What does “numbered” mean?
(Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 22:18; Daniel 9:24-27)
Blog Sep. 15-21, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
REVIEW: As Mark brings the story of Jesus to a close, he emphasizes the weight of our sins that were placed on Jesus the night of his betrayal and the suffering that Jesus bore as our Substitute. His own disciples were slow to understand the meaning of these events, and the religious leaders were intent on brining Jesus to death.
At Pilate’s Judgment Seat
1. After the Jewish council determined that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy in claiming to be the Son of God, where did they take Jesus? They took Jesus bound to Pilates judgment seat (Mark 15:1).
2. What must the Jews have accused Jesus of before Pilate? Before Pilate the Jews must have accused Jesus of claiming to be king. This would have been considered as rebellion against Rome (Mark 15:2-3; John 19:12).
3. According to Mark what attempt did Pilate make to release Jesus? As an annual favor Pilate offered to release Jesus to the people, but the chief priests moved the people to ask for the murderer Barabbas to be released instead (Mark 15:6-11).
4. When Pilate asked what he should do with the King of the Jews, for what did the people cry? The people cried “Crucify him” & after scourging him, Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified (Mark 15:12-15).
5. How did the Roman soldiers choose to mock Jesus in the Praetorium? They picked up the theme of the day that Jesus was the King of the Jews & pretended to approach Jesus as a king while crowning him with thorns & using “his royal scepter” to beat him on the head (Mark 15:16-20).
6. How was Jesus’ treatment on Passover Friday a fulfillment of what God said would happen to those who disobeyed his covenant? The curses of the covenant include that the heavens would turn black, the heathen would rule over, one would thirst, and thorns would grow (Mark 15:17-20, 29-34; Gen. 3:18; Deut. 28:16, 20, 29, 37, 43, 48-50).
7. What ideas are included in the title “King of the Jews”? “King” denotes rightful ruler, sovereign potentate, & federal representative. So it was that Jesus represented all God’s people, bringing perfect fulfillment as their Representative to what God demanded of his people in Daniel 9:24 (Mark 15:2, 9, 12, 18, 26; Dan. 9:24-27).
On Golgotha
8. Why did Jesus not drink the wine mingled with myrrh? Because any form of intoxication would hinder his ability to think clearly & resist temptation (Mark 15:23; Prov. 20:1; 23:29-30; 31:4-5).
9. What time was it when Jesus was crucified? Jesus was crucified at 9 AM, so the final events were rapid ones, just as they will be in earth’s final crisis (Mark 15:25; Rom. 9:28).
10. What prophecy was fulfilled by the soldiers at the foot of the cross? The soldiers cast lots to divided up Jesus’ clothes for themselves just as predicted in Psalm 22 (Mark 15:24; Psa. 22:18).
11. What is meant by the phrase: “he was numbered with the transgressors”? That phrase tells us that Jesus was reckoned to be a transgressor when he was not, just as we can be reckoned to be righteous when we are not (Mark 15:24; Isa. 53:12; Rom. 4:4-17).
12. Could Jesus have saved himself by coming down from the cross? Yes, he could have saved himself from the agony of the cross but then he could have saved no human being (Mark 15:30-31; Matt. 26:53).
13. When did darkness cover Jesus on the cross? From noon until 3 PM when Jesus died, darkness covered the land (Mark 15:33).
14. Why had God forsaken his beloved Son? Because Jesus bore our sins he must suffer the rejection of God, even hell itself for every human (Mark 15:34; 1 Pet. 2:24).
15. What did Jesus give up when he died? When Jesus died his spirit (ghost) returned to God who gave it. That is not his soul, for a human soul is the whole person: breath (spirit) & body (Mark 15:37; Eccl. 3:21; 12:7).
16. Why was the vail of the temple in Jerusalem rent in twain? This was a sign from heaven that the Jewish temple & its services were never to have future significance for God’s people. In Daniel God foretold this event (Mark 15:38; Dan. 9:27).
To Joseph’s Tomb
17. What proof does Mark give that Jesus actually died? Besides mentioning that Jesus “gave up the ghost,” Mark tells how when Joseph of Arimathaea asked Pilate for the body, Pilate first inquired of the centurion who confirmed Jesus’ death. The Jewish leaders & Jesus’ followers also confirmed that Jesus had died (Mark 15:39-47).
18. How did the centurion at the cross confirm Mark’s opening statement in the book? The centurion said: Truly this man was the Son of God.”(Mark 1:1; 15:39).