Jesus’ Death

Mark 15:33-41

“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.  And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.” (Mark 15:33-36)

About noon there was a darkness, similar to a total eclipse, which lasted until about 3:00 o’clock.  This was not a solar eclipse, however, as total solar eclipses only last about seven minutes and this lasted three hours.   During the time he was on the cross, Jesusaccepted the guilt for all of mankinds.s sins as Isaiah 53:6 tells us.  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  As a result, for the first time ever There was a separation between him and the Father.  Isaiah 59:2 tells us, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”  Jesus cried out,” My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

The Pharisees had become so worried about taking the name of God in vain they would not write or say his name, and most Jews still will not today.  When they heard Jesus, the people assumed he meant Elijah.  Hearing him, one man put a sponge soaked with vinegar to his mouth, knowing it would accentuate his thirst and misery.  He said they would watch to see if Elijah came to the rescue. 

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” (Mark 15:37-38)

When they gave him the vinegar to drink Jesus knew the last prophecy about his crucifixion had been fulfilled, and released his spirit, as John 10:17-18 explains.  “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Hebrews 9:6-7 stresses that the veil portrayed that the the old testament law could never provide salvation.   When Jesus gave up his human life, the veil or curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was ripped in two, demonstrating that salvation was now available to all. 

“And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.”  (Mark 15:39)

After seeing  and hearing what Jesus said, the Roman centurion who conducted the crucifixion recognized he had to be the Messiah, even though the Jewish leaders and teachers, who were far more familiar with the scriptures did not.   Unfortunately, many people who can quote scriptures have no spiritual understanding of what they mean. 

“There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.” (Mark 15:40-41)

In the crowd watching the crucifixion were many of the women who had followed Jesus in Galilee and had accompanied him and the disciples to Jerusalem for the Passover.