Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb (Mark 15:46).

Joseph negotiated for Jesus’ body and hastily completed the first step of burial preparation. On Saturday they waited, likely convinced that the way of the cross was the end for Jesus. They didn’t know what the gathering light of the next day would bring: The way of the cross is the way of light. The light is gathering still. We walk, we wait and we believe.

“Behold the man. Behold your King.” (John 19:5,14).

Pilate didn’t know what to do with Jesus. He wouldn’t answer the chief priest’s accusations or Pilate’s questions. Regardless, the Governor concluded, “I find no guilt in Him.” The religious leaders threatened to complain to Caeser. That was enough for the vacillating Roman. Pilate condemned Jesus to satisfy the multitude. Peter later told the Pentecost crowd, “Know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). The words were the Jewish people and for Pilate. They are also for us.  

“His disciples prepared the Passover and when it was evening, He came with His disciples to the place they had prepared” (Mark 14:12-17).

Jesus’ last supper with His disciples was Passover, the highpoint of the Jewish calendar. The population of Jerusalem swelled with thousands of pilgrims. The people remembered being sojourners as they left the slavery of Egypt for the promised land. We are sojourners still. His body and blood free us from bondage to sin and death. And on this night and at every Eucharistic celebration He reminds us: “Remember Me.” 

“Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, ‘All that [the scribes and the Pharisees] tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.” (Matthew 23:1,2 Mark 12:38-44).

During Holy Week Jesus became increasingly critical of the religious leaders. We are hard on the Pharisees, until we can see ourselves in them. Do we make it easier to see Jesus “O Magnify the Lord with Me” (Psalm 34:3) or do obscure the view of others? Jesus is speaking to us. Miserere Domine. Have mercy Lord.   

And when one of the scribes… asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” (Mark 12:28-31).

Holy week was a running honor/shame challenge for Jesus where the religious leaders tried (unsuccessfully) to catch Jesus in His words. This Torah-specialist asked an almost unanswerable question. But Jesus answered: Love God with all your all. Love others as yourself. We love God through our devotion to Him, yet we face many distractions. We love others who are sometimes hard to even like. But such is the via crucis, the way of the cross. And He bids us follow. 

“Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves” (Mark 11:15-17).

According to Mark’s gospel, this was Monday, the kickoff of Jesus’ Holy Week. He disrupted the temple business and status quo. The religious leaders were furious. We can also create barriers that prevent others from approaching God. Jesus turned over the money changers' tables. Let us turn and repent, lest He overturn ours.

"And the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom" (Mark 15:38).

The Holy of Holies was where God’s presence dwelt. The veil separated it from the rest of the Temple. Now it was torn. His presence was no longer there. It was a half mile away, on a cross, at Golgotha. “Surely this Man was the Son of God” the Roman centurion proclaimed. The Glory of the Lord was made manifest in the cross and now, through the witness of His people. “Come magnify the Lord together! Make Him easier to see!  (Psalm 34:3). 

“At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33,34).

In His hour of greatest grief, struggling as fully man with the agony of abandonment by His family, friends and Father, Jesus spoke the words of God. He was trained over His lifetime to return in such times to Truth, to the Scriptures, to the Word of God. Such discipline takes practice. We will all have such moments. May we practice abiding in Him and in His truth today. 

Those passing by were saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself by coming down from the cross!” (Mark 15:29).

Those insulting Jesus on the cross remembered He had compared Himself to Temple where God was said to dwell. The last place they would have expected Yahweh to be found was on a cross of shame. And yet that is exactly where we find His radiance, glory and nature (Hebrews 1:2). We bear the image of God through the Holy Spirit. Let us glorify Him with our lives

The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Mark 15:25).

The sign on the cross was written in the language of political power (Latin), of business (Greek) and of religion (Hebrew, John 19:20).

For the Romans, the sign was a political warning to those who would challenge the empire. To the business community it was a reassurance of the status quo. To the religious it was a satirical reminder that they weren’t in charge. To those who followed Jesus as Messiah the sign spelled disappointment. In which language do we read the message on the cross?

“And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide who should take what” (Mark 15:24, Psalm 22:18).

