Marko Veckov

 Exegesis Paper About the Chapter in the Book of Mark Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Exegesis Paper about a Passage in the Book of Mark Death of Jesus is the climax of the story of life and teachings of Son of God as told by the Gospels. His life and subsequent death had deeper significance than those of other Roman prisoners who faced similar death, at the cross. Through his life, deeds and death for humanity’s sins, Jesus showcased the true meaning of the ‘kingdom of Heaven’. By refusing, to stood up to his oppressors, both Jewish community and the Romans, and by ultimate sacrifice at the cross, he redeemed humanity’s sins in the eyes of his Father. Ultimately, he was raised to eternity by God through resurrection three days after crucifixion. Events surrounding Jesus suffering Several hours prior to Jesus’ death at the cross in the middle of daylight, the sky went black, as during the nighttime. A strange darkness now settled down over the next three hours[ CITATION Wil18 \l 1033 ]. At this hour, it seemed as if Jesus lost his faith. He cries out: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me[ CITATION Wil18 \l 1033 ]?” The appearance of this miraculous event is believed to be God’s attempt to draw the attention of sinful Israel. It is as if he is stating that Israel wanted a Savior and that he came in the form of his Son, who just sacrificed himself for the sins of men. As for Jesus’s cry out, it has more deeper meaning then what initially seems. That is something only eternity could give final judgement on. Sun’s temporary eclipse can also be interpreted as star’s refusal to shine in the hour of shameful crucifixion of Son of God. Jesus was to climb a far greater throne anyone of his disciples could imagine and the cross was a road towards it. Mary, who stood by him to the end, would understand this several weeks later, but in that faithful moment all seemed sorrowful to her. . Jesus’s words at the cross where, said by one Lord, Son, to the other, Father. The most significant implication of the divine nature being forsaken at the cross, is that divine impassibility and simplicity, two central tenants of historic orthodoxy, cannot hold[CITATION Tho20 \p 11 \l 1033 ]. The words spoken by Lord Jesus Christ showcase that at that moment he was completely abandoned. It is something that is repeated not just in the Gospel of Mark, but in the Gospel of Matthew also. However, Jesus’ suffering is not solely his own, as his Father’s suffering can be viewed through His own experience. Despite said so, crucifixion does not need to be viewed through prism of Holy Trinity and Father, Son and Holy Ghost in one person. The notion of divine impassibility of Christ was in the late 19th century substituted with the idea of divine possibility. Jesus’s suffering at the cross is highlighted by misinterpretation of his words by those who were standing nearby. The by standers misunderstand Jesus’s words and think he might be calling out to Elijah to take him down from the cross[ CITATION Mar18 \l 1033 ]. They wanted to see if He would really appear and save His Son. This is symbolized by them using wet sponge to clear his bloodied forehead and gave him to drink. His suffering embodies the suffering of all God’s people, of those righteous. His cry is the lament of all of those who followed in God’s footsteps. Misunderstanding is used as a tool for his audience to find true significance of Jesus’s suffering and sacrifice. It is more of the intention to challenge the readers into listening and observing correctly rather than judging those who do not. Jesus is dying at the cross and his death is the symbol of those who died unjustly. Depiction of Jesus’s suffering and his death symbolizes the death of a great man. The death of Christ is the central moment in the whole event to which Christian faith and devotion look back[ CITATION Kno20 \l 1033 ]. It provided Christianity with its most recognizable symbol the one of cross. Both Christ’s death and resurrection happened within three hours of darkness and were to sacred to be left on plain sight. However, when He died, nobody at that time thought of him as a hero. Nobody said that his death was an act of heroism, of unique martyrdom. It was his followers, who went on and launched a revolution afterwards. His crucifixion became a crucial moment in mankind’s history. His disciples believed that his sacrifice opened a whole new dimension to the meaning of God. They saw it as the day waited revolution finally began [ CITATION Wri16 \l 1033 ]. Finally, as Jewish people were long waited for prophesized Messiah to appear. Jesus’s sacrifice at the cross had larger meaning and was a part of bigger story, than just the one of redemption of the believers for their sins. God ultimately sacrificed his own Son for the sake of humanity. Early Christian noted that this world isn’t our home and that Jesus was taking us elsewhere. Despite Christianity lost some of its appeal in today’s modern world, His message remains strong as ever and more current than ever before. Culmination of Jesus’s suffering was certainly his crucifixion, helped through his abandonment by his companions and followers. It was Roman centurion, who stayed with him to the end that accompanied Him on his journey. His remark that “this was truly Son of Man”, meant that even he, a pagan, at the end understood Jesus’s significance, his act of sacrifice, his importance and the importance of his teachings. Significant acts that have two different meaning Jesus often showcased true examples of mercy and what it means. When Jesus wishes what it is to be an ideal, total human being, he narrates the parable of the good Samaritan (Sobrino). Act of mercy done while Jesus was at most incomprehensible pain at the cross, might have come under this notion of a good and total person. Here, what was at