Mark 15:25-38/ Jesus Opens the Way
📖 Scripture
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.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.
28
29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,
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 among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!
32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema 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 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, 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.
✅ Scripture Summary
✅ Memory verse
✅ Reflection
Bearing Our Insults (15:25–32)
As Jesus hangs on the cross, the reason for His cruel punishment is given: “The King of the Jews.” The public crucifixion is supposed to bring shame, and the people who pass by take advantage, mocking and insulting Him. They accuse Jesus of being unable to save Himself even though He saved others. Jesus could, of course, save Himself, but He chooses to remain on the cross. He bears the insults and the suffering for His people. This is part of His mission to fulfill the will of the Father and demonstrate His great love for us. We have hope and confidence to draw near to God because He allowed His Son to suffer and die so that we might live forever with Him.
Of all the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion, which most convinces you of His great love for you? Thank Jesus for enduring suffering to fulfill His mission of redeeming you.
Access to a Holy God (15:33–38)
At the moment of Jesus’ death, the curtain in the temple is torn in two. Since the time of Moses, this curtain prevented access to the holy of holies, the innermost part of the temple. Because this sacred space represented God’s dwelling place, no one could enter except for the high priest who would make atonement for the sins of God’s people, and even the priest had to first meticulously follow detailed cleansing rituals to stand in that holy space. The tearing of the curtain symbolizes that Jesus’ sacrifice fully cleanses us of sin and allows us access to the Father. Because of the blood of Jesus, a new way is opened for His people to experience eternal closeness with the holy and living God.
When do you find yourself struggling to be fully open before the Lord? Reflect on how Jesus’ sacrifice has removed all barriers to our holy God.
“Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . [became] what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself.”
– Irenaeus
✅ Prayer
✅ Essay
Special Access
A friend told me that he was given special tickets to a concert. With these tickets, he was able to go backstage to meet the performers and get to know them more personally. Everyone else without these special tickets watched the performance from their seats in the crowd; many were so far away that they could hardly see the stage. Only my friend had special access to meet the performers up close.
The special tickets remind me of what Jesus has done for us. When Jesus’ death tore the temple curtain, He gave us a “backstage pass,” special VIP access to God the Father. This access previously only available to the high priest is now opened for all who place their trust in Jesus. We can all receive forgiveness for our sins, and Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross means God is no longer unapproachable due to the gap between His perfect holiness and our sinfulness. Whoever knows the Son gains access to the Father.
This is truly good news! As the Bible says, “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). We are no longer watching from a distance; Jesus becomes our “backstage pass,” allowing direct access to God’s presence. May we never cease to be amazed at the privilege we have in approaching God the Father through His Son and experiencing His presence through the Holy Spirit.
Written by Kris Anderson