1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.
2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”
3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.
4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.”
5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.
7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.
8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them.
9 And Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”
10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.
12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”
13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”
14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.”
15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion.
17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him.
18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19 And they struck his head with a reed and spat on him and knelt down in homage to him.
20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull).
23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.
25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him.
26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”
27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
28 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.”
29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.
32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”
36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, 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 curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead.
45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.
46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
The True Meaning of Mark 15
The Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical gospels, was written by John Mark, a companion of the apostle Peter. Mark’s account provides a vivid and concise narrative of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We witness the final hours of Jesus’ earthly life as he is condemned, crucified, and laid to rest in this pivotal chapter. The events described here echo the prophecies found in the Old Testament, such as the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. We will see how Jesus, the Messiah, willingly submits to the will of God, fulfilling his mission to redeem humanity.
The chapter begins with the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Despite Pilate’s attempts to release him, the crowd demands the crucifixion of Jesus, choosing the notorious criminal Barabbas instead. We will then follow Jesus as he is led to Golgotha, the place of the Skull, where he is crucified between two criminals. The temple curtain is torn in two as Jesus breathes his last, signifying the end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new.
Mark 15:1-5
The focus in Mark 15:1-5 is on the trial of Jesus before Pilate. The section can be divided into several important parts for deeper analysis.
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**Verse 1: “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. The religious leaders hand Jesus over to Pilate in this verse. It is significant to note that the religious leaders were the ones who were threatened by Jesus’ teachings and perceived Him as a threat to their authority. They sought to have Jesus condemned to death by involving Pilate, who was the Roman authority, as the Jews did not have the legal authority to carry out a death sentence.
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Verse 2-3: “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. The chief priests accused him of many things.”
Here, Pilate questions Jesus about being the King of the Jews. Pilate may have been trying to discern whether Jesus posed a political threat to Roman authority. Jesus’ response, “You have said so,” can be seen as a subtle affirmation of His kingship, although His kingdom was not of this world. The chief priests, on the other hand, bring various accusations against Jesus, trying to portray Him as a threat to society. -
Verse 4-5: “So again Pilate asked him, ‘Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.’ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.”
Pilate, being the Roman governor, was accustomed to individuals defending themselves vigorously. Jesus, however, responded with silence. This silence was in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 which says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Jesus’ silence demonstrated His submission to the Father’s will and His ultimate sacrifice for humanity.
This portion of Mark 15 showcases the injustice and mockery of Jesus’ trial. Despite the false accusations and the attempts to manipulate Pilate, Jesus remained resolute and fulfilled His mission of redemption. It also highlights the contrast between the earthly kingdom that Pilate and the Jews were concerned about and the spiritual kingdom that Jesus represented. The timeless message here is one of unwavering faith in the face of adversity, the fulfillment of prophecies, and the ultimate victory of God’s plan despite the temporary triumph of human injustice.
Mark 15:6-15
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, offers to release one prisoner during the Passover festival as a gesture of goodwill towards the Jewish people in Mark 15:6-15. The people present have the choice between Jesus, whom Pilate recognizes as innocent, and Barabbas, a notorious prisoner. This decision presents a powerful depiction of the contrast between the innocent Jesus and the guilty Barabbas.
The choice between Jesus and Barabbas embodies the theme of substitutionary atonement, a central concept in Christian theology. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, willingly takes the place of Barabbas, a criminal, reflecting the idea that Jesus would ultimately give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). This exchange signifies the divine exchange of Jesus’ righteousness for our sinfulness, revealing the depth of God’s love and the lengths He was willing to go to save humanity (Romans 5:8).
The crowd’s decision to choose Barabbas over Jesus unveils the tragic reality of human nature’s propensity to reject and choose sin over righteousness. This choice exposes the people’s hearts, demonstrating their preference for a temporal revolutionary figure like Barabbas over the eternal savior Jesus Christ. It serves as a poignant illustration of the universal need for salvation and the inherent brokenness within humanity that necessitates the redemptive work of Christ (Romans 3:23).
Pilate’s attempt to release Jesus reflects his recognition of Jesus’ innocence but also his political maneuvering to placate the crowd and maintain order. Despite knowing the truth about Jesus, Pilate succumbs to the pressure of the religious leaders and the crowd, ultimately condemning Jesus to crucifixion. This underscores the moral failure and cowardice of Pilate, who prioritized expediency over justice, yielding to the demands of men rather than aligning himself with the truth, echoing the biblical truth that fear of man brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25). God’s redemptive plan unfolds in this passage through the divine exchange of Jesus for Barabbas, shedding light on the profound love and mercy of God towards humanity. The choice between Jesus and Barabbas serves as a poignant reminder of the gravity of sin, the need for a sacrificial substitute, and the costly price paid for our salvation. Christ willingly took our place, so that we might have forgiveness and eternal life through Him, moving us as we reflect on this passage.
