Articles and Notes
Mark 15
Chapter Fifteen Prevented by law from carrying out execution the religious leaders delivered Jesus to Pilate, who after letting Barnabas go free, scourged Jesus and delivered Him to be crucified (1-15). The Roman soldiers, after mocking Jesus and further striking Him, led Him out to be crucified, compelling Simon a Cyrenian to bear His cross along the way (16-21). At a place called Golgotha, Jesus is crucified with two thieves, blasphemed by passersby, mocked by the chief priests, and expires after six hours (22-41), witnessed by a group of women disciples. At the request of Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, Jesus is buried in a tomb observed by Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses (42-47). POINTS TO PONDER * The events leading to the crucifixion * The abuse Jesus suffered prior to His actual death * The mention of women who were witnesses of His death and burial REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What are the main points of this chapter? - Jesus before Pilate and the release of Barnabas - Mk 15:1-15 - Jesus mocked by soldiers and Simon compelled to carry His cross - Mk 15:16-21 - Jesus' crucifixion and death - Mk 15:22-41 - Jesus buried in Joseph's tomb - Mk 15:42-47 2) What did Jesus confess to Pilate? (2) - He was the King of the Jews 3) Who was released instead of Jesus? (6-15) - Barabbas, a notorious prisoner 4) What abuse did Pilate and the Roman soldiers inflict on Jesus? (15-20) - Scourged, crowned with thorns, struck with a reed, spat on, mocked 5) Who helped bear Jesus' cross? Where was Jesus crucified? (21-22) - Simon of Cyrene; Golgotha (Place of a Skull) 6) Who blasphemed, mocked, and reviled Jesus as He hung on the cross? (29-32) - Passersby, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the two thieves crucified with Him 7) What did the centurion confess following Jesus' death? (39) - "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" 8) Where was Jesus buried? Who saw where He was buried? (42-47) - In Joseph of Arimathea's tomb; Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses
Mark 15
Jesus faces Pilate
[Mar 15:1-47 NASB] 1 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "[It is as] you say." 3 The chief priests [began] to accuse Him harshly. 4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!" 5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.
Taking the place of Barabbas
6 Now at [the] feast he used to release for them [any] one prisoner whom they requested. 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The crowd went up and began asking him [to do] as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd [to ask] him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" 13 They shouted back, "Crucify Him!" 14 But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!" 15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
The soldiers mock Jesus
16 The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole [Roman] cohort. 17 They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; 18 and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 19 They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. 20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His [own] garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.
The King on a cross
21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross. 22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. 24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them [to decide] what each man should take. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read,
"THE KING OF THE JEWS."
27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 28 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with transgressors."] 29 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, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" 31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking [Him] among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32 "Let [this] Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!" Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
Jesus dies on the cross
33 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they [began] saying, "Behold, He is calling for Elijah." 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down." 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" 40 There were also [some] women looking on from a distance, among whom [were] Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and [there were] many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Jesus is buried in Joseph's tomb
42 When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. 45 And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the [mother] of Joses were looking on [to see] where He was laid.
40 - should be James the Little