Mark 15

Passage: Jesus Before Pilate, The Soldiers Mock Jesus, The Crucifixion, The Death of Jesus, The Burial of Jesus

Memory Verse: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:16

Notes: (v.1-15) Jesus was bound and taken to Pilate by the chief priests, the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin. Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say." The chief priests then accused him of many things, but Jesus may no reply to any of these accusations--Pilate was amazed.

It was custom at the Feast to release a prisoner by the request of the people. Barabbas, a murderer, was one of the prisoners. Pilate, knowing that Jesus was here because of the chief priests' envy, asked the crowd if Jesus was to be released. But the chief priests persuaded the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas.

Pilate then asked what should be done to Jesus, and the entire crowd shouted, "Crucify him!" Pilate then asked what crime has he committed to deserve this, but the crowd shouted all the more to crucify Jesus. Wanting to satisfy them, Pilate released Barabbas and handed Jesus over to be flogged and crucified.

-(v.16-20) A whole company of soldiers came and put a purple robe on him and twisted together a crown of thorns to set on his head. In mockery, they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of Jews!" while striking him on the head with a staff and spitting on him. They "paid homage" to him by falling on their knees. After they mocked him, they replaced his purple robe with his own clothes and took him to be crucified.

-(v.21-32) They forced Jesus to carry the cross as they brought him to Golgotha (The Place of the Skull)

They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

They crucified him and cast his clothes to lots

They wrote a notice against him: "The King of the Jews"

They hurled insults at him, mocking him and challenging him to save himself.

-(v.33-41) At the sixth hour, darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

After one man offered Jesus a drink from a sponge with wine vinegar, Jesus breathed his last. Immediately, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom--the centurion who stood in front of Jesus realized that Jesus was the Son of God

-(v.42-47) Joseph of Arimathea, who was waiting for the kingdom of God, asked for Jesus' body from Pilate. Joseph brought some cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. He then rolled a stone against the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.