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Mark 15 Jesus Teaches and Feeds the Crowd

1 Jesus Before Pilate
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

3 The chief priests accused him of many things.

4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

6 Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested.

7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.

8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,

10 knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

16 The Soldiers Mock Jesus
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers.

17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”

19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

21 The Crucifixion
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).

23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

25 It was the third hour when they crucified him.

26 The written notice 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.

29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30 come down from the cross and save yourself!”

31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!

32 Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

33 The Death of Jesus
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

42 The Burial of Jesus
It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.

45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

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Analysis of Mark Chapter 15

Mark Chapter 15 captures the climactic sequences in the passion narrative of Jesus Christ, detailing His trial, crucifixion, death, and burial. This chapter is a pivotal but somber moment in the Gospel according to Mark, and it brings to the forefront themes of injustice, suffering, and divine sovereignty. Let’s delve into the various parts of this chapter and unpack its rich theological, historical, and personal implications for believers and students of the Bible alike.

Verses 1-5: Jesus Before Pilate

The chapter opens with Jesus being handed over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. The Jewish authorities, having condemned Jesus in the previous chapter, now seek Roman authority to execute Him. This move is politically significant as only the Roman authorities had the power to crucify.

“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate” (Mark 15:1).

Here, Mark highlights the corruption and the urgency of the Sanhedrin’s efforts to eliminate Jesus. The early hour indicates a hasty, somewhat clandestine decision, likely to avoid public intervention. Pilate’s question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (v. 2), and Jesus’ ambiguous response, “You have said so,” exposes the contrasting nature of Jesus’ kingship compared to worldly expectations. Jesus’ silence in verses 4-5, even when confronted with multiple accusations, fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant who “did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

Verses 6-15: The Release of Barabbas and Condemnation of Jesus

Pilate, recognizing the innocence of Jesus and the ulterior motives of the chief priests, offers to release one prisoner as was the custom during Passover (v. 6-10). The crowd, incited by the chief priests, demands the release of Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, over Jesus (v. 11). This decision reflects a profound irony and moral inversion. The innocent Jesus is condemned while the guilty Barabbas is freed.

Pilate’s acquiescence to the crowd’s demands (v. 15), despite his awareness of Jesus’ innocence, could be seen as an act of political expediency. Pilate’s actions demonstrate human weakness and the manipulative power of mob mentality, further emphasizing the injustice faced by Jesus.

Verses 16-20: Mockery by the Roman Soldiers

Verses 16-20 describe the actions of the Roman soldiers who mock Jesus by dressing Him in a purple robe, placing a crown of thorns on His head, and saluting Him with, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (v. 18). This mock coronation starkly contrasts with Jesus’ true kingship, characterized by humility and sacrificial love. The soldiers’ actions underscore the brutal and dehumanizing nature of Jesus’ suffering, fulfilling prophecies like Psalm 22: “All who see me ridicule me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head” (Psalm 22:7).

Verses 21-32: The Crucifixion

Mark then shifts to the crucifixion scene. Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry Jesus’ cross (v. 21). This small but significant detail showcases human participation in the divine plan. Simon’s unexpected involvement represents a call to discipleship, echoing Jesus’ earlier teaching: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

The place of crucifixion, Golgotha, means “the place of the skull” (v. 22), symbolizing death and human mortality. Jesus is nailed to the cross between two criminals, fulfilling Isaiah 53:12: “He was numbered with the transgressors.” The inscription of the charge against Him, “The King of the Jews” (v. 26), and the mockery from passersby (v. 29-32) reflect the deep misunderstanding and rejection of Jesus’ identity and mission. Despite their scorn, Jesus’ kingship is paradoxically affirmed through His suffering.

Verses 33-41: The Death of Jesus

Mark poignantly describes Jesus’ final moments. Darkness covers the land from noon until three in the afternoon (v. 33), a phenomenon often interpreted as a manifestation of divine judgment and cosmic mourning. At the ninth hour, Jesus cries out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (v. 34), which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This cry, quoting Psalm 22, highlights the depth of Jesus’ suffering, embodying the sense of abandonment and the weight of divine judgment upon sin.

Jesus’ loud cry and subsequent death (v. 37) signify the completion of His sacrificial mission. The tearing of the temple curtain (v. 38) symbolizes the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, opening direct access to the divine presence. The centurion’s exclamation, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (v. 39), serves as a powerful Gentile testimony to Jesus’ true identity, countering earlier mockery and rejection.

Verses 42-47: The Burial of Jesus

In the concluding verses, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, courageously asks Pilate for Jesus’ body and provides a tomb for His burial (v. 43-46). This act of devotion and reverence foreshadows the hope of resurrection, as burial is the precursor to new life. The presence of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses (v. 47) demonstrates the continued faithfulness of Jesus’ followers, setting the stage for the resurrection narrative in the subsequent chapter.

Deeper Reflections and Contemporary Applications

This chapter offers profound insights into the nature of Jesus’ kingship, emphasizing themes of humility, suffering, and sacrificial love. It challenges contemporary readers to recognize and align with the true nature of God’s kingdom, which subverts worldly power structures and values. The injustice faced by Jesus mirrors the injustices present in the world today, calling believers to advocate for truth and righteousness.

Jesus’ silent responses to accusations and His serene acceptance of suffering provide a model for enduring trials with faith and integrity. His cry of abandonment and the tearing of the temple curtain invite believers into a deeper understanding of God’s presence and the transformative power of suffering.

In Summary

  • The trial before Pilate exposes the corrupt motives of the Jewish authorities and the political expediency of Roman governance.
  • The release of Barabbas and the condemnation of Jesus highlight the inversion of justice and the irony of Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice.
  • The soldiers’ mockery and the crucifixion narrative reveal the dehumanizing nature of Jesus’ suffering and its fulfillment of prophetic scriptures.
  • Jesus’ death and the tearing of the temple curtain signify the completion of His redemptive mission and the opening of direct access to God.
  • The burial by Joseph of Arimathea and the presence of the women followers demonstrate continued faithfulness and foreshadow the hope of resurrection.

Mark Chapter 15 thus stands as a powerful testament to the depths of Jesus’ love and His ultimate victory over sin and death, inviting readers to enter into the mystery of the cross and to live in the light of its transformative power.