Jesus’ suffering and death open the way to God for all people, and those who recognize Him as the Son of God can enter into a restored relationship with the Father in a new covenant of grace.
Mark 15:33-39Mark 15:33-39 commentary begins with, Whenthe sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour (v. 33). This sixth hour corresponds to around noon by Jewish reckoning, a time of day when the sun would normally shine brightest. Yet here, an inexplicable darkness cloaks the region for roughly three hours. The term “the whole land” points to the general area around Jerusalem in Judea, the central region of ancient Israel that was under Roman rule at this time, in approximately AD 30-33. This supernatural darkness underscores the gravity of Jesus’ crucifixion, signifying that all creation was bearing witness to the immense spiritual transaction at work.
The darkness may also recall earlier scriptural events where darkness indicated divine judgment or an extraordinary move of God (Exodus 10:21-22Exodus 10:21-22 commentary). Such Old Testament allusions emphasize the weight of the moment, in which the Messiah is fulfilling centuries of prophecy and bringing to culmination the redemption plan for humanity.
In a literal sense, this darkness underscores Jesus standing in the place of sinners, cut off and alone (Isaiah 53:4-6Isaiah 53:4-6 commentary). It sets the stage for the subsequent words He will cry out and the momentous events that will follow, both at the cross and within the temple itself.
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?’ (v. 34). This cry at around 3 p.m. echoes Psalm 22:1Psalm 22:1 commentary, commentary where the psalmist laments apparent separation from God. Jesus, being an observant Jew, invokes the psalm’s words to express the depth of His suffering. He draws attention to the fulfillment of Scripture, pointing to a prophetic passage linked to the Messiah’s anguish.
This expressed separation also highlights the mystery of Jesus willingly enduring the foundational consequence of sin: complete separation from the Father. In so doing, He shoulders the penalty due to humanity (Romans 5:8Romans 5:8 commentary), fulfilling the picture of the Suffering Servant. While profound distress fills His words, they also ring with trust, since Psalm 22Psalm 22 commentary ultimately concludes with hope and vindication.
These words reveal the cost of redemption. They show that salvation is not purchased through superficial means but at the highest spiritual price, as the Son of God momentarily experiences the full consequence of humanity’s transgressions in the presence of a holy God.
When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, ‘Behold, He is calling for Elijah.’ (v. 35). The bystanders misinterpret Jesus’ Aramaic cry of “Eloi” as a reference to Elijah, the prophet who lived in the ninth century BC during the reign of King Ahab. According to tradition, Elijah never died but was taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2:112 Kings 2:11 commentary). Some in first-century Judea expected Elijah’s return in times of this magnitude, especially associated with the coming Messiah (Malachi 4:5Malachi 4:5 commentary).
Their confusion reflects a misunderstanding of what Jesus was truly saying. It also highlights the cultural anticipation surrounding Elijah’s role in God’s redemptive plan. Rather than simply dismissing the moment, these onlookers try to fit this supernatural event into the prophetic expectations of their day, looking for Elijah to appear in spectacular fashion.
This response from the crowd underscores the mixture of awe and uncertainty present at the crucifixion scene. People clamored for a sign, not fully grasping that a far greater act of deliverance was already unfolding through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.
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.’ (v. 36). The offer of sour wine, a cheap drink commonly used to quench thirst among soldiers and the lower class, was an attempt to alleviate some of Jesus’ physical distress. Yet it also served as a taunt, as the bystanders looked on to see if Elijah would manifest miraculously.
The mention of sour wine recalls Psalm 69:21Psalm 69:21 commentary, commentary yet another prophecy pointing to Messiah’s afflictions. Through the small detail of giving Him a sponge soaked in this common drink, Scripture’s interwoven threads become clearer, foreshadowing—even in humiliation—the fulfilling of ancient writings that spoke of the Redeemer’s suffering.
This moment reveals both a fleeting gesture of pity and an undercurrent of mocking curiosity. It shows how human hearts can stand at the edge of God’s greatest revelation but cling to worldly expectations instead of receiving the fullness found in Christ.
And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. (v. 37). This short statement records the climactic moment of the crucifixion, marking Jesus’ death on the cross. Despite the exhaustion and agony of crucifixion, His final breath was supplied with a “loud cry,” showing His sovereign control over the timing of His death. He entrusts His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46Luke 23:46 commentary).
