sacrifice for sin. Yet a Gentile comes to faith and gives glory to Christ. Such is the sovereign grace of God.

Lastly Mark gives us the significant fact that around the cross at the last were the women. We are told that in his life they followed him and cared for his needs. These were the two Mary's, but there were other women there at the foot of the cross as well. It was women who stayed with him to the end when the men had all left. Their's were the deep love and courage to own him whatever the cost. Women have been down history made second class to men. At this time men held the supremacy in the class system, but when the crunch came it was women who loved Jesus most and had the courage to stay with him not counting the cost for love of him. How much greater love women have for Jesus very often than men, and how men should note this and be humble.