Mark 15:21-32

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.”

And they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. (v. 23) A couple of reflections on this verse, in part because this one verse is translated quite differently in various translations. The NASB has it as They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. And Matthew’s gospel in the NASB has that one phrase as “…wine mixed with gall…”, which is what I remember from my childhood. Gall has a very bitter taste, so wine mixed with gall has always seemed to me to be more of the taunting that Jesus was receiving from the soldiers.

However, what struck me today was the beginning of that NASB translation, They tried to give Him… I wondered why the soldiers were “trying” to give Him this mixture (a stronger emphasis than simply “offering” it to Him). And I wondered if this was more of their taunting or if they were being merciful. My Internet searching led me to an article, “Sour Wine and Gall: Was it a Merciful Gesture or Mockery?” In that article the author goes into great detail about the possible pain-killing effects of a mixture of wine and gall. It made me think even more of whether the soldiers were showing mercy, especially when the next verse says that Jesus did not take their “offer”. That article and others led me to three possible conclusions, that the mixture was (1) a pain-killer (a merciful gesture) or poison typically offered to crucifixion victims; (2) a bitter mixture intended as a continuing taunt; or (3) an intoxicant designed to entertain the soldiers with the victim’s responses to this inebriation. I tend to go with #2 – I don’t see anything else in context that suggests any level of mercy offered by the Roman soldiers. So it remains an interesting study, but not much to go on in the way of reflection!

What is worthy of reflection, however, is Jesus’ response not to accept their offer, especially if #1 is true. I can easily see Jesus rejecting the wine mixture if it was intended for the soldiers’ taunting or entertainment. But if #1, a merciful pain killer, why would Jesus not take it? One explanation in that article suggested that Jesus did not want His senses dulled, that He desired “…to remain conscious throughout His crucifixion without any pain relieving agent.” Another Internet article said it even better, “Jesus did not want to die from poisoning or have His senses numbed while on the cross. He knew that He had to shed His blood in order for Him to become the supreme sacrifice for the sins of all man, and He refused to take the easy way out of it.” That sentiment is, I believe, a good reflection to end with.

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 27:32-44

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” December! So much in today’s reading… Let’s begin here: So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying… (v. 41a) I was initially intrigued by how many were mocking Jesus. Matthew reports the passersby, the Jewish leaders, and the thieves (although Luke disputes the latter). But among those mocking Him, what struck me the most was the chief priests, with the scribes and elders. Evidently they were not content with the arrest, the trial(s), the torture, and the taunting – they had to come out and see for themselves Jesus’ unseemly death. But these are the JEWISH LEADERS!! Aren’t leaders supposed to set an example for followers? What sort of example is this mockery and taunting? What a sad lot they are!

Here is part of the Jewish leaders’ mockery: He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ (v. 43) What struck me here was the phrase, “…if he desires Him.” The NKJV had that phrase as “…if He will have Him”, which, to me, was even stronger. That phrase struck me in two ways. First, obviously, yes, the Father desires the Son – He “will have Him”! From the beginning of creation they have been One. The Father loves the Son and clearly desires Him. HOWEVER, this is the one point in all of history when the Father was rejecting the Son, when the Father was pouring out His wrath against sin onto His Son. At that one point in history, the Father did not desire the Son. I have in my mind this picture of Darth Vader going with “lightning bolts” against his own son. But the Father’s wrath against sin was GOD’s wrath – much greater, much more powerful. The Father did not desire the Son. Not this time. How horrible!

Slava Bohu!

John 19:1-16

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Jesus speaking: Therefore he who delivered Me over to you has the greater sin. (v. 11b) This verse always confused me. My first confusion (common for me in John’s gospel) is about how Jesus was responding to Pilate’s question: Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you? (v. 10b) I still don’t have an answer for that item. But the second confusion was clarified a bit by my Study Bible. I had always imagined that Jesus was speaking about Judas as the one who had delivered Him over. But my Study Bible suggested that Jesus was probably referring to Caiaphas as the one who delivered Him over and that Judas was just “the means”. That makes more sense to me – the greater sin belonged to Caiaphas, a lesser sin to Pilate.

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (v. 15b) The irony of this statement…! The Jews hated being under Roman rule. Although the Romans accommodated them to a great extent, they still hated being under their bondage. So now they make this claim of allegiance to Rome, all for the sake of having Jesus put to death. What irony…??!! The extent to which they would go to have their way with Him… But then again, every time that I find fault with the Jews, I know that I am equally guilty of my many sins for which Jesus suffered and died. And I’m sure I’ve made my own “accommodation” in the past to justify myself. Forgive me, Lord…!

Slava Bohu!

Mark 15:16-20

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I am amazed at Jesus’ strength – both His body and His character. First, bodily… As with yesterday, today we again have Him in the Praetorium being tortured and taunted by the Roman soldiers. He has already suffered a scourging, in which some die before it’s over. Now He gets a crown of thorns put on His head, with soldiers beating the crown into His head with a reed. (Ask me sometime about my crown of thorns.) Then He will still carry his cross to Golgotha and hang on that cross for six hours before He dies. He must have been extremely fit to go through all that.

