Jesus Breathed His Last

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may we delight in Your Word today.  Let Your Spirit of revelation dwell on each of Your faithful seekers, as we dwell in Your perfect Word.  In the mighty Name of Jesus.  Amen.

Mark 15:33-41

33At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."
36 One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.


So many things stand out for me when reading our verses today.  For instance, what exactly did the centurion hear and see to be able to say, "Surely this was the Son of God!"  What a moment that must have been; and to receive that true revelation!  It just gives me chills.  It's completely wild to me, continuously amazing, how no matter how many times we read this Word, new things are revealed and brought to light/to our attention.  God really is wonderful!  Share what He is revealing to you; I find it awesome.
Today, for study sake, I'm going to point out some areas in these verses that might make you say "what?"

1. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Why would Jesus say this?  Well, remember it all connects.  Let's go back to Psalm 22:

A Psalm of David.

1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But You are holy,

Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in You;

They trusted, and You delivered them.

5 They cried to You, and were delivered;

They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

6 But I am a worm, and no man;

A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;

Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb;

You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.

10 I was cast upon You from birth.

From My mother’s womb

You have been My God.

11 Be not far from Me,

For trouble is near;

For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.

13 They gape at Me with their mouths,

Like a raging and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,

And all My bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax;

It has melted within Me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

And My tongue clings to My jaws;

You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded Me;

The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet;

17 I can count all My bones.

They look and stare at Me.

18 They divide My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;

O My Strength, hasten to help Me!

20 Deliver Me from the sword,

My precious life from the power of the dog.

21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth

And from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered Me.

22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;

In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;

Nor has He hidden His face from Him;

But when He cried to Him, He heard.

25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;

I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.

26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.

Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the world

Shall remember and turn to the LORD,

And all the families of the nations

Shall worship before You.

28 For the kingdom is the LORD’s,

And He rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth

Shall eat and worship;

All those who go down to the dust

Shall bow before Him,

Even he who cannot keep himself alive.

30 A posterity shall serve Him.

It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,

31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,

That He has done this.

Jesus did not ask this question in surprise or despair.  He was quoting the first line of this Psalm.  The whole psalm is a prophecy expressing the deep agony of the Messiah's death for the world's sin.  Jesus knew that He would be temporarily separated from God the moment He took upon Himself the sins of the world.  This separation was what He had dreaded as He prayed in Gethsemane.  The physical agony was horrible, but the spiritual alienation from God was the ultimate torture.

HOW IS YOUR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH GOD?

IT REALLY IS TORTURE WITHOUT HIM.

2.  Next in our study, is the heavy curtain that hung in front of the Temple room called the Most Holy Place, all the details are in the Old Testament (starting in Exodus 23); it was a place reserved by God for Himself.  Symbolically, the curtain separated the Holy God from sinful people.  The room was entered only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, by the high priest as he made a sacrifice to gain forgiveness for the sins of all the people.  When Jesus breathed His last, the curtain was torn in two, showing that His death for our sins had opened up the way for us to approach our Holy God.  And it was torn from top to bottom, showing that God had opened the way; not man.  Read Hebrews 9 for a more complete explanation.

But now do you see how our High Priest Jesus Christ, entered into the Most Holy Place and made atonement for each of us?  There is no curtain to separate us from God.  We don't have to gain forgiveness, Jesus has made this possible by giving it to us.  This is a great reason to begin praising Him right now!!!  Thank You Jesus!  Glory, Glory Glory!  Bless Your Holy Name!!

The Reason by Hoobastank

I knew all of the words, but in listening to it with the clips from Passion of the Christ - gave it personal meaning...

Brilliant!