Mark 15:29-30 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

 What are those passing by Jesus on the cross doing?

“Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads” (Mark 15:29).

·      What does David prophesy in Psalm 22:7?

“All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads” (Psalm 22:7).

·      What does David prophesy in Psalm 109:25?

“I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads” (Psalm 109:25).

What are those passing by saying?

“…Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" (Mark 15:29-30).

·      What had the false witnesses who gave false testimony against Jesus said to the Council?

o  “Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ‘We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands”’” (Mark 14:57-58).

·      What had Jesus actually said to the Jews after driving out of the temple all those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers, and the the Jews said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” (John 2:18)?

o  “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken” (John 2:19-22).

What do those who are passing by Jesus on the cross say that Jesus is going to destroy and rebuild in three days?

“…the temple…” (Mark 15:29).

·      Of what temple had Jesus spoken about that would be raised from the dead in three days?

“…the temple of His body” (John 2:21).

What do they tell Jesus to do?

“save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mark 15:30).

·      σῶσον σεαυτὸν (sōson seauton) (“save yourself”) 2S Aorist Active Imperative of σῷζω, “to preserve or rescue from natural dangers and afflictions, save, keep from harm, preserve, rescue; save from death” (BDAG, 982).

·      καταβὰς (katabas) (“come down”) Masculine Nominative Singular Aorist Active Participle of καταβαίνω “to move downward, come/go/climb down” (BDAG, 513).

·      ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ (apo tou staurou) (“from the cross”)

“the cross, with focus on the fate of Jesus Christ, the cross. The cross of Christ is one of the most important elements in Christian cult and proclamation: with death and resurrection” (BDAG, 941).

Father,

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.