The Crucifixion of Jesus According to Mark 15
Mark 15 details the crucifixion of Jesus, beginning with his delivery to Pilate and culminating in his death and burial. The narrative emphasizes the events leading up to the crucifixion, the act itself, and the immediate aftermath, often with stark simplicity [5, 6].
The chapter opens with Jesus being brought before Pilate, the Roman governor, after his condemnation by the chief priests [7]. Pilate examines Jesus, who offers no defense to the accusations against him (Mark 15:1-5) [6]. A custom allowed Pilate to release a prisoner at the Passover feast, and the crowd, instigated by the chief priests, clamored for the release of Barabbas, a notorious insurrectionist and murderer, instead of Jesus (Mark 15:6-11) [6, 9]. Despite Pilate's apparent reluctance and his question about what evil Jesus had done, the crowd insisted on Jesus' crucifixion (Mark 15:12-14) [6]. Yielding to the crowd's desire "to satisfy the crowd," Pilate released Barabbas and, after having Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified (Mark 15:15) [2, 9]. This scourging was a severe punishment, often preceding crucifixion [9, 10].
Following his condemnation, Jesus was subjected to mockery by the Roman soldiers. They dressed him in a purple cloak, placed a crown of thorns on his head, and hailed him as "King of the Jews," striking him and spitting on him (Mark 15:16-20) [7]. This scene underscores the humiliation and abuse Jesus endured before his execution.
Jesus was then led out to be crucified. Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry Jesus' cross (Mark 15:21). The place of execution was called Golgotha, which means "Place of a Skull" (Mark 15:22) [8]. Tradition suggests this was a common execution site, and some ancient traditions even linked it to the burial place of Adam, symbolizing Christ's role in reversing the effects of Adam's sin [8].
Mark records that Jesus was crucified at "the third hour," which corresponds to nine o'clock in the morning (Mark 15:25) [1]. While John's Gospel gives a different time, "around the sixth hour" (John 19:14), these are understood as rough estimates, with events in the later morning often described as occurring around either the third or sixth hour [4]. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left, fulfilling scripture (Mark 15:27-28). Passersby, chief priests, and scribes mocked Jesus, challenging him to save himself if he was the Christ or the King of Israel (Mark 15:29-32) [6]. Even those crucified with him reviled him (Mark 15:32).
A significant event during the crucifixion was the darkness that covered the whole land from the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (three in the afternoon) (Mark 15:33) [6]. This supernatural darkness is also mentioned in Matthew 27:45 and Luke 23:44 [4]. At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which translates to "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). This cry is a direct quotation from Psalm 22:1, a psalm often understood as prophetically describing the suffering of the Messiah [3]. Some bystanders misunderstood his cry, thinking he was calling for Elijah (Mark 15:35-36).
Jesus then uttered a loud cry and breathed his last (Mark 15:37) [5]. His death is presented with "stark simplicity" [5]. Immediately after his death, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Mark 15:38). This event is often interpreted as symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, opening access to God through Christ's sacrifice. Upon witnessing Jesus' death and the accompanying events, the Roman centurion standing by declared, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39) [6]. This confession from a Gentile soldier is a significant theological point in Mark's narrative.
The chapter concludes with the presence of several women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, observing the crucifixion from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome (Mark 15:40-41) [6].
Sources
- Mark “It was the third hour, and they crucified him. -- Mark 15:25”
- Mark “Mark 15:15 (NASB) — Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.22.18 → Mark.15.24 (confidence: 15 votes)”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 15:25: 15:25 Mark records Jesus’ crucifixion as occurring at the third hour, or nine o’clock in the morning. John 19:14 gives the time as around the sixth hour, or noon. These are rough estimates of time, and events in the later morning were typically described as occurring around either the third (Matt 20:3; Acts 2:15) or sixth hour (Mark 15:33; Matt 20:5; 27:45; Luke 23:44; John 4:6; 19:14; Acts 10:9).”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 15:37: 15:37 The death of Jesus, like the crucifixion, is told with stark simplicity.”
- Mark (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Mark 15 (introduction): Jesus is brought before Pilate, examined, and accused, but makes no answer, Mar 15:1-5. The multitude clamor for the release of Barabbas, and the crucifixion of Christ, Mar 15:6-14. Pilate consents, and he is led away, mocked, insulted, and nailed to the cross, Mar 15:15-26. Two thieves are crucified with him, Mar 15:27, Mar 15:28. While hanging on the cross, he is mocked and insulted, Mar 15:29-32. The miraculous darkness and our Lord's death, Mar 15:33-37. The rending of the veil, and the confession of the centurion, Mar 15:38, Mar 15:39. Several women ”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 15 (introduction): What we read of the sufferings of Christ, in the foregoing chapter, was but the prologue or introduction; here we have the completing of them. We left him condemned by the chief priests; but they could only show their teeth, they could not bite. Here we have him, I. Arraigned and accused before Pilate the Roman governor (Mar 15:1-5). II. Cried out against by the common people, at the instigation of the priests (Mar 15:6-14). III. Condemned to be crucified immediately (Mar 15:15). IV. Bantered and abused, as a mock-king, by the Roman soldiers (Mar 15:16-”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 15:22: We have here the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus. I. The place where he was crucified; it was called Golgotha - the place of a scull: some think, because of the heads of malefactors that were there cut off: it was the common place of execution, as Tyburn, for he was in all respects numbered with the transgressors. I know not how to give any credit to it, but divers of the ancients mention it as a current tradition, that in this place our first father Adam was buried, and they think it highly congruous that there Christ should be crucified; for as in Adam all die, so ”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 15:15: Here, I. Pilate, to gratify the Jews' malice, delivers Christ to be crucified, Mar 15:15. Willing to content the people, to do enough for them (so the word is), and make them easy, that he might keep them quiet, he released Barabbas unto them, who was the scandal and plague of their nation, and delivered Jesus to be crucified, who was the glory and blessing of their nation. Though he had scourged him before, hoping that would content them, and then not designing to crucify him, yet he went on to that; for no wonder that he who could persuade himself to chastise one”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 17:25: 17:25 suffer terribly: Jesus would soon suffer crucifixion (see study note on 9:22).”