CHURCH

LUTHERAN

Our Savior's of Elderon

6th Wed. Lent (16)                        INI                             Mark 15:31   

            Psalm 22:7-8;  7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
            Those words were written by King David a thousand years before Christ was born.  They were now coming true as Jesus, a descendant of David, hung on the cross outside Jerusalem. John tells us that the crucifixion took place on a hill called Golgotha, not far outside of Jerusalem.
            It was Passover time in Jerusalem, so just like our city streets at Christmas, the streets were filled with people. People were constantly entering the city and leaving the city and as they did they passed by Golgotha where 3 men hung on crosses. Above the head of the man in the center was a sign that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews.” In the verses before our text Mark says; Mark 15:29-30; “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!”
            They said things like, “King of the Jews, show us your power.” Or, “So this is the king of the Jews, the great prophet from Nazareth, the great miracle worker, hanging on a cross. Come down, show us your power.”
            Jesus didn’t turn out to be the kind of king they wanted.  They wanted an Alexander the Great, or in our way of thinking, a George Washington for the Jews. They wanted someone to free them from the rule of the Romans.  Jesus was not the kind of king they wanted.  This king was hanging on a cross and below him the Roman soldiers were gambling for his clothing.
            “If you’re the Christ, come down from the cross,” they said as they hurled insults at him.  “Prove to us that you deserve to be our deliverer-king.” Mark says that the Chief Priests Elders and Teachers of the Law joined in yelling; “He saved others but he can’t save himself.”
HE COULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF
            Was it true that Jesus couldn’t save himself?  After all, this same Jesus who hung on the cross was the same Jesus who had stilled the storm with his Word. He had healed the sick, raised the dead and more. Hanging on the cross was the same Jesus who with the response, “I am he,” caused the mob at Gethsemane to fall back.  Was it true that he saved others but couldn’t save himself?  Before being put on the cross Jesus said; “I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:17-18)
            The people said he couldn’t save himself. Was that true? With respect to his power, no it was not true. However, when it came to his purpose, the reason he let people do this too him, then yes, it was true.
            Jesus couldn’t save himself because if he did he wouldn’t be true to his heavenly Father.  At one time Jesus told his disciples that his food, the very matter on which he existed, was to do his Father’s will.  After he miraculously fed the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish the people wanted to make him their bread king. But Jesus said; “My food is to do the will of him who sent me.” (John 4:34)
            We humans have a tendency to try to craft God’s will into the mold of our own selfish will. But Jesus didn’t do that! Instead, he committed all things into the Father’s hands. He had come to do the Father’s will and if that meant drinking the cup of suffering, then his prayer would be, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”
            Jesus could not save himself and still be the Savior of the world.  He had come to do the Father’s will, redeem mankind.  God the Father said; “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 17:5) Jesus could not come down from the cross and save himself and still be true to the Father.
             Early in Jesus’ ministry a Pharisee came to visit him one night.  This Pharisee had lots of questions that he wanted answers to. And so Jesus gave him a review of some Old Testament history. He said; “14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[a] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3:14-15). That was the first strong hint about the cross.  Jesus would remind his disciples that he came to serve, not to be served. He came to give his life as a ransom for all. He testified that he’s the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep.
            Jesus could not come down from the cross and be true to himself and his words. So the one who with a touch of his healing hands or with words from his lips did so much good, is treated with so much evil.  The one who healed the man with the withered hand had to let his own hands be pierced. The one who healed the lame so he could walk had to let nails be driven through his feet. The one from whose body flowed great power let his body and soul be whacked with hellish pain.  He had to in order to accomplish his mission, to redeem mankind. He saved others, they mocked, but he can’t save himself.
            He could not save himself and still be true to Scripture. Throughout the Passion History we’ve read such phrases as; all this happened that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”
            Sometimes unbelievers ask Christians; “How do you know the Bible is the Word of God? How do you know that those are all God’s living Words that apply to all people of all times?” Sometimes the Christian will answer, “The Bible says it’s the Word of God.” The non-Christian will reply; “Well, I can write a book and say it’s the word of God.’  I like to respond this way; “I know this is the Word of God because of one factor, prophecy and fulfillment.”
            Things written centuries before Christ was born unfolded during his life, especially during Passover week.  After he left the Upper Room where he instituted the Lord’s Supper Jesus walked to Gethsemane with his disciples.  As they walked along he said; 31 “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd,  and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
            Jesus was quoting Zechariah who prophesied 5 centuries before Christ’s birth (Zech 13:7) It was foretold that the one who dipped the bread in the cup with him would lift up his heal against him, would betray him ((Psalm 41:9). Zechariah said that they would weigh out as the price for him, 30 pieces of silver (12:13) Seven centuries before Christ Isaiah pointed out that Christ would die with the wicked (Is. 53:9) Christ was crucified between two criminals. In Psalm 32 David foretold that they would pierce his hands and feet adding the detail that they would be gambling for his clothing. So you see, Jesus could not come down from the cross and still be true to Scripture.
            One thing that’s comforting about this is that it reminds us that when God promises to do something, he does it. No matter how long it takes, he will do it. Just as all those prophecies about our Lord were fulfilled so also all those promises he made about the future will be fulfilled.  Someday he will come in glory and power and everyone will see him, even those who crucified him. When he comes all who believed in him will be filled with joy. On the other hand, all who didn’t believe in him, all who shoved him out of their lives, will be shut out of the kingdom of heaven forever. Those who rejected him in impenitence and unbelief will be lost forever. All this will most certainly come true.
            And finally, Jesus could not come down from the cross and still be true to us.  One of the first words Christian parents teach their children is the name, “Jesus.” Before Jesus was born Joseph received an angelic vision. “…do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:20-21)
            The name “Jesus,” means “Jehovah saves.” He could not come down from the cross and still be our Savior.  And we need a Savior. The Bible says;           “We all, like sheep, have gone astray,    each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him    the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6)
            Jesus could not come down from the cross and still have Baptism mean what it does to us. In Baptism we are buried with Christ in his death and connected with him and his forgiveness. He could not come down from the cross and have his Holy Supper mean what it does to us, his body and blood, given and shed, for the forgiveness of sins.
            Jesus could not come down from the cross and be the name that gives comfort to the dying cancer patient. He could not come down from the cross and be the only name that gives the agonizing parent hope. He could not come down from the cross and be true to us. He did not come down from the cross. And because he didn’t we can sing
“Hold Thou thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Amen.