Mark 15:16-20
The verses in Mark 15:16-20 describe the events leading up to Jesus being crucified. The soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, which was the residence of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. They gathered the whole company of soldiers around Jesus, stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him, as well as a crown of thorns that they twisted together and placed on his head. They mocked him, calling out, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They also struck him on the head with a staff, spat on him, and knelt down in mock worship before him.
This scene is a solemn and powerful depiction of the cruelty and humiliation that Jesus faced before His crucifixion. It shows the extent of the physical and emotional suffering that Jesus endured for the sake of humanity. The soldiers’ actions, although done in mockery, unwittingly fulfill prophecies from the Old Testament regarding the suffering of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 50:6 describes how the Messiah would offer His back to those who beat Him and His cheeks to those who pulled out His beard. This demonstrates that even in His suffering, Jesus was fulfilling the purpose for which He came to earth.
The soldiers’ actions also reveal the irony of the situation. While they mockingly dressed Jesus as a king and bowed before him, they failed to recognize that He is indeed the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Their actions unknowingly highlight the contrast between the earthly perception of power and the eternal truth of God’s sovereignty. This event serves as a reminder of the spiritual blindness that can cloud people’s understanding of Jesus’ true identity, even when it is right in front of them.
Furthermore, this passage emphasizes the theme of humility and submission in the face of persecution. Despite the injustice and cruelty directed towards Him, Jesus remained humble and obedient to the Father’s will. His example of enduring suffering with patience, grace, and forgiveness serves as a model for believers to follow in their own lives. Philippians 2:8 reflects this humility, stating that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” This act of humility and obedience ultimately leads to the redemption and salvation of humanity. The soldiers mock and mistreat Jesus in Mark 15:16-20, serving as a poignant reminder of the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice and the magnitude of His love for humanity. It challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes towards suffering, humility, and obedience in our walk with Christ.
Mark 15:21-32
Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry the cross of Jesus in Mark 15:21-32. This act of Simon being called upon to help Jesus with His burden is significant. It illustrates the concept of compassion and shared burdens within the Christian faith. Simon, who was just passing by, was brought into this pivotal moment in history to assist Jesus in carrying the weight of the cross, showing us the importance of helping others in their times of need. Jesus is crucified along with two criminals as the scene progresses. This fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah 53:12 which mentions the sharing of transgressors’ fate. The presence of the two criminals emphasizes the idea of choice and redemption. One criminal mocks Jesus, displaying an unrepentant heart, while the other acknowledges Jesus’ innocence and asks for His mercy. Jesus grants salvation to the repentant criminal, showing His boundless grace and forgiveness to all who seek it. This interaction serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of repentance and faith in receiving God’s mercy and salvation.
The passage also includes the mocking and taunting of Jesus by both the crowd and the religious leaders. They challenge Jesus to save Himself if He truly is the Son of God. This mockery is a stark contrast to the profound truth of who Jesus really is. Despite the insults and jeers, Jesus remains steadfast in His mission to bring salvation to humanity. This moment underscores the theme of endurance and faithfulness in the face of adversity, exemplified by Jesus’s unwavering commitment to fulfilling God’s plan even amidst intense persecution.
Additionally, at the moment of Jesus’ death, darkness covers the land for three hours. This darkness symbolizes the weight of sin and the separation from God that humanity experiences as a result of sin. It is a powerful visual representation of the spiritual significance of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus overcame the darkness of sin and provided a way for humanity to be reconciled with God, as highlighted in John 8:12 where Jesus declares Himself as the light of the world. The events depicted in Mark 15:21-32 serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrificial love, redemption, and forgiveness offered through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The passage invites us to reflect on our own response to Jesus’s sacrifice and to embrace the transformative power of His grace in our lives. It challenges us to choose faith and repentance like the thief on the cross, to stand firm in our beliefs amidst opposition, and to carry each other’s burdens with compassion, mirroring the actions of Simon of Cyrene.
Mark 15:33-41
The focus in Mark 15:33-41 is on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This passage begins with verse 33, “At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.” This darkness symbolizes the weight of sin and the separation from God that Jesus experienced as he took upon himself the sins of the world. This darkness also serves as a powerful visual representation of the gravity of the crucifixion and the profound sacrifice being made for humanity’s salvation. The darkness during the crucifixion is also mentioned in other Gospel accounts, such as in Matthew 27:45 and Luke 23:44-45, emphasizing its significance.
