Mark 15:27-32 – Believing is seeing

Now at Golgotha, besides the Lord, two other criminals were also nailed to the cross, one on His left and the other on His right. We recall that earlier, two of His disciples asked to be seated in those positions when they come into glory. They had vowed to go all the way with Him but now, not only had they deserted the Lord, but every one of His disciples also deserted Him in this critical hour.

Verse 28 is a quotation from Isaiah 53:12, to show that Jesus was counted among the transgressors. For He was crucified among the criminals. They were there because they rebelled against the Roman authority and rightly deserved it. But Christ did not deserve that treatment. He was hanging there on our behalf because we all have rebelled against God. He hanged there to identify with us, transgressors.

The Roman crucifixion was carried out in the full view of the people as a deterrent. Mark tells us that some passers-by began to mock Him, hurling abuses against the Lord. They were blaspheming against the Son of God. Some must have recalled or heard that Jesus had claimed that He was going to build the temple in three days, after it was destroyed. So they derided Him and told Him to come down from the cross and save Himself. Little did they know that by coming down from the cross, He could be saved but the world would be totally lost! 

Verses 31-32 tell us that the chief priests also joined in the mockery, very much in similar line. They exclaimed, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!”  The last part of verse 32 also tells us that even the insurrectionists, crucified with Him also derided Him.

The content of the three groups who blasphemed against Jesus were essentially the same. They claimed that Jesus could not even save Himself, how could He be the Savior of the world. They were looking through the natural eyes. They want to see before they would believe. But the principle of faith is entirely different: It’s in believing that we will see.

People want to see a visible king and kingdom. But Jesus’ kingship and kingdom is in a realm that is not visible to the naked eye. Yet whatever happens there affects the visible realm – broken body are healed, oppressed are delivered, fractured relationships are mended and etc. For those who subscribe to His rule, these are made possible because of their faith in the King. Only a Messiah on the cross is believable, and believing in Him we shall also see.