Jesus is delivered to Pilate who interrogates Him about being King of the Jews, offers to release Him per Passover custom, but yields to the crowd's demand for Barabbas and crucifixion after scourging. Roman soldiers mock Jesus with purple robe and crown of thorns, Simon of Cyrene carries the cross to Golgotha, and Jesus is crucified between two thieves with the inscription 'The King of the Jews.' Darkness covers the land for three hours, Jesus cries 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani,' dies with a loud cry, the temple veil tears from top to bottom, the centurion confesses 'Truly this man was the Son of God,' and Joseph of Arimathea buries Him in a rock-hewn tomb.
Read Mark Chapter 15 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Jesus Christ
The Suffering Servant and Son of God
Peter
Leading disciple whose testimony likely underlies Mark
John Mark
Author who compiled Peter's recollections
Mary Magdalene
First Witness of the Resurrection
Mary of Bethany
Sister of Martha and Lazarus
James, Brother of Jesus
Leader of the Jerusalem Church
Joseph of Arimathea
The One Who Buried Jesus
Places in This Chapter
Golgotha
View on MapGolgotha, meaning "Place of the Skull," is the hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. Also called Calvary, it was the site of the most significant event in Christian history—the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity. Today, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the traditional site where Jesus was crucified and buried.
The Temple
View on MapThe Temple in Jerusalem was the permanent house of worship built by Solomon on Mount Moriah. Destroyed by Babylon, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and later greatly expanded by Herod. Jesus taught in the Temple courts, cleared it of merchants, and predicted its destruction, which occurred in 70 AD.
Position in Book
PreparationChapters 1:1-13
Galilean MinistryChapters 1:14-8:26
Road to JerusalemChapters 8:27-10:52
Passion WeekChapters 11-16
Entry, temple, Olivet Discourse, death, resurrection.
Bible Bites
Mark Originally Ended with Fear
The earliest manuscripts of Mark end abruptly at 16:8 with the women fleeing the tomb in fear and saying nothing to anyone. The longer ending (verses 9-20) was added later by scribes who thought this ending too sudden.
Mark 16:8