I have noticed that the big events in my life never quite seem to live up to the expectations that I might place on them. It's not that the events are bad or that they fall short in any real sense, it's just that they come and go, leaving memories, but not much more. Even the very big events like weddings and births of children never quite turn out like we might have expected. Again, that is not to say that the events are insignificant or that they don't measure up to some pre-conceived "hype", but ultimately, they are merely moments, and life quickly continues on its forward trajectory into the future that soon becomes the past. These significant moments do make a mark, but in the moment, they may not "feel" as significant as the finally are.
One gets that same kind of feeling when reading the sparse narrative of the crucifixion in Mark's gospel, chapter 15. Here the writer describes the most significant event (well, the second most significant event - we'll cover the most significant one in the next blog) in human history, in 47 verses. In less than 5 minutes, one can read the account of Jesus' death and then move on with the rest of their day. But what makes the execution of Jesus of Nazareth so significant is not how it happened, how long it took, or even the gruesome details (which Mark doesn't elaborate on) that a writer could gorily describe with horrifying description. What makes the crucifixion of Jesus so significant is what God accomplished through Jesus' sacrificial death. It is a significance that far exceeds what seemingly transpired on that Friday two millennia ago.
But before we reflect on what the death of Jesus accomplished, let's briefly consider what the death of Jesus is not.
Jesus' Death Is Not the Appeasement of a Wrathful God
The way some writers describe the death of Jesus, one might come away believing that God the Father was a child abuser and murderer. Some have believed that God's wrath must be poured out upon sinful humanity and that Jesus essentially stepped in and endured God's wrath in our place. This view makes the death of Jesus "punishment" for our sins. Those who hold to this view believe that justice was finally served through the crucifixion of the Son of God. But it is a strange kind of justice that punishes an innocent person for the wrongs of another. And this view makes the sacrifice of Jesus more like the human sacrifice to pagan gods than the self-giving, loving sacrifice of our savior. Afterall, John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, not that God so hated the world that he tortured and killed his only Son. God's wrath was not poured out on humanity, much less on his innocent Son. No, God's wrath was poured out on the death and destruction that sin unleashes in the world. Jesus' death brought about the redemption of humanity and the entire creation.
Jesus Died for Our Sins
One thing that is crystal clear in the scriptures is that Jesus died for our sins. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wage of sin is death. Because of our sin, death should be permanent - eternal. But as Romans 6:23 goes on to say, the free gift given to us through Christ is eternal life. Paul goes onto explain later in Romans (chapter 8) that one day, those who are in Christ will be raised bodily from the dead, just as Jesus was. That's what eternal life is - the bodily resurrection from the dead into eternal bodily life in God's renewed creation.
In another letter (1 Cor), Paul writes that "Christ died for our sins...". So, what does he mean by this? He doesn't mean that we were naughty and so Jesus stepped in and was punished on our behalf. Rather, what Christ did through his death was to defeat sin. He bore our sins on the cross, defeating and destroying evil and sin and the consequences of sin in the process. This sacrifice not only frees us from our sins (if we accept this free gift through faith), but it also sets us free to overcome our sin (as Paul explains throughout the entirety of Romans chapter 6). Only one person, Jesus, was able to deal with our sins through his death, and thankfully, he graciously offered himself up for the sins of the whole world. That means that all of our sins - past, present, and future have been taken care of through Jesus' death (and resurrection). He offers the benefit of this to any and to all who will accept his free gift. Isn't that amazing?!!!
Jesus Defeated Forces of Evil Through His Death (and Resurrection)
The Biblical narrative is not 100% clear on the nature of the forces of evil that have invaded the universe. The Satan (literally accuser) and other demonic forces are referenced more often in the New Testament than in the Old Testament. Why? The cultural influences of the New Testament writers obviously played a role, and there is room in interpretation to understand these forces in a variety of ways. Are they simply the "personification" of evil, or are they evil entities with "minds" of their own? The Bible isn't entirely clear, but what is beyond a shadow of a doubt is the fact that evil forces exist in the universe, and these evil forces have been clearly and decisively defeated through the death (and resurrection) of Christ! These forces no doubt were what "inspired" the arrest, conviction, and execution of Jesus and for three days it seemed that these forces had won the battle over the Son of God. But like an expert martial artist using an opponent's offense against himself, God allowed these demonic powers to seal their own fate through the death of his Son. On the third day, their ultimate destruction was made evident as the tomb was found empty. The power of death that these forces could hold over their victims was completely disarmed when Jesus rose from the dead.
Subtlety Does Not Diminish Substance
In only 47 sparse verses, Mark describes the most significant event in human history. But his lack of detail does not diminish the substance found in this most profound act of love and sacrifice. In fact, the second and most important part of this event is told with even fewer details in Mark 16. But that's for the next blog. - Shay
