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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Mark Chapter 15 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: John Mark
Date Penned: (55-65 AD)
Overview: Mark Records the 1st Gospel Written (c 1-16)
Theme:  The Death and Resurrection of Jesus, The Servant (c 14-16)
Message:The Crucifixion  (v 1-33)

Mark 15 Commentary

(15:1) The Council of Religious Leaders Condemns Jesus - Mark’s writing took on an added urgency as he neared the climax of his story. He stated the verdict of the council as an inevitable decision. The next steps the council took were mere administrative necessity. Because a death sentence required Roman approval, Pilate awakened one morning to the sounds of an angry mob outside his window.

(15:2-5) Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate - The Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus and desired his death on theological grounds—but their charge of blasphemy would be thrown out of the Roman court. They had to come up with a political reason for Jesus’ death. Their strategy was to show Jesus as a rebel who claimed to be a king and thus a threat to Caesar. The charge against Jesus in the Roman court was treason.

(15:6-15) Pilate Hands Jesus Over to be Crucified - In the custom of pardoning a criminal during Passover, Pilate saw an opportunity to avoid responsibility for the death of a man whom he perceived to be innocent. That Jesus died for Barabbas represents yet another example of the purpose of Jesus’ death: to take the place, not just of one condemned man, but of all who stand condemned before God’s perfect standard of justice.

(15:16-20) Jesus is Led Away to be Crucified - Jesus bore our sins on the cross, but was unable to bear his cross to the crest of Golgotha. He had been flogged and abused repeatedly since his arrest the previous night. A stranger was drafted to carry the timber for Jesus. Meanwhile, the soldiers who had just nailed three men to crosses gambled for the meager possessions they took from the condemned. Their gambling for the worthless benefits from their grisly work stands in stark contrast to the immeasurable benefits the Lord was making available to them as he hung dying above their heads.

(15:25-32) Jesus is Placed on the Cross - An execution could provide hours of grisly entertainment for spectators. The Gospels describe various responses within the crowd as Jesus was dying. Some openly taunted him. His opponents gloated. Those who had the most information about Jesus rejected his claims, while one prisoner who had very little information placed his trust in him (see Luke 23:40-43).

(15:33-41) Jesus Dies on the Cross - Mark recorded the final scene of Jesus’ earthly life with graphic imagery. The dark sky was pierced by an anguished cry of abandonment. Those watching were gripped with awe.

(15:42-47) Jesus is Laid in the Tomb - Although Mark mentioned only Joseph of Arimathea, John mentioned both Joseph and Nicodemus, two secret disciples of Jesus who took action to ensure his burial (John 19:38-42). Their commitment to Jesus forced them out of hiding. The Gospels carefully note that Jesus was clearly dead. Pilate checked. One soldier made sure (John 19:34). Two men who had followed Jesus from a distance undertook the compassionate task of removing Jesus’ body from the cross and placing it in a tomb, while several women watched.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

My Sin Placed Him There

 Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Mark with Chapter 15. In our text today we see Mark's account of the Crucifixion as we see the Council condemning Jesus, Pilate handing Jesus to be crucified, the Soldiers mock Him, nail him to a Cross, Him dying, and being laid in a tomb. In making application we see the price that had to be saved for us to be saved but the realization that our sin placed Him there. If it were not my sin and your sin He would have not had to suffer and die but that is how much Jesus Loves You. How about you? Do you know how much Jesus Loves You? Let us learn from our text today to be reminded that our sin placed Jesus on the Cross because He Loves Us which should motivate us to live for Him.

 

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Mark 15

Mark 15

 1And 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.

 2And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.

 3And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

 4And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

 5But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

 6Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

 7And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

 8And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

 9But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

 10For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

 11But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

 12And 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?

 13And they cried out again, Crucify him.

 14Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

 15And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

 16And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

 17And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

 18And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

 19And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

 20And 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.

 21And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 22And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

 23And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

 24And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

 25And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

 26And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 27And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

 28And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

 29And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

 30Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

 31Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

 32Let 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.

 33And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

 34And 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?

 35And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

 36And 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.

 37And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

 38And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

 39And 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.

 40There 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.

 42And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

 43Joseph 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.

 44And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

 45And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

 46And 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.

 47And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.