Truth Means Death
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March 29, 2018“Save yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mk 15:30)
This is the final temptation. Mark does not tell us how Satan tempted Jesus in the desert – that was filled out by others. But here we have the same kind of thing: Do it your way, not the Father’s way. Turn stones into bread; jump and be caught by angels; attain dominion by flattery. Avoid suffering and gain power by superficial wonder-working. Play the game to win: save yourself now, come down from the cross. Be the great magician: one last trick to knock ’em dead. But truth means death. He has no need to impress anyone or make a show. No politicking. No wooing of the crowd. Authenticity is the narrow way.
“And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” (Mk 15:36)
That last-minute hustle with the sponge and the wine is just a distraction. Jesus does not expect Elijah to come for him. There is no supernatural drama here, just shameful, ugly death. The cry is for his Father, who is hidden from him.
“And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” (Mk 15:38)
At the death of the Son of God, only one set of garments is torn: the veil of the Temple, which is God’s house.
