The story of Mark 15 is a familiar one to anyone who’s been around church for any time at all. Even for those who’ve never been a part of a church, they’ve likely at least heard something bout the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.
 
Mark places us before a King surrounded by mockery, dressed by soldiers in purple, a crown of thorns on His head, as they bow before Him in cruel ridicule. Meanwhile, the religious leaders scoffed at His claims to be the Messiah, and passersby shout for him to come down if He’s truly able. Everyone, even the disciples, seemed to believe a ‘true’ King would vindicate Himself through a visible show of power, especially those who believed Jesus was sent from God.

But Jesus flatly refuses their definition of kingship.
 
He didn’t come down, but remained until the very end. He didn’t stay on the cross because He lacked the authority or ability to come down, but because He was carrying His obedience to completion … until He could say, “It is finished.” His endurance wasn’t a sign of weakness, but of the price the faithful Son must pay for the salvation of all creation.
 
I’m certain there were myriads of yet untold stories from that day, ones we may only know if eternity, but Mark gives us a glimpse of one very impactful moment when one of the Roman Centurions appears to possibly come to saving faith. Having watched the way Jesus was tortured and died, he makes an unexpected confession, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” The cross reveals who the Son is because His self-sacrificing love displayed the character and nature of the King.
 
I’ve always been impressed by how the story ‘flips the script’ in this small but profound moment. The disciples have scattered, religious leaders rejected Him, and the crowds shouted for His death. Yet, a Gentile soldier standing near the cross sees what the others have missed. The suffering and death of Jesus didn’t negate His Kingship; in fact, it unveiled exactly what kind of King He had always been.  

Following the King of Glory should reshape our understanding of real strength. His example isn’t one of domination, humiliation, or the protection of status and power. It forms a people who can remain faithful under unrelenting pressure. Who can tell the truth without cruelty, serve with no need for applause, and love without taking advantage of people as a means to an end.
 
Make no mistake, the day will come when Jesus will judge evil for what it is, but we, His followers, can’t fight the world’s darkness by adopting the world’s lust for control. We overcome the evil of this world in His way, through faithful witness, sacrificial love, holiness, courage, and unfailing trust in God. We overcome, John says in Revelation 12:11, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

The cross of Christ stands defiantly against every instinct we possess that winning means making others bow to our will. Jesus wins by bowing Himself to the Father’s will and giving His life as a ransom for many.
 
The way of the cross isn’t a “pattern for success”, it’s a pathway of allegiance to the Crucified King.

Once again, I find myself asking us all for a moment of objective honesty before God; to look ourselves in the mirror and ask some hard questions. Where have we confused strength with power and control, retaliation, or self-preservation? What would total and complete allegiance to the crucified King look like in one real relationship or conflict you face right now where you struggle to let God be God?

Father, Jesus is the only Righteous King, the One who stayed on the cross through mockery, violence, and murder. Forgive me for confusing strength with control and power. Form your way in me and give me courage to be truthful, resist evil, protect the vulnerable, and love without expectation of return. Keep me from using the weapons of this world to defend the Kingdom of God. Build in me faithful allegiance to the King of Kings. Amen.

“Following the crucified King means I will __________________.”