Mark 15:21 – 26

²¹ A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. ²² They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). ²³ Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. ²⁵ It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶ The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

This is a heart breaking, gut wrenching passage.  So many images of Jesus being forced to endure degradation and pain.

Why?  Why would he do it?

The Roman authorities had it right when they called him the “King of the Jews”.  They believed they were quoting a man who was deluded – but in fact they were correct.

In the Old Testament, we see God’s people living under the rule of many Kings.  Some Kings were bad – Ahab, some not so bad – David.  All Kings, as they rule, change people’s lives.  Bad kings hurt people and good kings help their people live well.

King Jesus did more than help people live well.  In dying on the cross, he did what no other king had done.  He took on all of the bad, evil things in the world in our place, so that we can not only live well – we can live complete, joyous transformed lives for eternity.  He was the King that endured all of the bad so that we could live in everything that is good.

So why did he do it?  Because he is a King that deeply and completely loves his people. 

As we look towards Easter – where do you stand?  Are you trying to deal with the things of this world on your own or are you resting in King Jesus who has dealt with evil on your behalf, and you are released to live with joy, serving him?

Andrea Pryde, Creek Road