Stories of the Rabbi 24

Mark 15 The Crucifixion

I. Introduction

a. The whole Gospel has been leading to this moment

b. After Jesus has declared Himself to be God in chapter 14 (blasphemy in the eyes of the religious leaders), they need to find a way to execute Him legally.

c. Remember throughout this passage that Jesus is God and could end it all with a single word at any time during the journey, but he largely remains silent.

d. If you have time, read the other Passion narratives in Matthew 27, Luke 23, and John 18. They all have more detail, but consider the condensed elegance of Mark. What we are reading here more than likely predates Mark—it was written before the Gospel, and Mark included it—and is possibly the earliest of Christian writings put down within a few years of these events.

e. Like last week, there is more introspection in this passage – try putting yourself in the crowd or in Pilot’s place. How would you have felt during this drama? What would you have been thinking?

II. Mark 15:1-5 Before Pilot

a. The Jewish religious leaders did not have the authority of execution over a man, so they needed to enlist Roman help.

b. Vs. 1—If your Bible version states, “They held a meeting,” that is probably a bad translation of the Greek—it should read more accurately, “They reached a conclusion,” indicating that this is a continuation of what transpired at the end of Chapter 14.

c. Romans didn’t care at all about Jewish Blasphemy laws, so the religious leaders needed to have some other capital offense to charge Jesus that would get Pilot’s attention.

d. Vs. 2 – Pilot asks Jesus directly if He is a king. Notice Jesus’ words are vague.

i. Why do you think Jesus answered Pilot this way?

ii. What kind of kingdom did Jesus, through the whole gospel, claim to be King over?

iii. Read Luke 23:2 for the full list of charges

1. Subverting the nation

2. Opposes payment of taxes to Caesar

3. Claimed to be a King

e. Jesus’ answer to pilot: σὺ λέγεις sy legeis – “You have said so” (NIV is too strong with adding the “Yes” which is not there in the text).

f. Vss. 3-5 The religious leaders are compiling charges on Jesus, but Jesus does not defend Himself

i. Why do you think that is?

ii. Why do you think Pilot was θαυμάζειν Thaumazein “amazed” or “had admiration” for Jesus?

III. Mark 15:6-14 Jesus or Barabbas

a. Vs. 6—The Romans kept the people of Israel happy by releasing prisoners during Passover.

b. Vs. 7 – Barabbas was known to the people as a rebel against the Romans (a Zealot) and had murdered people as a part of his rebellion.

c. Watch this video if you can - https://youtu.be/uZZtiO7LAfA

d. If you were in the crowd, what would you have shouted?

e. Vs. 14 – Pilot asks a crowd to tell him what Jesus has done to deserve the most painful execution ever devised.

f. The crowd does not answer with a charge but with a sentence of death by the cross.

IV. Mark 15:15-20 – The scourging and mocking by the Roman soldiers

a. Vs. 15 – what do you think about Pilot’s reasons for the decision to hand Jesus over for torture and execution?

b. Consider who these men were

i. Italians (Acts 10:1) a long way from the home they knew as well as the life they knew

ii. They were probably not full Roman citizens but conscripted soldiers

iii. They were unwelcomed and despised by the people around them

iv. Now, they had a chance to take all of the rage and anger they felt about their situation and take it out on Jesus.

c. Flogging generally proceeded crucifixion

i. The victim was stripped naked – increasing the shame

ii. Their hands were tied over their head to a post in the middle of the courtyard

iii. The whip was made of several strands of leather that had bits of bone and lead embedded near the ends

iv. Two men on each side of the victim did the whipping, counting off the lashes

v. Jewish tradition held flogging to 40 lashes – the Romans did not have a limit

d. Think about the mocking that Jesus endured. What are some ways we mock Him in our own lives?

V. Mark 15:21-32

a. Vs. 21 After the flogging, there was no way that Jesus could walk the two or so miles to the execution site – the Romans engaged Simon of Cyrene to help him with the cross.

i. Mark name drops not only Simon but also his sons Alexander and Rufus – the reason for this is because they were probably well known in the church and could testify to the events of this passage.

ii. Watch this video: https://youtu.be/38zQWAjHtYA

b. Vs. 22 Golgotha was likely outside the city by a busy road. The Romans wanted everyone to see the crucified individuals as a warning to obey Roman law

c. Vs. 23—wine mixed with myrrh—this was an act of mercy on Jesus. While bitter in taste, this combination would have helped numb the physical pain Jesus was in—He did not take it. He felt the full force of every painful step and action.

d. Vs. 24 – Read Psalm 22: 1-18 – How does this Psalm relate to the scene we are reading about now?

e. Vss. 25-27 – Jesus is crucified and is between two thieves – in the midst of that awful scene, He is given the title, mockingly, KING OF THE JEWS.

f. Vss. 28 -31 Think about the mocking Jesus endured.

g. Dwell on these last verses. We are in the crowd, and we are the ones driving the nails into His hands and mocking Him. But He loved us and forgave us nonetheless. How do these thoughts impact your life now?

