1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.
3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Chapter 15 of the Book of Mark, in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, is a profound narrative that reveals the last hours of Jesus Christ's life on earth. The chapter is filled with intense emotions, dramatic scenes, and significant theological themes. This chapter is a central part of the passion narrative, and it portrays the trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ.
The chapter begins with Jesus being delivered to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea, by the chief priests, elders, and scribes. The Jewish leaders accuse Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews, a charge that, if proven true, would be considered treason by the Roman authorities. Pilate questions Jesus about this accusation, to which Jesus replies, "Thou sayest it." This response can be interpreted as an indirect affirmation of the charge. However, Pilate is not convinced of Jesus's guilt and tries to release him, especially after learning that Jesus was brought to him out of envy.
In a custom of the Passover Feast, Pilate offers to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. He presents them with a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a convicted insurrectionist and murderer. Influenced by the chief priests, the crowd demands the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. Despite his initial reluctance, Pilate eventually gives in to the crowd's demand and orders Jesus to be scourged and crucified. This event presents a stark contrast between the guiltless Jesus and the guilty Barabbas, and it highlights the extent of the religious leaders' manipulation and the crowd's misguided choice.
Following the decision, Jesus is scourged by Roman soldiers who mock him as the "King of the Jews." They dress him in a purple robe and a crown of thorns, hitting him on the head and spitting on him. This part of the narrative underscores the extreme physical and emotional suffering that Jesus endured. It also emphasizes his humility and patience in the face of such cruel treatment.
Jesus, carrying his cross, is then led to Golgotha, the place of the skull, where he is crucified alongside two thieves. The soldiers divide his garments and cast lots for his vesture. Above his head, they place the inscription, "The King of the Jews." These events fulfill Old Testament prophecies and further affirm Jesus's kingship in a paradoxical manner, as he reigns from a cross rather than a throne.
Jesus's crucifixion is marked by darkness over the land, symbolic of the cosmic significance of the event. In his final moments, Jesus cries out, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This utterance expresses the depth of Jesus's agony and his sense of abandonment. However, it is also a quotation from Psalm 22, a messianic psalm that ends in vindication and victory, thus hinting at the forthcoming resurrection.
Upon Jesus's death, the veil of the temple is torn from top to bottom, signifying the end of the old covenant and the inauguration of the new covenant through Jesus's sacrificial death. The centurion, a Roman officer, witnessing these events, declares, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" This affirmation from a Gentile underscores the universal scope of Jesus's mission and the recognition of his divine identity.
The chapter concludes with the burial of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathaea, a respected member of the council who was also waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly requests Pilate for Jesus's body. After confirming Jesus's death, Pilate grants Joseph's request. Joseph wraps Jesus's body in a linen cloth and lays it in a tomb hewn out of a rock, and rolls a stone against the door of the tomb. The narrative ends with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observing where Jesus was laid.
The burial account emphasizes the reality of Jesus's death and prepares the ground for the resurrection narrative. It also introduces Joseph of Arimathaea as a disciple who, despite being a part of the council that condemned Jesus, had the courage to honor Jesus with a decent burial.
Chapter 15 of the Book of Mark presents several theological themes and meanings. The primary theme is the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus as the climax of his earthly ministry. This chapter demonstrates the fulfillment of Jesus's earlier predictions about his passion and affirms his role as the suffering Messiah who gave his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
The theme of kingship is also prominent in this chapter. Jesus is mocked as the "King of the Jews", but his crucifixion ironically reveals his true kingship. He reigns from a cross, demonstrating a kingship characterized by self-giving love, sacrifice, and service. His kingship subverts worldly concepts of power and glory and offers a new model of leadership and authority.
The theme of injustice is evident in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. He is falsely accused, unjustly condemned, and cruelly executed. Yet, he endures these injustices with silence and patience, embodying the call to "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39). His experience of injustice exposes the corrupt systems of power and challenges believers to stand against injustice.
The tearing of the temple veil symbolizes the breaking down of the barrier between God and humanity. It signifies the end of the old covenant and the inauguration of the new covenant through Jesus's sacrificial death. This event underscores the theological truth that through Jesus's death, the way to God is now open for all, both Jews and Gentiles.
In conclusion, Chapter 15 of the Book of Mark is a powerful narrative about the passion of Jesus Christ. It presents the paradox of the crucified King who reigns from a cross and the suffering Messiah who brings salvation through his death. It challenges believers to embrace a life of sacrificial love, to stand against injustice, and to live in the light of the new covenant inaugurated by Jesus's death. The chapter's portrayal of Jesus's passion invites deep reflection on the cost of discipleship and the transformative power of the cross.
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