The Gospel According to
Mark 15
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In this chapter
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
Pilate
So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.
Pilate
Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”
But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.
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Jesus made no further reply
Mark 15:5
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing. And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.
Pilate
“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Pilate asked. For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.
Pilate Delivers Up Jesus
Pilate
So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
The crowds
And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”
Pilate
“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?”
The crowds
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
In his place
Whiteboard
Mark tells it plainly. The guilty man went free, and the innocent One took the cross that was waiting for him. Everyone who follows Jesus stands where Barabbas stood.
Reflect
Where Barabbas stood
Pilate “released Barabbas to them” and “handed Him over to be crucified.” Barabbas did nothing to earn his freedom. Picture yourself walking out of that prison. What do you want to say to the One who took your place?
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
The Crucifixion
It was the third hour when they crucified Him. And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.
Those passing by
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, come down from the cross and save Yourself!”
Chief priests & scribes
In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!”
And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.
He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!
Mark 15:31
Question
Quick question
On the road out of the city, the soldiers stopped a man coming in from the country.
Who was forced to carry the cross of Jesus?
The Death of Jesus
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
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At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”
And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”
But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.
The Son of God
Whiteboard
Mark’s first line names Jesus the Son of God. The Father says it, and the demons know it. But the first human being in Mark to say it out loud is a Roman soldier, watching Jesus die.
The Burial of Jesus
Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so. When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where His body was placed.
Pray
Waiting for the kingdom
Joseph was “waiting for the kingdom of God,” and on the darkest evening he stepped forward. The women stayed and “saw where His body was placed.” Ask God for that kind of quiet courage: to stay near Jesus when it costs you something, and to keep waiting for what He has promised.
You’ve experienced
Mark 15
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A verse to carry with you
Truly this man was the Son of God!
Mark 15:39
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