Good morning! How are we faithing? Last night as I lay down to sleep I was thinking about our Lord and what he went through before the cross. I was thinking about the scourging he endured. As my minds eye watched I was at that almost asleep place and I saw him and I jerked awake shaking my head. Historical documents tell of scourging and crucifixion and man, I can imagine and it's awful to say the least. How he even survived long enough to carry the cross or part of it or whatever wood he actually carried is baffling. The amount of blood loss from scourging, the crown of thorns on his head. Man, I get worn out cutting weeds. What is even more amazing is he went to hell to overcome death and release captives, now that's amazing. Sometimes I think it is a good exercise for us to think, revisit our saviors sacrifice for us.

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

Mar 15:1  And immediately in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 

Mar 15:2  And Pilate asked Him, Are you the king of the Jews? And answering He said to him, You say it. 

Mar 15:3  And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 

Mar 15:4  And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Do you answer nothing? Behold how many things they witness against you! 

Mar 15:5  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. 

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

Mar 15:6  And at that feast he released to them one prisoner, whomever they desired. 

Mar 15:7  And there was one named Barabbas, bound with the insurgents, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 

Mar 15:8  And the crowd, crying aloud, began to beg him to do as he had always done to them. 

Mar 15:9  But Pilate answered them, saying, Do you desire that I release to you the King of the Jews? 

Mar 15:10  For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him because of envy. 

Mar 15:11  But the chief priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 

Mar 15:12  And Pilate answered and said again to them, What then do you desire that I should do to him whom you call the King of the Jews? 

Mar 15:13  And they cried out again, Crucify him! 

Mar 15:14  Then Pilate said to them, Why? What evil has he done? And they much more cried out, Crucify him! 

Mar 15:15  And deciding to do the easiest to the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Him, delivered up Jesus to be crucified. 

Jesus Is Mocked

Mar 15:16  And the soldiers led Him away inside the court, which is the praetorium. And they called together all the cohort. 

Mar 15:17  And they clothed Him with purple and plaited a crown of thorns and put it around His head. 

Mar 15:18  And they began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews! 

Mar 15:19  And they struck Him on the head with a reed, and spat on Him, and placing the knees, they bowed to Him. 

Mar 15:20  And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him and put His own clothes on Him and led Him out to crucify Him. 

The Crucifixion

Mar 15:21  And they made one who was passing by, Simon a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross. 

Mar 15:22  And they brought Him to Golgotha Place (which translated is, Place of a Skull). 

Mar 15:23  And they gave Him wine mixed with myrrh to drink. But He did not take it. 

Mar 15:24  And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots on them, as, to what each should take. 

Mar 15:25  And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 

Mar 15:26  And the inscription of His accusation was written over Him, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

Mar 15:27  And with Him they crucified two thieves, the one off the right, and one off the left. 

Mar 15:28  And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, "And he was numbered with the lawless." 

Mar 15:29  And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, Aha! You razing the temple and building it in three days, 

Mar 15:30  save yourself and come down from the cross! 

Mar 15:31  And also the chief priests mocking, with the scribes, said to one another, He saved others but he cannot save himself. 

Mar 15:32  Let Christ the King of Israel now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe. And they who were crucified with Him insulted Him. 

The Death of Jesus

Mar 15:33  And it being the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 

Mar 15:34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (which being translated is, My God, My God, why did You forsake Me?) 

Mar 15:35  And hearing, some of those standing by said, Behold, he calls Elijah. 

Mar 15:36  And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But they said, Let alone, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down. 

Mar 15:37  And letting out a loud voice, Jesus expired. 

Mar 15:38  And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 

Mar 15:39  And when the centurion, who stood across from him, saw that He cried out so, and expired, he said, Truly this man was Son of God. 

Mar 15:40  And also women were watching from a distance, among whom also was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome, 

Mar 15:41  (who also, when He was in Galilee, followed Him and ministered to Him), and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. 

Heavenly Father, We praise you and thank you for all you did for us and at the same time feel like we need to apologize for allowing such evil to fall on an innocent man. Lord, we adore you and are so grateful for your mercy on a bunch like us. Help us remember we are redeemed and saved because of you. Lord guide us and help us show mercy that transcends human weakness. We want to follow you and share your grace to a dying world. in Jesus name, amen