Scripture
Mark 15:21-41 (ESV)
And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alex ander and Rufus, to carry his cross. [22] And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). [23] And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. [24] And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. [25] And it was the third hour when they crucified him. [26] And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." [27] And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
[28] [29] And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, [30] save yourself, and come down from the cross!" [31] So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. [32] Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
[33] And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. [34] And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" [35] And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah." [36] And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." [37] And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. [38] And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. [39] And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
[40] There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. [41] When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
Questions for Reflection
1. What do people mean when they say that someone “did not die in vain”?
2. Why did Jesus not carry the cross Himself? (15:21)
3. How did the people insult Jesus when He was on the cross? (15:29-30)
4. What did the teachers of the law say about Jesus while He was dying? How? (15:31-32)
5. What challenge did Jesus ignore? (15:31-32)
6. What emotions do you think Jesus felt as He was led away and crucified?
7. Simon’s encounter with Jesus was very unusual; how did you first “encounter Christ”?
8. When have you ever experienced apparently “random” events in your life, that upon later reflection showed God’s sovereign will being worked out in you?
9. How can you thank the Lord for the hidden ways He works in your life?
10. Jesus was closely identified with criminals during His death; what significance does this have to you?
11. How does it make you feel to know that Christ endured such intense suffering for your salvation?
12. What significance is there for you in the fact that a Roman soldier recognized the great truth that even the religious leaders could not see?
