EXPLORE THE TEXT

Mocked (Mark 15:33-36)

Application Point:

People can be assured of how much Jesus loves them by the suffering He willingly endured on the cross.

33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
“Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?”
which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said,
“See, he’s calling for Elijah.”

36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine,
fixed it on a stick, offered him a drink, and said,
“Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

Key Word

Darkness

Mark referenced the darkness that occurred here as a supernatural phenomenon
that symbolized the temporary—and ultimately illusory—
victory of the forces of evil that accompanied Jesus’s crucifixion.
Attempts by scholars to explain the darkness (most likely restricted to a limited area around Jerusalem)
as something other than a supernatural occurrence fall short.

For example, Passover occurs during a full moon, making a solar eclipse impossible.
A dust storm or heavy rainclouds are also unlikely.
While God certainly controls all natural elements and could use any of them
in a unique or supernatural manner to achieve His purposes,
this darkness more likely signaled impending judgment,
not unlike the plague of darkness on Egypt (Ex. 10:21-22).
It is best to interpret this darkness as a supernatural event.

Introduce:

Jesus, having been arrested, unfairly tried, beaten, and mocked,
was condemned and crucified.
Jesus willingly endured severe suffering to pay the penalty for our sin.

Explain:

the first element was the darkness covering the whole land from noon to three in the afternoon. explain the supernatural significance of the darkness.

33) Noon:

After a night filled with trials and physical abuse, Jesus was hung on the cross around 9 a.m.
(see Mark 15:25).
After about three hours, the events recorded in verses 33-36 took place.
During those first three hours, the soldiers cast lots for His clothing,
placed a placard that mockingly proclaimed Him King of the Jews, and those around the cross shouted curses and insults at Him.
Even the chief priests and scribes were there, shouting and challenging Him to come down from the cross to prove that He was the Messiah (15:31-32).
These events completed the first half of Jesus’s time on the cross.

34) Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?

1. Jesus’s cries meant that He literally was abandoned or forsaken by God once He took on the sin of the world.
2. Others argue that it was common to cite the beginning of a passage without finishing it.
   This suggested that the rest of the passage logically followed and could be applied.
3. perhaps both are true.

35) Calling Elijah:

Passages such as Malachi 4:5-6 and Mark 6:14-15
demonstrate a clear expectation among first-century Jews
that Elijah would somehow return to help people in need.
The comment in verse 35 reflects the speculation that Jesus was calling for the ancient prophet’s help in His time of need.
As such, anyone who thought Jesus was calling to Elijah would have been Jewish since the Romans would have no interest in such things.
The religious leaders maintained a “wait and see” attitude (v. 36).

36) Sour wine:

In general, sour wine was used predominantly by Roman soldiers as a beverage,
but it also could have been used by the general public, regardless of ethnic or religious background.
It’s offer to Jesus fulfilled Psalm 69:21, where the writer spoke of the Messiah being given “gall” for food and “vinegar” to drink.

Ask:

• How does an understanding of Jesus’s suffering influence your appreciation of salvation? (PSG, p. 76)