The soldiers divided Jesus' mantle then gambled for His tunic, since it was valuable, seamlessly woven in one piece (John 19:23).

His followers and family were denied His possessions, thoughtlessly divided between the soldiers. But the risen Lord gave them a greater possession as the Holy Spirit like fire divided and descended on them  and empowered us to care for each other by dividing what we have been given and sharing in love. (Acts 2:3,4,45) 

“And they tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it” (Mark 15:33).

Whether this was medicinal or another aspect of torture Jesus refused this bitter drink. His physical suffering was incalculable. But He also suffered shame and humiliation in a culture where honor was supremely valued. He died for our sins but also for our shame, as we continually fail to reflect His character: compassionate, gracious, loving, faithful (Exodus 34:6). On Calvary, Jesus likely thought of this Psalm “Reproach/shame has broken my heart” (69:20). In Lent, we are challenged to remember. 

Mark 15:21- They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.

Mark 8:34- If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Simon carried a cross he didn’t ask for, on a path he didn’t choose in a job that left him dirty. But Scripture hints that Simon’s encounter changed him and changed his family too. Simon followed Jesus with an unwanted and unasked for cross. Jesus will call us at times to do the same.  

“If they do these things in the green tree what will happen in the dry?” (Luke 23:27-31).

Jesus addressed a crowd of women as He made His way to Golgotha. “Stop weeping for Me. Weep for yourselves and your children.” The devastating destruction of Jerusalem was a mere 40 years in the future. The city was burned to the ground. Its citizens were slaughtered. As if He were speaking to a dying tree, Jesus warned the crowd of the fires ahead. Today if the trees would listen, we would tell them, “Remember your roots. Turn your leaves towards the Son.”

Judas felt remorse… “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:3,4). Peter remembered how Jesus had said he would deny Him before a rooster crowed… and throwing himself down, he began to cry (Mark 14:72).

Other things were happening as Jesus suffered. Judas’ motives are unclear. Maybe it was just money. But it was more than he could endure. Peter was chastised but left with a redeemed attitude: “Humble yourself before the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you.” May we humbly cast our cares and the weight of our failings on Him who cares for us.

“Wishing to satisfy the multitude… Pilate delivered Jesus over to be crucified” (Mark 15:15).

The religious leaders wanted Jesus killed but couldn’t be seen as being responsible. They accused Jesus of threatening the peace and the collection of taxes. Pilate recognized their scheming but also knew the danger of the crowds in Jerusalem. He did not believe Jesus was guilty and had other options like imprisonment. But he turned Jesus over for crucifixion. The way of the cross began for Jesus as the victim of a hasty, cruel decision. In following the Savior, we may find it so for us.

The high priest was questioning Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see ‘The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of The Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Mark 14:61,62).

Jesus boldly asserted who He was to the religious leaders. Before Pilate He deftly admitted His kingship. He spoke truth to power and with His example we can consider what our response would be. Perhaps we should start with something simple: “We follow Jesus.” May our lives reflect that truth. 

“As Peter was in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls came and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But Peter denied it…” Mark 14:66-68.

Peter was afraid, perhaps less of physical harm than of shame and ridicule, disdain and disrespect, of being seen as on the losing side. We too are silent in shame when we should speak of Jesus and on behalf of others. May we know the grace of the rooster’s crow, reminding us we are not yet all that we should be. 

So, the soldiers dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to greet Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they kept beating His head with a reed and spitting on Him (Mark 15:16-19).

They had already flogged Jesus nearly to death. Unsatisfied with the torture, they unveiled the cruelty of humiliation and shame. Moses could not see God’s face and live. But this bruised and bloody face, stained with the spit of His tormentors is the face of God. With Moses, let us bow down before Him. 

Early in the morning the whole Sanhedrin immediately held council, and binding Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. And Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:1,2).

This was Pilate’s one concern: Did Jesus' claim to kingship threaten the fragile civil-political order of the troubled Judean province, especially during Passover. The Roman ruler was unconvinced. So apparently were those who clamored for His death. The crowds are clamoring still. The question of His kingship remains. Pilate failed to see Him as king. Would those in the crowd see that we are any different?