[Editor’s note: This is an unusual lesson in that it is a study of Mark 15:34 from two different perspectives. As explained in the audio file, two of the elders at Benchley (Jesse Jenkins and Kevin Scott) take different views on this passage, so each man gave a short talk explaining his perspective. Like these two men say, we encourage you to study the passage, listen to their reasoning, and decide for yourself what you believe the passage is saying. - MRW]

• Jesse Jenkins:
  • Mark 15:34
  • Is this statement to be taken literally or as hyperbole?
  • This is hyperbole because of other statements Jesus made.
    • John 8:28-29
    • Luke 23:47-48 – This cry caused faith in those that heard it.
  • God has never forsaken one who does His will.
    • Isaiah 59:1-2 – Only sin separates us from God.
    • Ezekiel 18:2-4
    • Psalms 9:10 – Jesus was certainly seeking God!
  • Jesus was made to be a sin offering to bear away our sins. II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:23
  • Jesus plainly said that God would be with Him and not leave Him alone. John 8:29; 16:32
  • Jesus’ last words – “Father, unto thy hand I commend my Spirit.”
  • Psalm 22:1
• Kevin Scott
  • This is literal because the context is not figurative. Psalm 22 is also literal. David felt that he had literally been forsaken by God and then presented reasons why.
  • Just like the scapegoat had to leave the congregation to take away sin, Jesus had to separate from God to take away our sin.
  • II Corinthians 5:14-15 – Jesus experienced death for all of us. Jesus did not taste physical death for us (because we must all physically die). He tasted spiritual death for us so that we would not have to.
  • Matthew 18:34-35
  • Romans 6:3-4
  • John 8:28-29 – See John 8:16. What does it mean to be separated? What does it mean to be alone?
  • Mark 16:14 – The closest disciples did not believe the reports of the resurrection. Jesus quoting Psalm 22 on the cross was not enough to produce faith in them.

• 1 Corinthians 4:1
• We are servants and stewards (so life is not about us)
  • I Peter 4:10
  • I Corinthians 4:9-13
• We only answer to God (so don’t chase other standards)
  • I Corinthians 4:3-5
  • II Corinthians 10:10,12,18 – Don’t compare yourself to others. Look to God for the standard.
  • I Corinthians 1:20; 2:4; 3:19 – The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.
  • I Corinthians 4:6 – God’s standard is universal.
  • Mark 7:1-8
• Everything we have is something we have received.
  • I Corinthians 4:7-8 – All things we have are gifts from God.
  • I Corinthians 12:6-11 – The Corinthians were competing over having the “best” spiritual gifts.
  • I Corinthians 14:12
  • Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – We should not boast in our wealth except as a gift from God.
  • Ephesians 2:8-9 – Obedience allows us to reach out and take the gift of salvation that God has given us.
• I Corinthians 4:14

• Mark 15:34-16:16

• Mark 15:46 – With the tomb being hewn out of solid rock, there was no way for anyone to sneak the body of Jesus out of some back way. In other accounts (Matthew 27:61-66), we learn that the Romans secured the tomb with a guard.

• Mark 16:1-8 – Compare Matthew 28:1-10; John 20:17; Luke 24:1-12. The people touched Jesus after His resurrection, but Jesus told them not to cling to Him because He still had to ascend to Heaven. Luke’s account firmly puts Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week.

• Mark 16:14 – Jesus expected the disciples to believe in the testimony of others, which is what He expects of us today.

• Mark 16:16 – Some dispute this verse to get away from the baptism requirement, but other verses (such as Acts 2:38-40) clearly show that baptism is required. See also Matthew 28:18-20. If you do not believe, you cannot be baptized in the name of Jesus, so not believing implies not being baptized, which ends in condemnation.

• I Timothy 3:8-12
• Qualifications of deacons, continued:
  • “not fond of sordid gain” - I Timothy 3:8
  • “holding to the mystery of faith” - I Timothy 3:9
    • See Colossians 1:25 for another use of “mystery.”
    • See also II Corinthians 13:5.
  • “beyond reproach” - I Timothy 3:10
    • “must also first be tested” - “Also” here seems to be referring back to qualifications for elders. Deacons should be tested like elders are.
  • “women” - I Timothy 3:11
    • The Greek word translated “women” here can mean either “wife” or “woman” depending on the context. Since this verse occurs in the middle of a discussion on deacons and the next verse specifies that deacons must be male (i.e., be “husbands of only one wife”), the most natural interpretation would be that this is referring to the wives of deacons.
    • Qualifications for wives of deacons:
      • “dignified”
      • “not malicious gossips” - cf. II Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3
      • “temperate” - also, sober or sober-minded. See I Timothy 3:2.
      • “faithful in all things”
  • “husbands of only one wife” - I Timothy 3:12
    • See I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6 (cf. I Timothy 5:9)
    • This seems to indicate that a deacon must be married and in a scriptural marriage. If is not completely clear if a man could still be a deacon after his wife died.

• Psalm 51:9-14 – David needed a clean heart.
  • The Bible heart is:
    • Intellect: That with which man understands and believes. It is the intellect of man.
    • Emotion: That with which man loves and hates. Matthew 22:37
    • Willpower: That with which man obeys God. Romans 6:16-17
    • Conscience: The conscience of man – it approves or disapproves of our actions.
  • A heart is purified by a faith that obeys. Acts 10:9; Galatians 5:6; I Peter 1:21
  • David asked for a clean heart to be created within himself first. We must also look to purify ourselves. Colossians 3:17; Philippians 4:8
  • Psalms 51:11-12 - What we must do to be able to pray this prayer:
    • We must have the disposition to draw nigh to God. James 4:8
    • We must exercise self-discipline. I Corinthians 9:27
    • Refuse to go beyond the doctrine of Christ. II John 1:9