Mark 15
The King Who Stayed on the Cross
Mark 15 takes us from Jesus’ trial before Pilate to His death and burial. People reject, mock, and wound Him, yet their actions do not stop God’s saving work. At the cross, we see both the depth of human sin and the greater depth of God’s love.
Walking Through Mark 15
Silent Before His Accusers (Mark 15:1-5)
1 Early in the morning, after forming a plan, the chief priests with the elders and the experts in the law and the whole Sanhedrin tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” 3 Then the chief priests began to accuse him repeatedly. 4 So Pilate asked him again, “Have you nothing to say? See how many charges they are bringing against you!” 5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.Mark 15:1-5 · NET Bible
Early in the morning, the religious leaders bind Jesus and hand Him over to Pilate. Their question about His identity now becomes a Roman concern: does Jesus claim to be a king who threatens Rome? Jesus gives a brief reply to Pilate, but He does not answer the many charges against Him. Pilate is amazed. I want us to notice that Jesus’ silence is not a sign that His enemies have proved their case. He does not scramble to escape by answering every charge. His quiet suffering recalls Isaiah 53:7. Mark shows the innocent King moving toward the cross without using His power to protect Himself.
The Guilty Man Goes Free (Mark 15:6-15)
6 During the feast it was customary to release one prisoner to the people, whomever they requested. 7 A man named Barabbas was imprisoned with rebels who had committed murder during an insurrection. 8 Then the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to release a prisoner for them, as was his custom. 9 So Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?” 10 (For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.) 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead. 12 So Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 Pilate asked them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!” 15 Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. Then, after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.Mark 15:6-15 · NET Bible
Pilate has a custom of releasing a prisoner during the feast. Barabbas is being held with rebels who committed murder during an uprising. Pilate offers to release Jesus, knowing that the chief priests handed Him over out of envy. But the priests stir up the crowd to demand Barabbas instead. When Pilate asks what crime Jesus has done, the crowd gives no answer, only louder cries for His death. Wanting to please them, Pilate releases Barabbas and orders Jesus whipped and crucified. Here is a painful picture of injustice: the guilty man walks free while the innocent One is condemned. It also helps us see the grace at the heart of Jesus’ mission. He will bear what sinners deserve.
A Crown Made for Mocking (Mark 15:16-23)
16 So the soldiers led him into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called together the whole cohort. 17 They put a purple cloak on him and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 They began to salute him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Then they knelt down and paid homage to him. 20 When they had finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 21 The soldiers forced a passerby to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus). 22 They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which is translated, “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.Mark 15:16-23 · NET Bible
The soldiers dress Jesus in purple, press a crown of thorns onto Him, and pretend to honor Him as king. Their bows are insults, not worship. They strike Him and spit on Him before leading Him away. Mark does not soften the cruelty. On the road, they force Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry Jesus’ cross. They reach Golgotha, a name meaning Place of the Skull. There Jesus refuses wine mixed with myrrh, a drink commonly understood as a way to dull pain. The true King receives shame instead of honor. His suffering is real and bodily. God’s love meets us through a Savior who entered human pain, not One who watched from far away.
He Does Not Come Down (Mark 15:24-32)
24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The king of the Jews.” 27 And they crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law—were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.Mark 15:24-32 · NET Bible
The soldiers crucify Jesus and divide His clothes by casting lots. Mark places His crucifixion at the third hour, about nine in the morning. The charge posted above Him names Him as the King of the Jews. Two robbers are crucified beside Him. People passing by mock Him, and the chief priests and teachers of the law demand that He come down from the cross so they can see and believe. Even those crucified with Him insult Him. Their challenge turns His saving work upside down. Jesus has not come to prove His love by escaping suffering. He gives His life to save others, as He explained in Mark 10:45. Staying on the cross is not the failure of His mission; it is part of its purpose.
The Death That Opens the Way (Mark 15:33-41)
33 Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 Around three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ” 35 When some of the bystanders heard it they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to take him down!” 37 But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. 38 And the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 40 There were also women, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they had followed him and given him support. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were there too.Mark 15:33-41 · NET Bible
Darkness covers the land from noon until three. Jesus cries out with words from Psalm 22:1, giving voice to the deep anguish of being forsaken. Some bystanders think He is calling Elijah. Someone offers sour wine, and Jesus dies after a loud cry. Then the temple curtain tears from top to bottom. This signals God’s action: through Jesus’ death, the way into His presence is opened, and the temple’s old order faces judgment. The Roman officer standing nearby recognizes Jesus as God’s Son. Mark also names women who watched from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and Salome. They had followed and served Jesus in Galilee. His death is witnessed, not hidden.
Laid in a Real Tomb (Mark 15:42-47)
42 Now when evening had already come, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time. 45 When Pilate was informed by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 After Joseph bought a linen cloth and took down the body, he wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was placed.Mark 15:42-47 · NET Bible
Evening approaches on the day before the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected council member who is waiting for God’s kingdom, boldly asks Pilate for Jesus’ body. Pilate is surprised that Jesus has already died and checks with the Roman officer before granting the request. Joseph wraps the body in linen, places it in a tomb cut from rock, and rolls a stone across the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses see where He is laid. These details matter. Jesus truly died, and His burial place was known. Mark leaves us before a closed tomb. The coming good news will not rest on a narrow escape from death, but on God’s victory over it.
- King — Jesus is mocked as a false ruler, yet He is the true King who gives His life for others.
- Temple curtain — A barrier connected with the temple’s holy space; its tearing shows the great change brought by Jesus’ death.
How does Jesus’ choice to give His life change the way you understand His love for you?
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for sinners like me. Help me trust Your finished work instead of my own goodness. Teach me to see Your love clearly and to grow in grace toward others. Amen.