August 23, 2026

Jesus Crucified #

Mark 15:16-20

Introduction

Jesus was in deep spiritual battle in the garden in prayer, while the disciples slept. It was late in the night. We covered the betrayal of Judas, as well as Peter’s curiosity and concern following Jesus to the mock trial the Jewish religious leaders held for Jesus late into the night, probably early into the morning. - In addition to the exhaustion from the spiritual battle Jesus had been in the garden, he had not slept all night, and went before Pilate first thing in the morning, only to be sentenced to death. There would be no sleep from this point on. We will pickup where we left off, Jesus has been turned over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

I. Disgracing of the Lord #

• There were at least 4 groups of mocking jeering people at Jesus crucifixion!

A. Soldiers (Mark 15:16-26) #

• The Roman soldiers hated the jewish people… imagine that.

  • God’s chosen people have been despised and hated in the world for a long time.
  • The Jewish people were established by God, and God gave them their land… I preached on the a biblical perspective on Israel at the end of May. God is NOT done with the nation of Israel, and the church does not replace Israel.

i. Assembled the whole band (vs 16b) #

• • These were especially cruel!

ii. Mocked his royalty (Mark 15:17-19) #

• • This kind of cruelty goes beyond human understanding… this is evil, and demonic
  • I have been to touristic places of torture… I never like them. There is a sense of pure demonic evil in those places.
  • The purple cloth, represented royalty, it was pure mockery, the crown of thorns, mockery
  • vrs 19 – bowing their knee and worshipping, was again mockery!

Philippians 2:9–11 —9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• • Some day… they will bow the knee, but not in mockery.

iii. These soldiers mocked, and disgraced our precious Saviour Jesus. #

B. Spectators (Mark 15:29-30) #

i. Jesus was crucified out side of Jerusalem. #

• In modern Jerusalem, there is some debate about exactly where Jesus was crucified.
• Religious organizations have created tourism about the crucifixion site of Jesus.

Hebrews 13:11–12 —11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

• • Outside of Jerusalem, there is a place that resembles a skull, likely the place.

ii. Many people coming and going to Jerusalem would have witnessed the spectacle of crucifixion, it was intended to be a public humiliation. #

C. Sanhedrin (Mark 15:31) #

• These religious leaders who were responsible for his death, no one is surprised they would be mocking him!

D. Sentenced (Mark 15:27-28, 32) #

i. Prophetic fulfillment #

Isaiah 53:12 — Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

• Imagine hanging on the cross, and these are the words Jesus said:

• • Jesus hung on the cross, as a common, murdering, thieving criminal!

ii. One of them mocked Jesus! #

Matt 27:44 — The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

• • Perhaps they both mocked Jesus… until one repented, and believed.

II. Darkness of the Land (Mark 15:33-36) #

• Sometimes Bible times can be difficult to understand. They didn’t have digital watches, they didn’t even have analogue watches, they had a sun dial… and minutes were difficult to measure, but hours were measurable.

A. Explanation of time #

i. Roman day started at 6am. #

Mark 15:25 — And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

• • 6+3=9am Jesus was crucified (he had been up all night).

ii. Midday (Mark 15:33) #

• • Darkness started at noon

B. Sovereign darkness #

• Some ignorantly say, ‘solar eclipse’ – impossible.

i. Passover = full moon #

• • Jewish months were based on the lunar times (28 days in a month)
  • Passover always happened on a full moon, impossible for a solar eclipse to happen.

ii. Time #

• • The longest recorded solar eclipse ever, lasted a little over 7 minutes

C. Spiritual darkness #

• It is undeniable, there is a spiritual implication of the darkness that occurred!

Isaiah 60:1–3 —1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

• Jesus took our sins upon himself!

i. Misunderstanding (34-36) #

• Many still don’t understand Jesus death… why did He die?

III. Death of the Lord #

A. Surrendered (37) #

• “gave up the ghost” – no one took his life, he willingly “gave up the ghost”

B. Sovereign Declaration (38-39) #

i. Veil’s representation #

Exodus 26:31–33 —31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: 32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

Exodus 26:33b – “and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.”

• • Vail represented the very presence of God in Israel!

ii. Veil’s ripping (top to bottom) #

• • The ripping of the vail, represented the end of God’s presence with Israel!

C. Silent Spectators (40-41) #

• What could they say, what could they do…
• They simply watched in utter horror, confusion, and dismay, as all these events unfolded

D. Sepulcher (43-47) #

• There was urgency to bury the LORD, because of the Passover was at hand, they had to prepare, afterwards, Saturday, presented yet another sabbath day.. it would be three days before they could get to the sepulcher.

• Jesus paid a serious price for our sin, and so many christians today take sin so lightly. They take for granted their christian life, they complain about the christian life being too hard… When you examine what Jesus did for you… all our complaints, are worthless!