Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:16-32. Jesus’ suffering intensifies. The entire Roman battalion, about 600 men strong, joins in mockery and blasphemy for their sadistic pleasure. The purple cloak and crown of thorns are intended to show Jesus what they think of His kingship, and the spitting and mockery add great shame to growing pain. Jesus’ wounds make Him too weak to carry His own cross, so Simon of Cyrene is compelled to do the task in Jesus’ place. Simon, likely well-known personally in the early Church, serves as a literal example of a disciple who picks up his cross and follows Jesus. Upon arriving at Golgotha, Jesus is crucified in complete shame and nakedness. The mockery comes from every side. The religious leaders, the passersby, and even the two thieves join in the insults. Jesus endures it faithfully, refusing to come down from the cross in order to save us sinners. For this reason, we Christians rightly wo