Ryle on Mark 15:16-32

Imported boundary: J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on Mark from the Internet Archive DjVu OCR for the 1858 Robert Carter St. Mark volume. Title pages, preface, contents, running heads, page numbers, OCR boilerplate, and indexes are not mirrored. The source includes Ryle's printed Scripture text and exposition; this scan-derived text remains needs-verification.

Primary passage: Mark 15:16-32.

Source Text

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Prsetorium ; and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed him with pur- ple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews ! I ly And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped \ him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took oif the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. •j1 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out or' the country, the Father of Alexan- der and Kufus, to bear his cross. 22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being inter- preted, the place of a skull. 23 Aud they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it no . 21 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, cast- The passage we have now read, is one of those which show us the infinite love of Christ toward sinners. The sufferings described in it would fill our minds wi th mingled horror and compassion, if they had been inflicted on one who was only a man like ourselves. But when we reflect ing lots upon them, what every man should take. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 And with him they crucify two thieves ; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the trangressors. 29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou" that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross. 31 Likewise also the Chief Priests mocking said among themselves with the Scribes, He sa\ ed others; himself he cannot >ave. 32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. that the sufferer was the eternal Son of God, we are lost in wonder and amazement. And when we reflect further that these sufferings were voluntarily endured to deliver sinful men and women like ourselves from hell, we may see something of St. Paul's meaning when he says, " The love of Christ passeth knowledge/' " God com- mendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Ephes. iii. 19 ; Rom. v. 8.) We shall find it useful to examine separately the several parts of our Lord's passion. Let us follow Him step by step from the moment of His condemnation by Pilate to His last hour upon the cross. There is a deep meaning in every jot and tittle of His sorrows. All were striking emblems of spiritual truths. And let us not forget as we dwell on the wondrous story, that we and our sins were the cause of all these sufferings. " Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter iii. 18.) It is the death of our own Surety and Substitute that we are reading. First of all we see Jesus delivered into the hands of the Koman soldiers, as a criminal condemned to death. He before whom the whole world will one day stand and be judged, allowed Himself to be sentenced unjustly, and given over into the hands of wicked men. And why was this ? It was that we, the poor sinful children of men, believing on Him, might be delivered from the pit of destruction, and the torment of the prison of hell. It was that we might be set free from every charge in the day of judgment, and be presented faultless before God the Father with exceeding joy. Secondly, we see Jesus insulted and made a laugh- ing-stock by the Koman soldiers. They " clothed Him with purple" in derision, and put " a crown of thorns" on His head, in mockery of his kingdom. " They smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him/' as one utterly contemptible, and no better than " the filth of the world." (1 Cor. iv. 13.) And why was this ? It was that we, vile as we are, might have glory, honor, and eternal life through faith in Christ's atonement. It was done that we might be received into G-od's kingdom with triumph at the last day, and receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. Thirdly, we see Jesus stripped of His garments and crucified naked before His enemies. The soldiers who led Him away " parted His garments, casting lots upon them." And why was this ? It was that we, who have no righteousness of our own, might be clothed in the per- fect righteousness that Christ has wrought out for us, and not stand naked before God at the last day. It was done, that we, who are all defiled with sin, might have a wedding-garment, wherein we may sit down by the side of angels, and not be ashamed. Fourthly, we see Jesus suffering the most ignominious and humiliating of all deaths, even the death of the cross. It was the punishment reserved for the worst of male- factors. The man on whom it was inflicted was counted accursed. It is written, " Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." (Gal. iii. 13.) And why was this ? It was that we, who are born in sin and children of wrath, might be counted blessed for Christ's sake. It was done to remove the curse which 343 we all deserve because of sin, by laying it on Christ. " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." (Gal. iii. 13.) Fifthly, we see Jesus reckoned a transgressor and a sinner. " With him they crucify two thieves." He who bad done no sin, and in whom there was no guile, " was numbered with the transgressors." And why was this ? It was that we, who are mise- rable trangressors, both by nature and practice, may be reckoned innocent for Christ's sake. It was done that we, who are worthy of nothing but condemnation, may be counted worthy to escape God's judgment, and be pronounced not guilty before the assembled world.

Lastly, we see Jesus mocked when dying, as one who was an impostor, and unable to save Himself. And why was this ? It was that we, in our last hours, through faith in Christ may have strong consolation. It all came to pass that we may enjoy a strong assurance - may know whom we have believed, and may go down the valley of the shadow of death fearing no evil.

Let us leave the passage with a deep sense of the enormous debt which all believers owe to Christ. All that they have, and are, and hope for, may be traced up to the doing and dying of the Son of God. Through His condemnation, they have acquittal - through His suf- ferings, peace - through His shame, glory - through His death, life. Their sins were imputed to Him. His righteousness is imputed to them. No wonder that St. Paul says, " Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." (2 Cor. ix. 15.)

Finally, let us leave the passage with the deepest sense of Christ's unutterable love to our souls.

Let us remember what we are, corrupt, evil, and miserable sin- ners.

Let us remember who the Lord Jesus is, the eter- nal Son of God, the maker of all things. And then let us remember that for our sakes Jesus voluntarily en- dured the most painful, horrible, and disgraceful death. Surely the thought of this love should constrain us daily to live not unto ourselves, but unto Christ. It should make us ready and willing to present our bodies a liv- ing sacrifice to Him who lived and died for us. (2 Cor. v. 4. Kom xii. 1.) Let the cross of Christ be often be- fore our minds. Rightly understood, no object in all Christianity is so likely to have a sanctifying as well as a comforting effect on our souh.