Verse 34 records Jesus crying out in Aramaic, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This cry is poignant and reveals the depth of the suffering and the spiritual separation Jesus experienced on the cross as he bore the sins of the world. It also fulfills the prophecy in Psalm 22:1, where David foretold the Messiah’s suffering. This moment of abandonment and anguish underscores the immense sacrifice Jesus made for humanity’s redemption and demonstrates his humanity as he faced the ultimate price for our sins. The centurion who stood at the foot of the cross responds in verse 39. The centurion, witnessing the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion, acknowledges, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” This declaration by a Roman centurion, who would have been a Gentile unfamiliar with Jewish prophecies, highlights the universal significance of Jesus’ crucifixion. It signifies that through the death of Jesus, salvation is made available not only to the Jews but to all people, fulfilling the promise of God’s redemption for all nations as foretold in the Old Testament (Isaiah 49:6).
The passage concludes with the mention of several women who had followed and supported Jesus during his ministry, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Younger and of Joses, and Salome. These women are noted for their loyalty and faithfulness to Jesus, staying with him even in his darkest hour. Their presence at the cross contrasts with the absence of many of Jesus’ male disciples, highlighting their courage and commitment. This also speaks to the value Jesus placed on women and their important role in his ministry, countering the cultural norms of the time that often marginalized women. Mark 15:33-41 captures the profound significance of Jesus’ crucifixion, portraying the darkness, agony, and ultimate victory of the cross. It underscores the fulfillment of prophecies, the universal nature of salvation through Christ, and the unwavering loyalty of Jesus’ followers. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the depth of God’s love for humanity, the cost of redemption, and the call for believers to remain steadfast in faith even in the face of suffering and adversity.
Mark 15:42-47
We witness the burial of Jesus after His crucifixion in Mark 15:42-47. This passage highlights the actions of two individuals, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who took it upon themselves to respectfully bury Jesus. Joseph, a prominent member of the Jewish council, had secretly been a disciple of Jesus. Despite the risks and potential backlash from his fellow council members, Joseph went to Pilate to request Jesus’ body for burial. This act of bravery and devotion signifies Joseph’s acknowledgment of Jesus as the true Son of God, and his willingness to publicly align himself with Jesus even in His darkest hour.
Nicodemus, on the other hand, is mentioned here as assisting Joseph in the burial process, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, and wrapping Jesus’ body in linen cloths. Nicodemus was previously introduced in the Gospel of John (John 3:1-21) as a Pharisee who came to Jesus seeking spiritual guidance. Through his involvement in Jesus’ burial, we see Nicodemus transitioning from a seeker of truth to a follower willing to publicly display his support for Jesus, despite the risks associated with going against the religious establishment.
The actions of Joseph and Nicodemus in ensuring a proper burial for Jesus speak to the themes of courage, loyalty, and the fulfillment of prophecy in the Bible. Their willingness to go against the norms of their society and align themselves with Jesus, even after His death, demonstrates the profound impact that Jesus had on those who encountered Him. The care and reverence they showed in preparing Jesus’ body for burial also serve as a powerful example of honoring the dignity of the deceased, reflecting the importance of treating others with respect and compassion, even in death.
Furthermore, the burial of Jesus fulfills the prophecies foretold in the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah 53:9 which states, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” This prophecy emphasizes the innocence of Jesus and the honorable burial He would receive, despite being crucified alongside criminals. Through Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, God orchestrated the fulfillment of His Word, underscoring the divine plan that was at work in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The account of Jesus’ burial in Mark 15:42-47 serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrificial love of Christ, the courage of His followers, and the fulfillment of prophecy in Scripture. It challenges us to consider our own response to Jesus – are we willing to stand boldly for Him, even in the face of opposition? Are we prepared to honor Him with our actions and attitudes, reflecting His love and grace to those around us? May the example of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus inspire us to live out our faith with conviction and devotion, regardless of the challenges we may face.
After Mark 15
The soldiers led Jesus away and crucified him. They mocked him, saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” At noon, darkness covered the land until three in the afternoon. Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He breathed his last and died.
The centurion who stood there saw how Jesus died and declared, “Surely this man was the Son of God. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body as the sun set. He wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. The women watched where he was laid. This was the end of Jesus’ earthly life, but his story does not end here. For on the third day, the tomb would be found empty, and the world would never be the same.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.