The Soldiers and Jesus -Mark 15:16-21

Mark 15:16-21

The abuse of the soldiers on Jesus is way over the top: mocking, spitting, beating, taunting, crown of thorns, bowing and kneeling.

And this comes after they finished scourging Him. Shouldn't their savagery have ended at the scouring - such a vicious torture in itself? Why go on doing so much to Him? What's the point?

The numbers are ridiculous - 600 to 1. Six hundred soldiers, a "cohort" (v. 16) versus one man, Jesus.

The torture is ridiculous - read the passage or listen to the sermon - www.gracechurchministry.org, should be up March 3rd.

Until you realize God's purpose. Simon of Cyrene and his 2 sons - Alexander and Rufus (v. 21), were saved by the ridiculous.

Had not the soldiers "kept beating" and abusing Jesus, He would have gone to the cross earlier and Simon, a "passer-by" (v. 21) would not have carried His cross.

Mark's original readers knew both Alex and Rufus, probably in the church of Rome (Romans 16:13). Not all of them knew Simon, their Dad. They also knew the mother. No doubt, the Father became a Christian and led his family to the Lord.

God's sovereignty. Jesus is on the way out (v. 20), Simon on his way in. Simon is pressed into service, learns of Christ, believes. We now know why the reason for the "over-the-top" abuse of Christ by the 600 soldiers. It was from the Father. The abuse was from the Father, who was punishing the Son with the full depth of our depravity through the depraved soldiers. How great is our sin? How deep is our love of it as seen in the soldiers?

So if you ask Simon, "Simon, are you glad the soldiers did what they did to Jesus, what would he answer? Let me know.

Off to Shepherds Conference this week, then some R and R in Phoenix, with the golf clubs. Back March 12.

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10)