Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 4:20 "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20"
Day 329 – Mark 15
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
THE SCENE AT GOLGOTHA
Who were the people who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus? We may number the following:-
1. The soldiers
They were mentioned. To them, this crucifixion was nothing extraordinary. They had crucified criminals before. This would not be the last time they were on crucifixion duty. There would be others.
2. The mortified disciples
To those who knew and loved Jesus, the crucifixion must have been the most painful of experiences. Each blow of the hammer to fasten the nails onto the hands and feet of Jesus must have been painfully felt! They were there at Golgotha, at least, some of the women disciples.
3. The passers-by
These must not have known a lot about Jesus. But that did not stop them from passing remarks about Him.
“And those who passed by blasphemed Him,
Wagging their heads and saying,
‘Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,
save Yourself, and come down from the cross!'”
MARK 15:29-30
4. The chief priests and scribes
Of course they would be there. They would not miss being there for anything.
“Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves
with the scribes, said, ‘He saved others, Himself He cannot save.
Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross,
that we may see and believe.'”
MARK 15:31-32A
5. The robbers who were crucified with Jesus
Somehow, they too were incensed against Jesus, for some reason.
“Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.”
MARK 15:32:B
THE SILENCE OF JESUS
Once again, we are struck by the dignified silence of Jesus. He could have blazed with anger at the blasphemous remarks hurled at Him. He could have uttered an imprecatory against His tormentors. No one would blame Him if He reacted as any normal human being might have.
But Jesus was the Son of Man! He had come to seek and to save that which was lost, even if He had to lay down His life for the very people who mocked Him!