OIA 15.21-41

Observations
• Who: Simon of Cyrene, Jesus, soldiers, two robbers, passersby, chief priests and lawyers, some standing near, Elijah, man offering vinegar, centurion, some women including Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Joses, and Salome
• Names for Jesus: Jesus, King of Jews, temple destroyer, Christ, King of Israel, Son of god
• When: Friday of Passover, 3rd hour, 6th hour, 9th hour
• Where: on the road to Golgotha, at Golgotha, at the Temple
• What: Jesus is crucified
• Repeated words: Crucify, cross; come down; Temple; save; loud cry; mocking/insults; women
• Contrasts: Jesus’ suffering/mockers insults; Jesus’ suffering/God’s abandonment; human activity/divine activity (darkness, curtain torn); religious leaders blindness/centurion’s sight; unbelief/belief; women’s presence/disciples absence
• Connections: death predictions/fulfilled; unexpected people recognize Jesus (Centurion, possibly Simon); Son of God (1.1, 3.11, 5.7); believe (1.15, 5.36, 9.23,24,32, 11.23, 24); on his right and left (10.37); save (Strong’s #4982: 3.4; 5.23,28,34; 6.36; 8.35; 10.26, 52; 13.13, 20; 15.30, 31); serve (Strong’s #1247: diakoneo, to serve or minister; used angels in 1.13, of Simon’s mother in law in 1.31, of Jesus in 10.45);
• Responses to Jesus: compelled service (Simon); offered an escape from full suffering (wine w/ myrrh); crucifixion; plundered; mocking; confession of Jesus’ identity (centurion); following – the women.

Interpretation
• Jesus’ crucifixion is the apex of Mark’s gospel. Announced in 1.1 as the Son of God, here we see the full gospel meaning of Jesus’ sonship: delivered by the Father into the hands of mockers, rejected, and cruelly executed. But even here, at the seeming moment of utter abandonment and defeat, some have eyes to see and willingness to respond positively to Jesus.
• Human religious and political power do their worst to the King of Israel; but god is also at work seen in bringing darkness and in tearing open the Temple veil. Just as the sons of evil triumph by destroying the anointed one, just then God provides unrestricted accces into His presence.
• Mark continues to give us unexpected characters. Simon, a father from a distant land whose sons are known to Mark’s audience (cf Rm 13.16), is pressed into service to Jesus who came not to be served but to serve. Rome is oppressing Simon who, perhaps unwittingly, serves the King of all with the result that his sons enter life. Perhaps Simon was pressed because Jesus was so damaged by torture that he was unable to carry his own cross.
• The centurion is another unexpected character, one who has eyes to see. What a contrast between the chief priests and law experts’ rejection and the centurion’s spiritual insight. What was it about Jesus’ death that prompted this spiritual insight and response? Crucifixion involved asphyxiation; Jesus’ loud cries were very unusual, and perhaps the centurion perceived that Jesus volitionally breathed his last. It is also important to note that the text does not include the preposition ‘the’ son. Yet in Mark’s context this confession mirrors the initial announcement in 1.1.
• In 10.45 Jesus said he came to serve, not to be served. Does anyone understand this? Yes, these women who we now learn had been serving Jesus for years by providing for his needs. It is no accident that those who understood Jesus’ core value of servanthood are here, following him during his crucifixion. The disciples, with their focus on power, position, and prestige, are absent.

Application
• The Son of God gives his life as a ransom for many.
• Those with eyes to see respond by confessing Jesus, and serving him.