Mark 15 PREVIEW: In Mark 15, Jesus is tried and condemned to death by the crowd, which influences Pilate to hand him over to be crucified. Jesus is beaten, crucified, and buried. Pilate Tries Jesus - Read Mark 15:1-14 1. Jesus spent a long night in the garden of Gethsemane praying (see Mark 14:32-42), Judas betrayed Him (see Mark 14:45), all His disciples forsook Him (see Mark 14:50), He was taken to Caiaphas, the high priest, to be tried (see Mark 14:63). Peter denied Him (see Mark 14:71) and the rooster crowed twice and morning came. After spitting in Jesus face and striking him with the palms of their hands (Mark 14:65), what did the chief priests, elders, and scribes then do to Him (v. 1)? 2. Why did Pilate ask Jesus, Are You the King of the Jews? (v. 2; see also Luke 23:2.) 3. What was Jesus answer to Pilate s question (v. 2)? (See also John 18:33-38.) Mark 15 Page 1
4. What did the chief priests accuse Jesus of (v. 3)? (See Luke 23:2.) What was Jesus response to their accusation? Why was this Jesus response? (See Isaiah 53:7 and Acts 8:32-34.) 5. Why did Pilate marvel (vv.3-4)? 6. What was Pilate s custom during the Passover feast (v. 6)? 7. Barabbas' name appears as bar-abbas in the Greek texts. It is derived ultimately from the Aramaic, Bar-abbâ, which means son of the father. According to the early biblical scholar Origen and other commentators, the full name of Barabbas may have been Jesus Barabbas. What was Barabbas guilty of? Who was he chained to (v. 7)? (See also John 18:40 and Luke 23:19.) 8. By offering up a hideous, guilty murderer, Pilate tried to convince the riotous multitude to allow him to free Jesus. Why did he want to free Jesus (v. 10)? Mark 15 Page 2
9. Although Pilate attempted to get the multitude to demand the release of Jesus, what did the chief priests do to dissuade the crowd from allowing that (v. 11)? 10. Because of what the chief priests had dissuaded the crowd to do, what did the crowd demand when Pilate asked What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews? (vv. 12-14.) 11. As the crowd was demanding that Pilate hand Jesus over to be crucified, Pilate asked, Why, what evil has He done? Why did Pilate ask this question? (See John 18:38 and 19:4.) Jesus is Beaten - Read Mark 15:15-23 12. Pilate had Jesus scourged (v. 15). A scourge is a whip or lash, especially a multi-thong type, used to inflict severe corporal punishment on the back. The typical scourge (Latin: flagrum; diminutive: flagellum) has several thongs fastened to a handle. The Roman flagrum had hard material was affixed to multiple thongs to give a flesh-tearing "bite". Why did he Pilate have Jesus scourged (v. 15)? Mark 15 Page 3
13. Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified (v. 15) by handing Him to the Roman soldiers who took him to the governor s headquarters (the Praetorium) and they then called an entire garrison together. What did the Roman soldiers do to Jesus when He was in their control (vv. 16-20)? 14. As the soldiers led Jesus from the Praetorium to Golgotha, who did they compel to bear Jesus cross (vv. 21-22)? (See also Romans 16:13.) 15. What did the Roman soldiers offer Jesus (v. 23)? Did He receive it? (See also Psalm 69:21, Proverbs 31:6 7, and Matthew 27:34.) Jesus is Crucified - Read Mark 15:24-41 16. Once the Roman soldiers had crucified Jesus, what did they do with His garments (v. 24)? (See also Psalm 22:18, Luke 23:34, and John 19:23.) Mark 15 Page 4
17. What time of day was it when Jesus was put on the cross (v. 25)? 18. It was a Roman custom to write the name of the condemned man and a description of his crime on a board and attach it to his cross (see John 19:19). Mark records only the official charge against Jesus. What was that charge (v. 26)? 19. What else was written on the board? (See John 19:20.) 20. Who was also crucified along with Jesus (v. 27)? What Scripture did this fulfill (v. 28)? (See also Isaiah 53:12.) Mark 15 Page 5
21. Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified, was a busy crossroad many people traveled daily. As travelers passed by and saw Jesus, what did they do and say (vv. 29-30)? 22. Besides travelers, who else mocked Jesus as He was on the cross (vv. 31-32)? 23. Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified, was located outside the city gates of Jerusalem. How is the location of Golgotha a fulfillment of prophecy? (See Hebrews 13:11-13 and Leviticus 16:21-22.) 24. What happened from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, while Jesus hung on the cross (v. 33)? (See also Exodus 10:21-22.) Mark 15 Page 6
25. What did Jesus cry out at about the ninth hour (v. 34)? What did it mean (v. 34)? What did those who heard it think He had cried out (v. 35)? 26. What did Jesus cry out immediately before breathing His last breath? (See Luke 23:46 and John 19:30.) 27. What else happened when Jesus cried out and breathed His last breath (vv. 37-38)? (See also Hebrews 10:20 and John 14:6.) 28. What did the centurion who stood opposite Him declare (v. 39)? 29. Who did Mark record as being present when Jesus died on the cross (vv. 40-41)? (See also Matthew 27:55-56, Luke 23:49, and John 19:25.) Mark 15 Page 7
Jesus is Buried - Read Mark 15:42-47 30. When evening came a man from Arimathea came. Who was this man? Why did he come (vv. 42-43)? (See also Matthew 27:57-58 and Luke 23:50-51.) 31. To whom did this man go? What did he ask for (v. 43)? Why did he ask for this? (See Deuteronomy 21:22-23.) 32. Who accompanied this man (see John 19:39)? Together, what did they do (v. 46)? (See also Matthew 27:59-60.) 33. Who observed where these men laid the body of Jesus (v. 47)? (See Matthew 27:61.) What did these do after they observed where the body of Jesus was laid? (See Luke 23:56.) Mark 15 Page 8