HOFC Sermon Archive: November 2026

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SERMON TIMELINE

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 15:21-32 “And they *pressed into service a passer-by coming from the countryside, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.

²²Then they *brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. ²³And they tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. ²⁴And they *crucified Him, and *divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide who should take what. ²⁵Now it was the third hour [9 a.m.], and they crucified Him. ²⁶And the inscription of the charge against Him had been inscribed, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

²⁷And they *crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.

²⁸[And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”] – Probably a footnote of a prophetic verse being fulfilled.

²⁹And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰save Yourself by coming down from the cross!” ³¹In the same way, mocking Him to one another, the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were saying, “He saved others; can He cannot save Himself. ³²Let this Messiah, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.”

INTRODUCTION

It is Friday, the week of Passover. 9:00 A.M.

Over the previous few days of Passover, we have read in Scripture of Jesus and His agonizing prayer in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42), of Jesus being betrayed by one who claimed to be His follower for nearly 3 ½ years, Judas. (Mark 14:43-50).

We have read of the Lord’s beatings, mocking, and being spat upon at the chief priest's house, Caiaphas (Mark 14:65). We have read of Peter’s denying even knowing the Lord for fear for his life (Mark 14:66-72), and last week, of the beating, scourging, and mocking by the Roman soldiers before they took the Lord for His crucifixion (Mark 15:15-20).

After hours and hours of this torture, Jesus would have been exhausted. He had been kept awake for over 24 hours now. Not to mention the suffering from the beatings and the scourging that had been inflicted.

However, the worst was yet to come. He was condemned by Pilate to death by crucifixion. The Roman soldiers led Him to the place where He would be crucified (Mark 15:20).

I. LEADING TO THE CRUCIFIXION

a. Simon was compelled to bear His cross

i. We read in John 19:17 that Jesus started out bearing His cross

1. We know historically hat those condemned to die by crucifixion carried their own cross beam (patibulum) weighing 30 to 40 pounds

2. This may not seem like much, but after 24 hours with no sleep, the stress, the anxiety, the beatings, the scourging, completely exhausted, 30-40 pounds would feel like 200

3. And we read it proved too much for Him

ii. Mark writes that Simon of Cyrene was compelled to bear it for Him

1. Cyrene was a city in North Africa

2. Today, it is Libya

3. Mark says he was coming from the countryside when Roman soldiers pressed him into service. Scripture does not tell us whether he was visiting Jerusalem for Passover or lived nearby.

iii. Mark identifies him as the father of Alexander and Rufus

1. This is interesting…why would he do this?

2. Although Scripture does not explicitly establish this, it suggests Alexander and Rufus may have been familiar to Mark's original readers.

3. Mark’s original readers were Gentile Christians and Roman believers.

a. We know this because Mark explains Jewish traditions and customs, which you would not have to do for Jews.

b. Also, Mark translates Aramaic expressions, writing them in his gospel, but then explaining what they mean.

c. Mark also uses Latin terminology.

4. Alexander is a Greek name, and Rufus is Latin (the Roman language)

a. So it appears, and most scholars agree, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, was more than likely known by all among the Gentile and Roman Christian community Mark was writing to.

b. He was brought to Golgotha.

i. A place just outside the city (John 19:20)

ii. Golgotha is an Aramaic word meaning skull

iii. Calvary comes from the Latin word for skull (Luke 23:33)

c. Wine and Myrrh were offered, but Jesus refused

i. A narcotic drink was sometimes offered to criminals to deaden the pain of crucifixion

ii. We read in Mark 15:23 that it was offered to Him and He refused it

iii. The Lord chose to experience the ordeal of crucifixion with His full senses

iv. This action removes for believers the excuse for needing substances to make us feel better during our trials

