Callous to the Cross

2/26/25 Bible Thought (Mk. 15)

Any of us who have read through the New Testament before find that it, at times, can get repetitive. There are a lot of repetitive themes, and even in the Gospels there are many repeated accounts. Truly, we probably find ourselves thinking, “I’ve read this before” as there are so many similarities between them.

What I want us to consider today is that we have to be incredibly careful not to become calloused by this repetition. Instead, we ought to dwell on its significance. In Mark 15, we see the crucifixion account again, and we’ll read it again in Luke, and again in John. Then, the apostle Paul in so many places will talk about the cross, as will the other New Testament authors. Paul even said to the believers at Corinth, that he didn’t focus on presenting the gospel with wisdom or lofty words, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). The message of the cross was enough, and it stood on its own.

In Mark 15 we see this recounted. Jesus, after being sentenced, is scourged (Mk. 15:15). This is a singular word we can quickly gloss over without realizing it’s even there. This was a severe beating that preceded crucifixion with a flagellum, a type of whip. The ZIBBC states, “This whip consisted of leather thongs plaited with pieces of bone, lead, or bronze or with hooks and was appropriately called a scorpion.”^[1] Jesus’ back was effectively turned to hamburger meat, and this was only the first step. Following this, He is mocked (Mk. 15:16-19). He was beaten, spit upon, and donned with a mocking robe and crown of thorns. Then, he was nailed to a cross for all to see. The worst part of all occurs as the Father turns His face away while Jesus, the Christ, shouts, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk. 15:35).

It's at this point that we need to be reminded that He willingly underwent this torture in order to redeem us. He paid the price for our sins so that by believing in Him we might be saved. He suffered for a moment the very separation from the Father that we deserved to endure for all eternity. A moment unlike any other, for He had enjoyed perfect fellowship with Him for all eternity past. He underwent the greatest suffering imaginable for us. How then could we allow our hearts to get calloused where these passages don’t move us anymore?

My favorite book that I’ve ever read outside of the Bible is To the Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson. It recounts the life and ministry of a missionary by the name of Adoniram Judson. He was possibly the first missionary sent out of the United States after the revolutionary war, and he went across the globe to the people of Burma in modern day Myanmar.

In the course of time and after countless tragedies, he had the opportunity to return to America for a period of time and to share after another preacher one Sunday afternoon. Many people were excited to hear him speak for he was a pretty big deal in their view. So much so, that despite heavy rains the church building was absolutely packed.

He shared concerning the love of Jesus, “what he has done for us, and what we owe to him.”[2] To this, the people were visibly disappointed, and later Adoniram was told, “But they wanted something different—a story.”[3] To this, Adoniram replied, “Well, I am sure I gave them a story—the most thrilling one that can be conceived of.” Sadly, his wife then responded, “But they had heart it before. They wanted something new of a man who had just come from the antipodes.” Adoniram concludes, “Then I am glad they have it to say, that a man coming from the antipodes had nothing better to tell than the wondrous story of Jesus’ dying love.”[4]

The people wanted something fresh. They wanted to hear of his missionary endeavors. They wanted the drama of his work. Surely, they would have loved to hear of his steadfastness in the face of grievous trials, the work of translating the Scripture into Burmese, the starting of churches, or even how God sovereignly protected him in tiger-infested jungles.

But Adoniram effectively said, “I know of no greater story.” Every single story in the entire history of creation pales in comparison to the story of the love of a Savior, who willingly gave His life for us, enduring the most torturous death possible, willingly, for us. Let our hearts never become callous to this truth. Let us always live with heartfelt gratitude to the Lord for His work upon Calvary.

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^[1] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 297.

[2] Courtney Anderson, To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson (Judson Press, 1987), 461.

[3] Ibid., 462.

[4] Ibid., 462.