Jesus’ physical death was not the end of His story; instead, it was the act through which God’s redemptive plan for humanity was enacted. By allowing Himself to die, He took upon Himself the judgment for sin, offering salvation to all who believe (John 3:16John 3:16 commentary). In this way, even in the moment of deepest sorrow, a foundation was laid for the final victory—His resurrection.
This climax of the crucifixion underscores Jesus’ role as the perfect sacrifice. The Savior’s mission to bear the sins of the world concludes in submission to the Father’s will, revealing the depth of divine love that goes beyond human understanding.
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (v. 38). In Jerusalem’s temple, this veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the barrier between God and humanity. Its tearing indicates that through Jesus’ death, access to God was now made open to all who would believe (Hebrews 10:19-20Hebrews 10:19-20 commentary).
The fact that the veil ripped from top to bottom signifies it was the hand of God moving from heaven downward. No human strength could accomplish this feat, and no mere human tradition could bridge the gap of sin. The timing of the torn veil aligned precisely with Jesus’ final breath, reinforcing the direct connection between His atoning death and the removal of the separation between a holy God and sinful people.
This powerful sign is central to understanding the new covenant. Instead of approaching God through repeated sacrificial rituals, believers can now come boldly and freely, clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:212 Corinthians 5:21 commentary).
Then, Whenthe 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!’ (v. 39). Standing at the foot of the cross was a Roman officer, likely in charge of a contingent of soldiers. This centurion would have been part of the Roman military presence stationed in first-century Judea under the governance of Pontius Pilate (serving AD 26-36). His proclamation reflects a soldier’s witness to the extraordinary events surrounding Jesus’ death.
The centurion’s words track with the Gospel’s overarching aim: to reveal Jesus as the Son of God. This confession from a Gentile soldier shows the universal scope of Jesus’ mission, extending beyond the Jewish people to all the nations. It also displays the immediate impact of the cross, evoking awe and a profession of faith in those who were not anticipating the Messiah.
This final declaration in the passage captures the heart of Mark’s message, inviting every reader to rise to the same conclusion. The saving power of Jesus’ sacrifice is realized when a person beholds Him—in His suffering and victory—and declares by faith that He truly is the Son of God.
Set to dark mode
Mark 15:33-39 meaning
Mark 15:33-39Mark 15:33-39 commentary begins with, When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour (v. 33). This sixth hour corresponds to around noon by Jewish reckoning, a time of day when the sun would normally shine brightest. Yet here, an inexplicable darkness cloaks the region for roughly three hours. The term “the whole land” points to the general area around Jerusalem in Judea, the central region of ancient Israel that was under Roman rule at this time, in approximately AD 30-33. This supernatural darkness underscores the gravity of Jesus’ crucifixion, signifying that all creation was bearing witness to the immense spiritual transaction at work.
The darkness may also recall earlier scriptural events where darkness indicated divine judgment or an extraordinary move of God (Exodus 10:21-22Exodus 10:21-22 commentary). Such Old Testament allusions emphasize the weight of the moment, in which the Messiah is fulfilling centuries of prophecy and bringing to culmination the redemption plan for humanity.
In a literal sense, this darkness underscores Jesus standing in the place of sinners, cut off and alone (Isaiah 53:4-6Isaiah 53:4-6 commentary). It sets the stage for the subsequent words He will cry out and the momentous events that will follow, both at the cross and within the temple itself.
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?’ (v. 34). This cry at around 3 p.m. echoes Psalm 22:1Psalm 22:1 commentary, commentary where the psalmist laments apparent separation from God. Jesus, being an observant Jew, invokes the psalm’s words to express the depth of His suffering. He draws attention to the fulfillment of Scripture, pointing to a prophetic passage linked to the Messiah’s anguish.
This expressed separation also highlights the mystery of Jesus willingly enduring the foundational consequence of sin: complete separation from the Father. In so doing, He shoulders the penalty due to humanity (Romans 5:8Romans 5:8 commentary), fulfilling the picture of the Suffering Servant. While profound distress fills His words, they also ring with trust, since Psalm 22Psalm 22 commentary ultimately concludes with hope and vindication.
These words reveal the cost of redemption. They show that salvation is not purchased through superficial means but at the highest spiritual price, as the Son of God momentarily experiences the full consequence of humanity’s transgressions in the presence of a holy God.