1. Addicts will often have what they call “reasons,” but are nothing more than excuses for why they use substances

2. The Lord tells us in Scripture that He is sufficient for all our needs.

3. He can provide the peace and relief which drugs and alcohol can only temporarily mask.

v. If Jesus can bear the sufferings of the beatings, scourging, and crucifixion, then we can rest assured that we “can do all things through Him who strengthens” us. Philippians 4:13

vi. His “grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

II. THE CRUCIFIXION

a. As described by Mark

i. The gospel writers were restrained in their description of the crucifixion of the Lord.

ii. Knowing historically as one of the most barbaric and torturous death sentences, they remained restrained in their writings, simply recording, “They crucified Him” (Mark 15:24-25; Matthew 27:35; Luke 23:33; John 19:18)

In Arizona Medicine 22, no. 3 March 1965:186-187, as quoted from the Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol. 8, ed. By Frank Gaebelein ([1984] pp. 779-780.

b. As described by a modern doctor, C. Truman Davis

“Simon is ordered to place the cross beam on the ground, and Jesus is quickly thrown backwards with His shoulders against the wood.

The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives the heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood.

Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement.

The cross beam is then lifted in place at the top of the vertical beam The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed.

The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails and the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain--the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves.

As he pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.

At this point, another phenomenon occurs. As the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward.

Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically He is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.

Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber.

Then another agony begins. A deep crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over--the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level-- the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues--the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air.

The body of Jesus is now in extremis, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues His mission of atonement has been completed. Finally He can allow His body to die.

Even the doctor's description cannot adequately express what suffering Jesus endured on the cross for our sins.”

III. LAST DETAILS

a. His garments

i. When they crucified Jesus, they divided His garments by casting lots

1. Casting lots was an ancient practice of making decisions or determining outcomes by randomly selecting marked stones, sticks, or other small objects, somewhat like drawing straws or rolling dice. In biblical times, it was used to divide property, assign responsibilities, settle disputes, or determine who would receive something.

2. We see the casting of lots in scripture nearly 100 times.

ii. However, here, this was fulfillment of the prophetic words of David in Psalm 22:18 “They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.”

b. The time

i. It is now 9:00 A.M. on Friday of the Passover.

c. The inscription

i. Charges against the victims were placed above their heads during crucifixion.

ii. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin according to John 19:20, for all to read of His charges.

iii. Though slightly different in each of the four gospels, the inscription of charges read "Jesus, King of the Jews."

iv. The reason for the discrepancy may be because the full inscription read “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”

d. The two thieves

i. Two thieves were crucified that same day with Jesus

ii. Possibly the other co-insurrectionists with Barabbas who had been released instead of Jesus

e. The blasphemy and mockery

Mark 14:57-58 “And some, standing up, were giving false testimony against Him, saying, ⁵⁸“We ourselves heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this sanctuary made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’”

Mark 15:29 “And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”

Mark 15:31-32 “In the same way, mocking Him to one another, the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were saying, “He saved others; can He not save Himself. ³²Let this Messiah, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.”

i. Even the two thieves, though one later recanted

Luke 23:39-43 “And one of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” ⁴³And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

CONCLUSION

This crucifixion, taking place at 9:00 A.M., is the beginning of six long, torturous hours that will eventually result in the death of Jesus.

A typically excruciating death, made worse by the beatings, scourging, and mockery, both before and during.

FINAL THOUGHT

What we must take away from this horrific event

· Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

· Romans 6:23 “…the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

· Romans 5:6-9 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. ⁸But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”

· 1 John 4:9-10 “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. ¹⁰In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

· 1 Peter 2:21-25 “For to this you have been called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps, ²²who did no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ²³who being reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. ²⁴Who Himself carried our sins in His body up to the cross, so that having died to sins, we might live to righteousness; by His wounds you were healed. ²⁵For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Next week, the death and burial that follow this crucifixion. As you reflect this week on the word of God and what Jesus endured, have you considered what you should do about it?

Acts 2:36-41 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” ³⁸And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” ⁴⁰And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!” ⁴¹So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

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