Mark 15:33-38, The Sufficiency of the Cross (1)

Continuing in Mark 15, we note these events while Jesus was on the cross:

·       15:33-34: forsaken.  In this case He was not forsaken by His friends and followers of course but by His God.  We need to remember that this is not Jesus angry at His Father because of all the physical pain.  This is not like so many who doubt the love of God because He has allowed some grievous trial into their lives.  For one thing, Jesus is quoting Ps. 22:1, the beginning of the OT description of His death on the cross.  If you read the entire Psalm, which most understand was written by David under the direction of the Holy Spirit because David could not have been writing just about his own personal experience, you will see that at the end of 22:21 the subject of the suffering knows there will be an answer of hope from His God.  The Messiah is not so much looking for an answer to the “why” but is acknowledging that there is a “why.”  He is truly forsaken, the Son of God by the Father.  This is all within the bonds of the Godhead.  It indicates there is something of major and unique proportions that has happened to bring this about.  Never before had this happened, nor will it ever happen again.  It is only here, as Jesus is numbered with the transgressors, as He bears our sins, as He satisfies the wrath of God.  We will never understand this if we have a too-shallow view of our sin and guilt.

·       15:35-36: misunderstood.  This pales in significance compared to the forsaking.  Someone hears “Eloi, Eloi” and thinks he has heard a call for “Elias.”  In the order of the words of Christ from the cross, the cry to “Eloi” must have been followed soon after by “I thirst” (Jn. 19:28; cf. Ps. 69:21), because the one who hears “Elias” goes to get the wet sponge.  As we have noted previously, Jesus at the beginning rejected the wine with myrrh because He wanted to bear the fullness of our punishment.  So “My God” leads to “I thirst” which leads to “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30) and “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Lk. 23:46).  Jesus did not need to correct the man who misheard because at this point the only relationship of concern is the one He has with His Father. 

·       15:38: torn in two from top to bottom.  The temple was much higher than the tabernacle was in the wilderness.  Thus the veil was quite high.  Like the one in the tabernacle it was quite thick, several layers of material.  You can read about the original earthly veil in Ex. 26:31-34.  The purpose was to separate men from God, to maintain His holiness by separation.  Behind the veil was the mercy seat, where God dwelt with men.  Only the priest could go there, only once a year, only with blood to sprinkle (Lev. 16:15-17; Heb. 9:7-9).  But upon the death of Christ this veil was torn in a way, from top to bottom, that made it clear: only God did this!  The veil was torn, thus indicating there was not something special in the relationship that men could have with God.  There was “access.”