“HE CAN’T SAVE HIMSELF”

Passage: Mark 15:16-32

Key verse: 31

NIV

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(A)

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace(B) (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”(C) 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out(D) to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(E)

21 A certain man from Cyrene,(F) Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus,(G) was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.(H) 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,(I) but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots(J) 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.(K)

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(L) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(M) 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him(N) among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah,(O) this king of Israel,(P) come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Luke 22:37.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Is Mocked

16 (A)And the soldiers led him away inside (B)the palace (that is, (C)the governor's headquarters),[a] and they called together the whole (D)battalion.[b] 17 And they clothed him in (E)a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, (F)“Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and (G)spitting on him and (H)kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had (I)mocked him, they stripped him of (J)the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they (K)led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

21 (L)And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 (M)And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with (N)myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and (O)divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And (P)it was the third hour[c] when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, (Q)“The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two (R)robbers, (S)one on his right and one on his left.[d] 29 And (T)those who passed by derided him, (U)wagging their heads and saying, (V)“Aha! (W)You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, (X)“He saved others; (Y)he cannot save himself. 32 Let (Z)the Christ, (AA)the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may (AB)see and believe.” (AC)Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 15:16 Greek the praetorium
  2. Mark 15:16 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men
  3. Mark 15:25 That is, 9 a.m.
  4. Mark 15:27 Some manuscripts insert verse 28: And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the transgressors”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

There are people in the world who don’t accept the concept of sin. Sin is to insult God. Today’s text shows that different people insulted God the Incarnate in the vilest ways. The soldiers mocked Him of His kingship. They struck Him on the head with a staff. Falling on their knees mockingly, they paid homage to him, clothed Him with a purple robe, took it off and then again put on his own clothes, brought Him to Golgotha.

They crucified Him between two rebels, one on His right and one on His left, to make Him look like a criminal. The onlookers ridiculed Him, distorting His statement about rebuilding the temple in three days, which in truth was about His resurrection.

The most poignant words of ridicule came from the mouths of the religious leaders: “He saved others; but He can’t save Himself” (v.30). Unwittingly they told the truth that He couldn’t save Himself; Jesus couldn’t save Himself because He obeyed His Father’s purpose to save us sinners instead.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Your One and Only Son to be sin, who did not know sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Because of His sufferings and death on the cross, we are adopted to Your family as Your sons and daughters. I will give You thanks and praise forever. Amen.

One Word: Praise God for His grace through His Son