Welcome back!Today’s reflection marks the final and 100th post on the Gospel of Mark. Since October 2nd, 2008, I’ve posted a reflection each week.
Mark concludes his gospel with two simple statements, paraphrased here:
When Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples He had one last command for them:
“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
But Matthew’s Gospel provides a more complete rendition of the Great Commission:
Last week Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome discovered the open tomb and encountered a young man dressed in white who proclaimed, “He has risen!” (Mark 16:6). The young man also told them to tell His disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, [...]
Early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb where Joseph had entombed Jesus’ body the Friday before. They brought spices used for anointing the dead (Mark 16:1-2). Their greatest concern seemed to be finding someone to roll the stone away so they could get to the body [...]
Mark 15:43 tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin. Luke 23:50-51 adds that Joseph was a good and upright man who had opposed the action of his fellow council members in their condemnation of Jesus. Both passages affirm that Joseph was “waiting for the kingdom of God.” We can [...]
Last week we read of Jesus’ last moments before His death. Among the New Testament writers, only John was an eyewitness. But there were many testimonies to Jesus’ death - and to His resurrection - both within scripture and in secular history. And there are three often-neglected testimonies right here in this passage.
The word forsake means to abandon, to break off from. In the crucifixion of Jesus Christ - the second person of the one Triune God - our Lord was at once the only sacrifice worthy to bear our sins, and the holy Son of God. God cannot look upon sin - He cannot have sin [...]
The Man who only hours earlier was teaching at the temple (Lk. 21:37-38), who was anointed by close friends at Bethany (Mk. 14:3), was now among the two robbers hanging on a cross. At the foot of the cross, the soldiers cast lots for His clothing (Mk. 15:24). Meanwhile, everyone seemed to be piling on:
After multiple beatings, a debilitating flogging, sleep deprivation and hatred and lies spewed at Him, Jesus was barely able to stand, let alone carry His own cross on the long route to Golgotha. So the soldiers pulled a man from the crowd, Cyrus of Cyrene, and forced him to carry Christ’s Cross, following behind Jesus [...]
After Pilate had given in to the crowds and ordered Barabbas released, Jesus was flogged (Mark 15:15) and then led to the praetorium where all the soldiers were called together (Mark 15:16). They toyed with Him by putting a purple robe around Him, fashioning a painful crown of thorns and pressing it upon His head. [...]