When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, ‘Behold, He is calling for Elijah.’ (v. 35). The bystanders misinterpret Jesus’ Aramaic cry of “Eloi” as a reference to Elijah, the prophet who lived in the ninth century BC during the reign of King Ahab. According to tradition, Elijah never died but was taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2:112 Kings 2:11 commentary). Some in first-century Judea expected Elijah’s return in times of this magnitude, especially associated with the coming Messiah (Malachi 4:5Malachi 4:5 commentary).
Their confusion reflects a misunderstanding of what Jesus was truly saying. It also highlights the cultural anticipation surrounding Elijah’s role in God’s redemptive plan. Rather than simply dismissing the moment, these onlookers try to fit this supernatural event into the prophetic expectations of their day, looking for Elijah to appear in spectacular fashion.
This response from the crowd underscores the mixture of awe and uncertainty present at the crucifixion scene. People clamored for a sign, not fully grasping that a far greater act of deliverance was already unfolding through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.
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.’ (v. 36). The offer of sour wine, a cheap drink commonly used to quench thirst among soldiers and the lower class, was an attempt to alleviate some of Jesus’ physical distress. Yet it also served as a taunt, as the bystanders looked on to see if Elijah would manifest miraculously.
The mention of sour wine recalls Psalm 69:21Psalm 69:21 commentary, commentary yet another prophecy pointing to Messiah’s afflictions. Through the small detail of giving Him a sponge soaked in this common drink, Scripture’s interwoven threads become clearer, foreshadowing—even in humiliation—the fulfilling of ancient writings that spoke of the Redeemer’s suffering.
This moment reveals both a fleeting gesture of pity and an undercurrent of mocking curiosity. It shows how human hearts can stand at the edge of God’s greatest revelation but cling to worldly expectations instead of receiving the fullness found in Christ.
And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. (v. 37). This short statement records the climactic moment of the crucifixion, marking Jesus’ death on the cross. Despite the exhaustion and agony of crucifixion, His final breath was supplied with a “loud cry,” showing His sovereign control over the timing of His death. He entrusts His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46Luke 23:46 commentary).
Jesus’ physical death was not the end of His story; instead, it was the act through which God’s redemptive plan for humanity was enacted. By allowing Himself to die, He took upon Himself the judgment for sin, offering salvation to all who believe (John 3:16John 3:16 commentary). In this way, even in the moment of deepest sorrow, a foundation was laid for the final victory—His resurrection.
This climax of the crucifixion underscores Jesus’ role as the perfect sacrifice. The Savior’s mission to bear the sins of the world concludes in submission to the Father’s will, revealing the depth of divine love that goes beyond human understanding.
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (v. 38). In Jerusalem’s temple, this veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the barrier between God and humanity. Its tearing indicates that through Jesus’ death, access to God was now made open to all who would believe (Hebrews 10:19-20Hebrews 10:19-20 commentary).
The fact that the veil ripped from top to bottom signifies it was the hand of God moving from heaven downward. No human strength could accomplish this feat, and no mere human tradition could bridge the gap of sin. The timing of the torn veil aligned precisely with Jesus’ final breath, reinforcing the direct connection between His atoning death and the removal of the separation between a holy God and sinful people.
This powerful sign is central to understanding the new covenant. Instead of approaching God through repeated sacrificial rituals, believers can now come boldly and freely, clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:212 Corinthians 5:21 commentary).
Then, 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!’ (v. 39). Standing at the foot of the cross was a Roman officer, likely in charge of a contingent of soldiers. This centurion would have been part of the Roman military presence stationed in first-century Judea under the governance of Pontius Pilate (serving AD 26-36). His proclamation reflects a soldier’s witness to the extraordinary events surrounding Jesus’ death.
The centurion’s words track with the Gospel’s overarching aim: to reveal Jesus as the Son of God. This confession from a Gentile soldier shows the universal scope of Jesus’ mission, extending beyond the Jewish people to all the nations. It also displays the immediate impact of the cross, evoking awe and a profession of faith in those who were not anticipating the Messiah.
This final declaration in the passage captures the heart of Mark’s message, inviting every reader to rise to the same conclusion. The saving power of Jesus’ sacrifice is realized when a person beholds Him—in His suffering and victory—and declares by faith that He truly is the Son of God.