And His character… To go through all that verbal and physical abuse and not respond. He knew that He had legions of angels at His disposal, but he suffered quietly. It was as Isaiah prophesied, He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

I’m amazed…!

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 27:27-31

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Previously in Matthew 27:26 we saw that Pilate had had Jesus scourged. Now on Thanksgiving Day we read this horrible account of Pilate’s soldiers torturing and taunting Him further. It’s a horrible reflection for such a special holiday – as we celebrate and recall all that for which we are so very thankful. But, we also realize that the most thankful we can ever be is to Jesus for His horrible suffering and death – and His glorious RESURRECTION!! All this suffering that He went through was for our benefit, as He went through it all out of His love for us. It truly is… GLORY!

Slava Bohu!

John 18:28-40

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” (v. 31) It must have been frustrating to the Jewish leaders – they wanted Jesus dead and they could do it by their own Law (and their evaluation of blasphemy by Jesus­­), but they could not do it under Roman law. Only the Romans could put someone to death. So the Jewish leaders had to go to the Romans, to Pilate, to have Jesus killed. But even then, so difficult for them…! They could take Jesus to the Praetorium to be judged by Pilate, but they could not enter themselves (or they would be defiled). They had to wait for Pilate to go back and forth, in and out to Jesus and to them, in order to get judgment pronounced. But with so many difficulties it’s what they wanted – Jesus dead – and they were willing to suffer these “small inconveniences” in order to get it done. Again, so sad…!

About this interchange between Jesus and Pilate in verses 35 and 36:  Pilate answered, “…What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world…” At first I did not understand Jesus’ response to Pilate’s question. Then I surmised that John had left out a transition sentence, that the Jews had brought Jesus to Pilate with the charge that Jesus was declaring Himself to be a King. So if prior to verse 33 we put in that accusation, then Jesus’ reply to Pilate makes more sense.

Slava Bohu!

Mark 15:1-15

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. (v. 5) My Study Bible pointed out that under Roman law an accused prisoner was automatically guilty if he did not reply to an accusation. So Pilate’s amazement was likely due to Jesus’ unspoken “admission”.

When Pilate satisfied the crowd by releasing Barabbas, why was a sentence of crucifixion the alternative for Jesus? Yes, the Jews were demanding crucifixion, but didn’t Pilate also have other options? Presumably he could have just left Jesus in prison for a time – long or short. Or he could have had him scourged, then released. Or he could have released Jesus quietly after releasing Barabbas publicly. The sentence of crucifixion was at the urging of the crowd, effectively the Jewish leaders. So when Matthew reports the crowd saying His blood be on us and on our children (Matthew 27:25), Jesus’ death truly was at their urging. Yes, Pilate caved in to their demands, but it seems to me that the Jewish leaders were equally guilty. Yes, the Jewish leaders – and all the rest of us who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Slava Bohu!

Luke 23:13-25

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I imagine it was not difficult for the Jewish leaders to incite the crowd to have Barabbas released, a man charged with insurrection and murder. What might the insurrection have been about? I’m guessing against the occupation by the Roman authorities. No doubt the Romans were hated and anyone inciting against them could have been a hero to the Jewish people. I see more difficulty in the Jewish leaders inciting the people to have Jesus crucified. How could they have twisted a narrative about Jesus that would have led the people to have Him crucified? Or was the crowd just a bloodthirsty “rabble” – in a party mood during this Passover celebration? Whatever, it’s a really sad turn of events, an innocent man dying just to please the high priest and his comrades. So sad… And yet, so gloriously redemptive for those of us in this side of the cross.

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 27:15-26

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. (v. 20) I have heard it said that the Jewish leaders had put together “their own crowd” and persuaded them to ask for Barabbas. I’ve always wondered about that and only this morning reflected further and asked myself about that “crowd”. Presumably many of these people could have been part of the same group that gathered at Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. I always imagine them as “the rabble”. But then I thought further and yes, devout Jews, including His disciples and many Galileans (if they were anywhere but their homes early in the morning) would have been in the temple area celebrating their own Passover weekend. They would not have been at Pilate’s palace.

Pilate … took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” (v. 24) No amount of water could have cleansed Pilate of his wrongdoing. He may have said the words in front of the crowd, but he still had the responsibility for Jesus’ fate. Furthermore, two verses later he has Jesus scourged; my Study Bible pointed out that Roman scourging was so harsh that many died of the scourging before they even got to the crucifixion. As Carol posted yesterday, we can all wonder at Pilate’s later life, especially when he heard of Jesus’ resurrection – an item that was clearly known throughout Jerusalem (see Luke 24:18). Did he have regrets and second thoughts? And you know what? God the Father still loved Pilate and wanted him to come to repentance (I Timothy 2:4). Pilate – one of the saddest figures in all of human history!

Slava Bohu!