stake was the belief in humanity and human beings and even Jesus’s faith in man was put to the test. For Jesus, merciful side of human nature is both divine and human in its essence. Even those who have other side, if practice mercy, can be saved. His entire life is shaped by it, along his relations to everyone he encountered. The essence of his activity is the suffering of the poor, the deprived, ill. Now, he is in the same position while tortured by his oppressors. It can be concluded that those who opted to give it to Him, while at the cross, might have shown that other side of themselves, the one that makes them human again. On the other hand, it might be done because of fear of God and his possible showing of salvation for his Son. As people who witnessed his last hours would learn along his followers, that his God is different than pagan Gods. They did assume he would show up and show all his might, but his true intentions were much deeper, and meaningful. God sacrificed his only son for the sake of humanity, thereby showing how much He cared for mankind and that his true love is infinite. His Son’s sacrifice would have a large impact on those who show a little mercy, as they would realize his uniqueness. It was the Roman soldier who passed the sponge and who was after all, a pagan, that was transformed by Jesus’s act of sacrifice and ultimately changed. The act by Roman soldier could be and sometimes is interpreted as a mockery. The audience reactions by non-followers culminate in the centurion’s remark about Jesus as ‘Son of God’[ CITATION Nas17 \l 1033 ]. Centurion’s act of help towards Son of God rooted in his doubt over Christ’s divine side can be viewed through its doubtful nature. His main theme of mockery was to confirm that Jesus was in fact a fraud and no Son of God. His pagan tradition speaking from him was based on the notion of an all-seeing and intervening God. Therefore, his remark could be perceived through that: “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down[ CITATION Bev15 \l 1033 ]”. One other possible side of looking at it is that Romans also, besides Jewish community felt threatened by his deeds and wanted in every way to make fun of it. Jesus’s devotion to mankind and its future is certainly evident and Roman soldier was to find this as a sobering truth. Jesus certainly wanted that all sinners should come across this acknowledgement through him. Roman soldier received that message through Christ’s example of sacrifice at the cross. The recognition of it came through his statement that Jesus really was the Son of God. Jesus’s love for those who crucified him was best shown in his words to his Father. In this statement he wants his Father to forgive them, as he hopes they would realize what they are doing and felt sorry about it. The unique feature of all Christian proclamation is the shocking claim that God is fully acting, not only in Jesus’ resurrected life , but especially in Jesus’ death at the cross [ CITATION Rut15 \l 1033 ]. Dying words of Jesus Christ became the main authority in faith and its subsequent practice, along with those of other prophets and Christ’s disciples. The effects of the death of Jesus Jesus is portrayed ironically at the cross as the king of Jews. He is named as such by those who didn’t want to honor him. The tearing of the temple curtain, presumably by the God himself announces God’s salvation [ CITATION Mar181 \l 1033 ]. Hearing that the curtain, which after some sources is a Babylonian tapestry was torn apart in viewers eye might signify as if the heavens were torn apart. It would also signify the coming of God’s spirit into Jesus in that final moment of suffering at the cross. He hears the God’s voice through which he knows he is confirmed as His Son. That would ultimately mean that his followers were to walk in his footsteps after his resurrection and spread his teachings. The final message of Jesus’s dying hour is that Kingdom of Heaven has come and is all around Jesus. Finally, it was Roman centurion who recognized Jesus’s divine nature and that he was a messiah. It was Jesus’s unorthodox approach to his suffering and oppression that touched the heart and soul of this pagan warrior. After all, Jesus’s message was that of love and forgiveness and on the example of his own life, he demonstrated it. It is at this hour that vengeful pagan realizes this, and he is transformed. Salvation here is found through seeing, hearing and understanding. Centurion does this precisely and realizes what he just did, that he sacrificed The Son of God. Salvation came to him by watching and listening to the words of Jesus. These final moments are the central message of this gospel. They pint out that salvation comes through forgiveness and acknowledgement of true meaning of heaven, of something that comes either through God or his Son. Although pagan by his upbringing, Roman centurion who witnessed final hours of Jesus would admit his mistake. Just like other bystanders who might to some extent show the signs of humanity by washing Jesus’s forehead with a sponge, he too finally shows that he is human. Humanity of his acknowledgment was at the same time confirmation of savior’s divine nature and origin. Even he who worshipped different gods must admit that there was something deeply moving in the act by the accused Jesus, who was initially treated by him and other soldiers, as all other criminals. This strange message of love and forgiveness of supposed Messiah was at first dismissed by him and others as a mere Jewish matter. After all, Romans were just the executors, while Jewish leaders were the accusers. The fact that it was a Roman who was transformed after watching death of Son of God at the cross, seem to foresee the future of Jesus’s teachings. It almost signifies the end of pagan era and start of a new age. His divine message will resound in his