The Bible Says Commentary on Mark 15

Mark 15:1, Jesus's Third Religious Trial: Sunrise Trial before the Sanhedrin Council. The Sanhedrin conducts its official sunrise trial of Jesus, in which the Jewish leaders quickly reaffirm their predetermined verdict of death before binding Him and delivering Him to Pilate, thereby concluding His religious trial and beginning His Roman civil trial.

Mark 15:2-5: Pilate Investigates Jesus. Pilate questions Jesus about the charges brought against Him. The chief priests are harsh in their accusations, and Pilate gives Jesus an opportunity to counter their accusations, but Jesus remains silent, to Pilate's amazement. The First Phase of Jesus's Civil Trial: Jesus's Arraignment before Pilate

Mark 15:6-7: Mark's Interjection about "the Passover Pardon." Mark interrupts his narrative of Jesus's civil trial to explain Pilate's custom each year at Passover of releasing one prisoner favored by the people. The prisoner who is put forth as an alternative to Jesus is Barabbas, an insurrectionist and murderer.

Mark 15:8-10: The Third and Final Phase of Jesus's Civil Trial Begins. Mark describes Pilate's second attempt to release Jesus by means of the customary Passover pardon. As the crowd asks Pilate to release a prisoner according to his custom, the governor offers to release Jesus, whom he knows was handed over by the chief priests because of envy. Mark highlights Pilate's political awareness while setting the stage for the crowd's demand that Barabbas be released instead.

Mark 15:11-15: Pilate's Judgement. The chief priests stir up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus instead. Pilate repeatedly questions the crowd about what Jesus has done to deserve death, but they shout all the more for Him to be crucified. Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate releases Barabbas, has Jesus scourged, and hands Him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:16-19: The Scourging and Mocking of Jesus. Mark records how the Roman soldiers physically abused and cruelly mocked Jesus during His civil trial. After they scourge Him, the soldiers dress Him up as a ridiculous king, complete with a robe, a crown of thorns, and a reed for a scepter. They act out a charade of paying homage to "the King of the Jews," beat Him with the "scepter," and spit on Him. This passage is Mark's account of the Roman soldiers' physical and social abuse of Jesus. It occurred within the third phase of Jesus's Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate's Judgment."

Mark 15:20-21: The Crucifixion Route to Calvary. The Roman soldiers finish mocking Jesus, remove the purple robe, put His own garments back on Him, and lead Him away to be crucified. Along the way, they compel Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry Jesus's cross. Jesus thus begins the final journey to the place of His execution, bearing the humiliation and suffering that accompany His mission to give His life as a ransom for many.

Mark 15:22-26: Jesus Is Brought to Golgotha and Crucified. The Roman soldiers bring Jesus to the hill of Golgotha, offer Him wine mixed with myrrh, and crucify Him at the third hour. Jesus refuses the offered drink, and after crucifying Him, the soldiers divide His garments by casting lots for them. Above Jesus is written the charge against Him: "THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Mark 15:27-28: Jesus Is Crucified between Two Robbers and Numbered with Transgressors. Jesus is crucified between two robbers, one on His right and one on His left. By being executed alongside these criminals, the innocent Jesus was counted among lawbreakers and treated as though He were one of them. Mark explicitly explains that this fulfilled the Messianic prophecy that said: "And He was numbered with transgressors."

Mark 15:29-32: Jesus Is Mocked on the Cross. Jesus is mocked by those passing by, the chief priests and scribes, and even the men who were crucified beside Him. His mockers challenge Jesus to prove that He is the Messiah by saving Himself and coming down from the cross. Ironically, Jesus does not save Himself because He is the Messiah who came to save others by faithfully remaining on the cross and giving His life as a ransom for many.

Mark 15:33: The Crucifixion Darkness. Mark describes the mysterious darkness that fell over the whole land during Jesus's final three hours on the cross. This darkness symbolized the disorder, evil, mourning, and divine judgment associated with Jesus’s death and His bearing the sins of the world. The darkness also fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies and signaled the transition from the wrath of man against Jesus to the wrath of God against the sin which Jesus bore on humanity's behalf.

Mark 15:34: Jesus Cries Out, "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?" At the conclusion of the three hours of crucifixion darkness, Jesus exclaims: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" His words quote Psalm 22:1, which prophetically describes the Messiah's suffering, death, and ultimate vindication. His outcry also provides the Gospel's clearest glimpse into Jesus's spiritual suffering as He bore the sins of the world and endured separation from God.

Mark 15:35-36: The Bystanders Mistake Jesus's Cry for a Call to Elijah. Some of the bystanders misunderstand Jesus's anguished cry to God and mistakenly think He is calling for the prophet Elijah. Someone runs to give Jesus sour wine from a sponge placed on a reed, while the bystanders wait to see whether Elijah will come to take Jesus down from the cross.

Mark 15:37: Jesus Dies on the Cross. After suffering on the cross for approximately six hours, Jesus utters a loud cry and breathes His last. Jesus's death fulfills Old Testament prophecy, completes His mission as God's Servant, and makes the Gospel possible.

Mark 15:38: The Temple Veil is Torn in Two. A supernatural sign immediately follows Jesus's death. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that Jesus's sacrificial death had removed the barrier separating sinful humanity from holy God. Mark briefly records this powerful sign, while Matthew provides an expanded account of additional supernatural phenomena that accompanied Jesus's death.

Mark 15:39: The Centurion's Confession. Standing directly in front of Jesus, a centurion sees the way Jesus breathes His last and declares: "Truly this man was the Son of God!" The centurion’s confession is especially significant in Mark's Gospel because a Roman soldier recognizes the identity of Jesus as the Son of God after witnessing how He faithfully suffers and dies.

Mark 15:40-41: The Women Who Witnessed Jesus's Crucifixion. Mark 15:40-41 reports that there were women looking on from a distance as Jesus died on the cross. Mark identifies three of these faithful women as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and Mark adds that many other women who came up with Jesus to Jerusalem were also present.

Mark 15:42-47: The Burial of Jesus. Mark 15:42-47 describes how Joseph of Arimathea courageously asks Pilate for Jesus's body so that He can be buried before the Sabbath begins. After Pilate verifies Jesus's death through the centurion, Joseph takes His body down from the cross, wraps it in linen, and lays it in a rock-cut tomb before rolling a stone against the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses witness where Jesus is buried, establishing that the women who will soon discover the empty tomb knew exactly where His body had been laid.