It was mentioned in last week’s article (158) that the author of the Book of Mark was not a writer. Mark’s encounter with Jesus impacted his life in such a way that he felt compelled to write an account of his experiences of Jesus for the benefit of others. As Mark’s target audience was non-Jews, his account of Jesus and His public ministry was succinct, jargon-free, simple vocabulary.

Through Mark’s selective reporting we have noted that the people were amazed at Jesus’ teaching, “…for He taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law” (Mk.1:21-22). Through the exercise of Jesus’ authority, the Scriptures were brought to life and the common people were able to “see” like never before that Jesus was/is their prophesied Messiah, the Son of God!

The second essential element of the Good News about Jesus is His Crucifixion. Mark’s careful reporting helps us to investigate the question…What does Jesus’ Crucifixion mean?

Side Note: For two millenniums the “symbol” of the cross has been commonly worn by men and women as an item of jewellery. Also, the cross is a “symbol” that is commonly associated with burial sites in all Christian cultures.

Today’s Good News reporting unveils the mystery of the cross (Jesus’ crucifixion). A close examination of the facts presented by Mark reveals that the cross of Jesus is the central fact of our faith. Without the cross, we have no faith!

Three significant things occurred during the six hours in which Jesus was on the cross. What were they? And, what do they mean? (Bear in mind that Jesus was crucified at 9am.)

1. The DARKNESS: Mark reported… “At noon, the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours.”  Mark wanted his audience to understand that this was not a normal occurrence, but in fact, a supernatural event of great significance. There is no room for speculation that the darkness was caused by an eclipse as Jesus was crucified during the Jewish Passover Festival that was celebrated annually, coinciding with a full moon. An eclipse was not possible at that time (15:33). Darkness symbolises evil and Jesus represented our evil!

2. The CRY: Some people feel that Jesus’ cry, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” was an indication of some loss of faith by Him in His heavenly Father. But we must face the reality of this cry – that at least to some extent God had forsaken Jesus on the cross. Jesus, mankind’s sin-bearer, felt abandoned by His Father (15:34). 

Friends, sin is more than doing, saying, or thinking wrong things. Sin is an attitude of rebellion against God whereby we ignore His right to rule over every part of our lives. We each have gone our own separate ways, living our lives to please ourselves … doing what “I” think is right. The Bible says that although God is love, He is also a God of justice who must punish all sin. One prophet in the Bible describes God in this way: “Your eyes are too holy to look at evil, and You cannot stand the sight of people doing wrong” (Hab. 1:13). Yes, the Father had to look away from His “sin-bearing” Son.

When Jesus chose to accept our punishment on the cross, God took the sins of people in every age; past, present, and future, and placed them on His Son. You could say that on the cross, Jesus – who was one with God and thus pure and holy – became the most sinful man the world had ever known. Man’s sinfulness, born by Jesus on the cross, in fact separated Him from His Holy Father; hence the appropriateness of the cry, “My God, my God, why did You abandon me?”

Because of Jesus, and what He accomplished for us on the cross, the Good News is this; there is now no separation between God the Father and those who trust their lives in Jesus (1 Pet. 2:24). Jesus’ death on the cross became man’s bridge to God (forgiveness, acceptance, adoption, and eternal life).

3. The CURTAIN: Mark then reported a strange occurrence in the Temple concerning the curtain (15:38). The layout of the Jewish Temple was detailed precisely according to God’s design. It was the place where the Jews offered sacrifices to God annually for the remission of their sins. A curtain separated the “Holy of Holies” (God’s presence) from the Holy Place, from where the High Priest would offer sacrifice to God on behalf of the sins of the people. The curtain symbolised our spiritual separation from God. Mark reported that when Jesus “breathed His last” …“The curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (15:38). Note: The curtain was 150mm thick and 10 meters tall! Any guesses as to who tore the curtain, from top to bottom?  

Friends, from this we understand that when Jesus died on the cross, God was satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son as the full and final payment for our debt of sin, and He removed the barrier that had previously separated us from Him. Through the cross, Jesus opened the way for us to come to the Father. Now, that is what I call “Ground-breaking News” that is worth reporting!

(Next week, Part 3. “The Good News:His Resurrection”.)

Bill