followers lives until their end on this world. It will transform pagans as well, as Christianity is going to spread throughout the Roman Empire, until it finally overcomes prior religion. The symbol of this was the Roman centurion who became Christ’s follower and found his place in his kingdom. He too was a man of weaknesses and Christ thought that those who repent will find true meaning of his words. Therefore, centurion’s final statement might be said in a manner that asks for forgiveness, for what he let to happen to the savior of mankind. He was the first to realize the strength of Christ’s words, his doings and his final act, as in that moment all prior accusations fell apart. It was only miracle that eventually happened that could make his fallen heart rise again. Jesus’s teachings of love, acknowledgement of sin and eventual repentance were opposite to the beliefs of the Romans. They worshipped multiple gods and know suddenly they were in front of this man, who wishes for all to recognize only one God. He is his Son and he came to redeem, not just people of Israel, but of all humanity. His message was revolutionary and his devotion to it, that resulted in his death along his refusal to abandon it, made him a figure of admiration. SUMMARY Entire Jewish community, the Romans and finally Israel failed to see beyond their vanity that here in front of them stands long-waited Messiah. Jesus’s miracles weren’t enough, but his final sacrifice that enlightened a pagan must took place for his true success. His message reached one heart, one soul and in that moment, he was uplifted to eternity, not just by God, but in the eyes of humanity, also. It was his teachings that here got their verification and true meaning. In the eyes of a pagan he was just another convict, no more different from others, just with unusual story, of claiming he was the Messiah. His cry out for his Father wasn’t the cry for help, as bystanders thought. However, they were to busy to see the true meaning of his words, as they were looking for another miracle, for God to come down from the sky and save him. They all wanted the same, a spectacle, a show, something they could later discuss between themselves. They weren’t ready for Jesus’s final act, final miracle. He claimed that his kingdom is not of this earth and that those who follow him will leave for eternity under the grace of God. His final act showed a piece of that kingdom and impacted Roman centurion in a way he thought would be impossible. Roman centurion wasn’t just an executor or plain witness to Christ’s final hours. He was the first human to identify him as a savior, as the one who came to help humanity overcome its weaknesses. Jesus’s death wasn’t just noble and exemplary in the eyes of pagan, but was accompanied by the acts of God, like tearing of the temple curtain. However, it was his refusal to change anything in his doings or sayings that had a largest impact to the man who worshipped honor so highly. His intention to show true meaning behind his life, which was something he stood by until the end, was something that had a deep value for the guard. His sacrifice for the sins of mankind was that sparkle that lit a light in heart of centurion. Jesus did it with his devotion, love and determination in faith for mankind, for its ability to change and sheds the chains of sin. He showed everybody the way to follow and Roman soldier was the first one to see it and recognize it. The divine light of Son of God fell upon him and raised him from the darkness he was in. Centurion’s lack of motivation to acknowledge that it is the Son of God that died in front of him, is also a theme of this gospel. While all other bystanders showcased a level of spiritual blindness, centurion was awakened by God and Jesus alike. God’s interference can be viewed as an apocalyptic act, but Jesus’s was even more convincing. The idea that non-Jew can understand one true God was also new and expanded the promises given to Israeli people. Centurion’s eventual understanding of God’s true nature is some form of gift, only given to very few. It is something that changes one’s life in its roots and elevates his or her spirit, as equal to God and his Son. That was exactly what happened to centurion, as if he was chosen by God to recognize his Son and the sacrifice he made, by giving him to the entire mankind. Centurion’s confession is Christian in that highest sense and in its latter form became the foundation of faith. What is more important is that he spoke sincerely and without shame of admitting that he let such a man in the arms of death. Conclusion Sayings of Jesus Christ gain a whole new dimension with his final sacrifice at the cross. It was his death and events that surrounded it that made a final impact on his contemporaries. Story of his life was to be carried out with the same passion he showcased to those who would listen with open hearts. Roman centurion, who was like all who witnessed his crucifixion, besides his followers, suspicious on his claims and prior deeds, was a first human to admits his divine identity. Whether it was done due to Jesus’s heroic death or interference by God, this confirmation is a sign of God’s love for all people, not just Jews. Events that followed, like his resurrection only confirmed Jesus’s sayings in which he describes himself as someone who came to redeem humanity for its sins. God sacrificed his only Son to show all people the path towards His kingdom and from there on the future was determined for humanity. References Beville, Kieran. Journey With Jesus Through The Message of Mark: Experience the Ministry of Jesus in a Spiritually Captivating way. Christian Publishing House, 2015. 17 July 2020. . Knox, John. The Death of Christ: The Cross in New Testament History and Faith. 2020. 16 July 2020. . Markusse, Gabi. 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