Day 43 – King of the Jews
Mark 15:21-32
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: “The King of the Jews.” They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Sheila Crofton Briggs writes:
“King of the Jews” seems to be the theme of the last three days’ readings. That’s what Pilate had written above Jesus’ cross. Not the sentence of criminal as written over those crucified either side of him. No, Jesus' crime was being King of the Jews, Saviour of the world!
Again, Jesus is completely humiliated by being crucified, a cursed death in the Old Testament, ridiculed and doubted. He fulfils so many Old Testament prophecies in this short passage: His garments being divided, rejection by all and horrific suffering to take away our pain, shame and separation from God.
In the light of Jesus suffering to free us, what do you want to be freed from today? How might you take hold of Jesus' victorious life? Ask Him - He will always be there and help you. That’s His promise! He is VICTORIOUS!