Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 5, 2023

His First Throne

Mark 15:22-32

1. Context

• delivered by Pilate to be crucified (6-15), mocked by soldiers and the compulsion of Simon (16-21)

2. Details at the Cross 22-28

• Golgotha/Calvary: “place of a skull”
• drink refused (Prov. 31:6)
• description of fact
• division of garments and casting of lots (Psa. 22:18)
• designation of time: the third hour or 9:00 a.m.
• disclosure of inscription: The King of the Jews
• crucified between two thieves (Isa. 53:12, Mark 10:39)

3. Derision at the Cross 29-32

• participants: those who passed by, chief priests, thieves (Psa. 22:7-8)
• despised as prophet (Mark 14:58, John 2:18-22)
• mocked as priest
• humiliated as king
• the taunts and the truth (Isa. 53:10)

4. So What?

• Because King Jesus made the cross His first throne, seize the benefit of His sacrifice and celebrate its lasting impact.
• “Crucified as a king, He was king still. He made the cross His first throne.” (S. Ferguson)
• “A sacrificial death is the true work of the Messiah of the law, prophets and psalms and because He did not come down from the cross, therefore He is ‘crowned with glory and honor’ in heaven, and rules our gratefully redeemed hearts on earth.” (Maclaren)
• “God forbid that Christ’s agony would ever become a matter of dispassionate interest.” (K. Hughes)
• “The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak. They rode, but Thou didst stumble to Thy throne. But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak; and not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.” (E. Shillito, “Jesus of the Scars”)
• “What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain. Mine, mine was the transgression but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior, ‘tis I deserve Thy place. Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace…” (Bernard of Clairvaux, “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”)