Through Death to Life

Mark 15:33-37

IN THIS lesson we find Jesus hanging on the cross and dying, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. He became the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world—a wonderful Savior! (I John 2:2) And then we find him raised from the dead in order that he might become our Advocate and the world’s Mediator and King. Thus in the Master’s experience is demonstrated the truthfulness of his statement to Peter and the disciples that he who loses his life in sacrifice shall save it.—Matt. 16:24,25

Paul speaks of the great “contradiction of sinners” which was heaped upon Jesus, and how clearly this contradiction was evident at the time of his crucifixion. (Heb. 12:3) He was called upon to come down from the cross and thus to prove his claim of being the Son of God. “He saved others,” some shouted, “himself he cannot save.” (Matt. 27:42) How little did they realize that by his refusal to save himself he was providing salvation for them and for all mankind!

Jesus’ outcry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” might seem to indicate that for the moment his faith in the Heavenly Father’s care faltered; but not so. Inasmuch as he was taking the sinner’s place in death, it was necessary for the Father to hide his face from him for a moment. Jesus recognized what had taken place and in the experience identified the fulfillment of a prophecy. This prophecy was in the nature of a prayer, and Jesus quoted from it in the expression, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”—Psalm 22:1

This entire Psalm is in reality a prayer, and in it mention is made of the piercing of Jesus’ hands and feet, casting lots for his garment, and the derision of the people who watched him die. We think it not unreasonable to suppose that Jesus may well have given expression, at least in his heart, to this entire prayer while he hung on the cross. The fact that he could see the fulfillment of many of its details taking place before him would certainly strengthen his faith in the victorious outcome of his distressing experience.

Some who stood by the cross when Jesus raised his voice in this prophetic prayer, announced that he had called for Elias. This seems to be a case of falsification, a further heaping of ridicule upon the Master, for if he called Elias and Elias did not come to his aid it would help to prove the case they had trumped up against him; namely, that he was an impostor.

Just why the name Elias was introduced in this connection is not clear. Perhaps it was based upon a superstition which may have been held by some of Jesus’ enemies. Certainly the Master had never called upon anyone for help except his Heavenly Father. Besides, he knew that Elias was dead and could not help him in any case.

Jesus “gave up the ghost,” Mark tells us. Luke’s account informs us that the Master said to his Father, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) This does not mean that he relinquished his hold upon an immortal soul which flew away to God when his body died. The words “ghost” and “spirit” are both translations of a Greek word which means air or breath, the breath of life. It is often translated life, so Jesus’ expression simply means that he gave up his life, that he died, and that in death he depended upon his Heavenly Father to restore his life. He had offered his human life to God in sacrifice, and now that the sacrifice was about completed he was leaving himself entirely in the hands of his God as to what the future might bring.

Mark 16:1-7

THE story of Jesus’ resurrection, and of the women who went to the tomb early in the morning of that memorable “first day” of the week is as precious to us as it is familiar. Like many another story of the Bible we never tire of reading it, and this is especially true of the resurrection story because it is so vitally associated with our hope of salvation.

But one of the essential parts of this wonderful story is often overlooked; namely, the instruction of the angel to the women that they should go and “tell his disciples and Peter.” In our ecstasy over the glorious fact of the resurrection, and our joy in what it means to us, we may not realize as fully as we should that we too are commissioned to go and tell this wondrous story to others. Today we may feel that everybody knows the story of Jesus’ resurrection, and that there is no point now in reporting it. This is quite true so far as the simple story is concerned, but the world now is almost as unacquainted with the real significance of Jesus’ resurrection as were the public of that day; so there. is still a message to be told—the message of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and in keeping with the plan of God of which he is the center.

It is interesting to note that in commissioning the women to report the resurrection of Jesus to his disciples, the angel mentions Peter especially—“and Peter.” We think there was a special purpose in this, that it was a part of his training for his future service as an apostle, when he would be used to “strengthen the brethren” in connection with their experiences of suffering as they walked in the footsteps of the Master.—Luke 22:32

Peter, it will be recalled, opposed the idea of Jesus going to Jerusalem where his enemies were plotting his death. “Be it far from thee,” he advised Jesus. (Matt. 17:22) It was in reply to this that Jesus had said to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: … thou savorest not the things that be of God.” (Matt. 17:23) It was in this connection that Jesus had outlined the philosophy of sacrifice, explaining that one who loses his life voluntarily in doing God’s will shall save it.

It is doubtful if Peter understood this very well at the time, so he continued to oppose the course the Master was taking. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Peter drew his sword in an attempt to prevent the Master’s arrest, and thus to save him from death. (Matt. 26:51) He was instructed to put up his sword, and Jesus healed the wound he had inflicted on the servant of the high priest.

But now there was a good opportunity to help him see that his viewpoint was wrong. “Tell Peter,” that is, tell him that Jesus, although he yielded up his life in sacrifice, has saved his life, that he is now alive, having been raised from the dead. We cannot but think that when Peter heard the news of the resurrection he must have pondered over the things which were said both by himself and by the Master during those last trying days before the crucifixion.

We know, of course, that none of the apostles fully understood the significance of what was taking place until Pentecost, when the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit came upon them. But they were being trained for service, and all their experiences helped to enrich their understanding and appreciation of the way of truth.

And Peter, more than any of the others, seems to have grasped clearly the doctrine of Christian suffering. Much of his first epistle is devoted to this subject. He explains that it had been foretold by the prophets, and that just as Jesus suffered and died the just for the unjust, it is our privilege to follow his example. Peter could not understand why Jesus, who had done no wrong, violated no laws, and had spent his entire time doing good, should be arrested and put to death, hence his remonstration, “Be it far from thee, Lord.”

But now he understood. “It is better,” he wrote, “if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing.” (I Pet. 3:17) How his viewpoint had changed! And may we not reasonably suppose that the message of the resurrection, conveyed especially to him, helped considerably in preparing him for a full understanding of this better way, the way of love represented in sacrifice on behalf of others.

QUESTIONS

Did Jesus lose faith in his Heavenly Father while he was dying on the cross?

Why did some say that Jesus called for Elias?

What is meant by Jesus giving up the “ghost”?

What important item in the story of Jesus’ resurrection is often overlooked?

What may have been one reason the women who went to the tomb were commissioned especially to tell Peter that Jesus had been raised from the dead?

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