Fully Present
| They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. And they crucified Him. Dividing up His clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. (Mark15:22-24) |
There are three thoughts that stand out in today's passage:
- Golgotha: Just the mention of the name must have given people chills. The word means "Place of the Skull." Some have suggested that it is a hill outside Jerusalem that actually looks like a skull, others argue that none of the gospels mention a hill, and that the name simply comes from what was done there. Either way, it is chilling.
Years ago, I did the pedal project, where I cycled 1100km to raise funds for under-resourced congregations. I completed my target distance just outside Belfast, near the Engen Garage. As we rode in, there was a hill with three crosses. It was a moment that right-sized me. I was quite proud of my 11 days in the saddle, but the hill with the three crosses reminded me of a much bigger price paid.
When Jesus, the soldiers and the crowds arrived at "skull place" - there would have been a chilling sense of reality and gravity.
- Fully Present: We normally use this in a positive sense. When we're playing with our kids or on a date with our loved one, we should strive to be "fully present." By refusing the wine mixed with myrrh, which was a rough and ready narcotic, Jesus was choosing to be fully present. He chose to be present to the pain and humiliation, so that He could fulfil prophecy, comfort Mary and John, assure a fellow victim of Eternity and surrender His life for us. He was never out of control. We didn't take His life - He gave it for us.
- Stripped: Crucifixion was brutal. Jesus was flogged, beaten, mocked, made to carry the cross to the point of collapse, and now they nailed Him to the cross so that He could not move. On top of that, He was stripped naked, which maximises a sense of vulnerability. Then callous soldiers made a game of dividing up His clothes.
A few years ago my Lent fast was to stop shaving. Within days my stubble started itching and I itched until I could shave the beard on Easter Sunday. During that time I imagined not being able to scratch my face because my hands were nailed to the cross. It was profoundly humbling.
The Son of God is crucified.
We should stand in silent awe.