VI. Mark 15:33 – 37

a. Vs. 33 – at this point, Jesus had been hanging on the cross for three hours – during that time, he would have to put pressure on his nailed feet, forcing His body up to breathe. The pain and the anguish physically would have been unimaginable.

b. Vs. 34 – Jesus cries out in Aramaic, asking the Father, “Why have you abandoned me?” – there are several takes on this verse that have merit:

i. Read Psalm 22 – this is a messianic Psalm. The first-century Jew, when referring to a passage of scripture, would recite the first line of the passage as a reference to the whole passage. In this case, Jesus is telling the people whom He is by quoting the first line of this Messianic Psalm.

ii. This is probably the moment when the full wrath of God was visited upon Jesus—anguish more significant than any physical pain. He endured this so that we would not have to.

c. Atonement – Read Hebrews 2:17 – this word ἱλάσκομαι hilaskomai is a word referring to gaining forgiveness through sacrifice. All Christians believe Christ was an atonement for us; they disagree with how He did it. Here are some theories of atonement for you to consider and discuss:

i. Penal Substitution – Christ atoned for us by taking on the punishment in our place

ii. Ransom to Satan – Because of our sin, Satan has authority over us. Christ’s atonement paid the price so that we could be free from Satan’s power

iii. Christus Victor – Christ entirely conquered the power of sin and death. Satan and all his demons were ultimately defeated

iv. Recapitulation—Christ’s atonement reversed humanity’s course from a state of disobedience to a state of obedience to God.

d. Vss. 35-36 – unlike the wine mixed with myrrh in vs. 23, this was done out of jest – the people were still taunting Jesus while He hung on the cross. This was because they thought He was calling upon Elijah to save Him.

e. Vs. 37 – the death of Jesus – take some time to meditate on this verse.

VII. Mark 15:38-40

a. Vs. 38 – Read Exodus 26:31-33

i. The curtain separated the Holy place in the temple from the Holy of Holy place

ii. The Holy of Holy place was where, once a year, the high priest would come to make an atoning sacrifice for the people of Israel

iii. The presence of God used to dwell in that place – it was where humanity met their Creator

iv. The presence of God had left the temple before the Babylonian Exile – Read Ezekiel 10:18-19

v. The tearing of the curtain signified the end of the ritualistic law of sacrificing animals. Jesus took the place of that system for everyone forever.

b. Vs. 39 – The Centurion’s declaration

i. This was one of the Roman soldiers who guarded the scene

ii. Read Mark 8:29 – Peter, a Jew, declared Jesus to be the Son of God

iii. This centurion – a gentile – declares that Jesus is the Son of God

iv. Mark is making a theological declaration – Jesus is Son of God for all, not just the Jews.

c. Vss. 40-41 – the women

i. The women at the scene were named – remember Mark drops names as a way to list eyewitnesses to these events

ii. In first-century Israel, women were not considered legitimate eyewitnesses—only men could attest to being legal witnesses to an event.

iii. God, through Mark’s writing, elevates women to the equal standing of men by naming these women and including them as eyewitnesses.

VIII. Mark 15:40-47

a. Vs. 42 – Jewish days start at sundown. This was a Friday, so the Sabbath was coming upon them when work had to stop

b. Vs. 43a - Joseph of Arimathea (again, named as an eyewitness) was a Jewish religious leader. He recognized that Jesus had to be entombed quickly because of the impending Sabbath - or else his corpse would be left on the cross indefinitely

c. Vs. 43b – Asking Pilot for the body was a bold move because the corpses of the crucified were to be left on the cross as an example for anyone passing by. Joseph asking Pilot for the body could have incurred punishment.

d. Vss. 44-45 – Pilot was surprised that Jesus was dead – usually, it took over a day for the crucified to die. But considering the torture He endured, not just from the Romans but also from the wrath of God, His mortal body could not last.

e. Vs. 46 – this is a very hasty burial – they just wrapped the body and laid it into the tomb

i. The Jewish tradition was to prepare a dead body by wrapping it up and placing it in a tomb or a cave.

ii. There, the body would decompose for several years

iii. When only bones were left, they would be placed in an ossuary box, which was buried in the family plot. (Gen. 47:29-30)

f. Vs. 47 – Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene are listed as witnesses to the entombment of Jesus. They could testify that the tomb was sealed.