questioning Jesus, Mark 15, his death

18 Sep
Rosso Fiorentino. Descent from the Cross. 1521. Oil on wood. 375 × 196 cm. Pinacoteca Comunale di Volterra, Italy.

in a previous post I shared on Pilate and his desire to ‘people please.’ as I read Pilate for my life learnings, I can see myself when I was a people pleaser, and am a people pleaser. He plays to the crowd; he half listens; he tries to use questioning to manipulate.

‘People Pleasers’ are really trying to please themselves. They/I want approval, applauding, reverence. Please others, receive accolades, silent or spoken. Bathe in them; become their praise. And no washing of hands can remove their, this, stink,

‘What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Now, after being turned over to the Roman soldiers, the whole centurion company , probably some of those who arrested Jesus in the Garden, are called to come to….

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers.17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

In these moments before Jesus’ crucifixion, clothing and words are put on and then taken off Jesus. Did they, the soldiers, have an expensive purple cloak just lying around? And why bring the whole company in for this flogging?

To cover Jesus with the worst: blood and spite; false words and curses; and they touch his body to clothe, unclothe and clothe him again. They cover Jesus with thorns and whips; false praises and cheers, worship.

They cover Jesus to uncover him.

Now, to Jesus crucifixion, Jesus’ death,

21 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.22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 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, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!”31 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! 32 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.

Questions from others have now become exclamations: strong, forceful, sure answers. They, the soldiers, the teachers of the law, passerbys and chief priests mock Jesus deeply, as ‘this Messiah.’ Mocking here only serves to please each in the crowd, which is usually themselves.

Will no one love, pity, empathise this dying man? –

The Death of Jesus

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Burial of Jesus42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.’

Joseph, Mary- Joseph’s mother- and Maru Magdalene, love Jesus. He, Joesph, takes Jesus’ body down, cleanses and clothes it in linen clothe, with tears. He carries our Lord’s body to the cave tomb.

Jesus as a baby was born in a manger he was wrapped in swaddling clothes. In death his birth is mirrored back to us. Why?

So we can feel how much Jesus feels is. His first and last moments are human, intensely human. Full of passion: emotions.

Jesus loved his earthly life. He always shall as he loves us fully, completely. His life,

true, true death.

One Response to “questioning Jesus, Mark 15, his death”

  1. Posewalt@gmail.com September 18, 2020 at 6:32 pm #

    autistic Jesus

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