“Numbered With Us” – MARK 15:16-28

How could they?

We would never mock God, would we?

And these soldiers were just so cavalier with the purple robe and crown of thorns (15:16-17). This is one of those scenes in scripture where we feel comfortable and self-assured that we would have acted differently.

But wait, can it not be said that each time I assert myself and my will over the will of Christ Jesus that I am mocking His sovereignty over me?

These soldiers beat Jesus with a cane and spit on Him (15:18-19) as they mockingly called Him a king.

It should humble us to understand that our sin inflicts the blows on His body and the humiliation on His person … we are numbered with those soldiers!

There were some who tried to ease the suffering of Jesus as the soldiers led Him to be crucified (15:20). Simon of Cyrene was forced to help Him (15:21). While this act was merciful, sharing the burden of Christ simply cannot be compelled! Others mercifully offered wine mixed with myrrh to numb His pain (15:23). Still this was simply what was to be done for all who were being crucified, and was not a merciful act for the Savior of mankind.

The mystery of the cross is revealed in the willingness of Jesus to die and the willing response of penitent hearts.

When the joy of willing service is replaced with “Christianity for show”, we are numbered with Simon, the compelled helper.

They took His clothes and divided them gleefully, taking all that He had (15:24). They nailed Jesus to a cross, sealing His fate (15:25). Above Jesus the charge against Him called Him “King of the Jews” (15:26). In what seemed to be a final humiliation, they placed Jesus between to thieves who were also being crucified (15:27). What they could not see was that He already emptied Himself of the glory of heaven to become a man to redeem mankind … the clothes they took from Him were nothing. The act of crucifixion did not take His life from Him, because Jesus willingly gave it…His death was God’s gift. The title they tried to mock Him with was the epitome of truth…God made it so, not the sign.

The majesty of the scene is not in the triumph of the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers over Jesus.

Instead, the majesty of the scene is that while we are numbered with those who nailed Him to the cross … in grace Jesus chose to be numbered with US!