Mark 15

29-31 The Romans and Jews mocked Jesus. They said, “He claimed He could build the temple in three days (Mark 14:57-58); why, then, can He not come down from the cross? He saved others … but he can’t save himself.” They thought that Jesus was unable to come down from the cross. But, in fact, He could have come down. However, in order to save us from our sins, it was necessary for Him to die, just as He had three times previously told His disciples (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34).

32 “Let this Christ … come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe,” said the chief priests and teachers of the law. These Jewish leaders had earlier asked Christ for a sign, but He had refused to give them one (see Mark 8:11-12 and comment). Those whose hearts are hard will not believe even if they see a sign. Jesus rose from the dead, which was a greater miracle than coming down from the cross; but the Jews still did not believe that He was the Messiah (see Luke 16:19-31 and comment).

The two robbers being crucified on either side of Jesus also insulted Him. But, according to Luke 23:39-43, one of the robbers repented and rebuked his fellow robber. He said, “We are being punished justly, but this man Jesus has done nothing wrong.” Then the repentant robber said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). And Jesus replied: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

There are two things to learn from this. First, even though a man believes only at the very end of his life, he will be saved. Second, as soon as believers die, their spirits go to Paradise. Paradise is a place of happiness in heaven where our spirits go to await the resurrection of our bodies (see 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Revelation 2:7 and comments).

(Matthew 27:45-56; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30)

33 A darkness came over the whole land from 12 noon to 3 P.M. This was not an ordinary solar eclipse,¹¹⁷ because the Passover festival always fell during the full moon. According to Luke, the sun stopped shining (Luke 23:45). Some great and special event occurred in the heavens during the last three hours of Jesus’ life on earth. The darkness was a sign of God’s curse upon sinful mankind; it was a sign that God had withdrawn His presence from men. Because, of all the terrible acts of men throughout history, the most terrible of all was the crucifying of Jesus, the Son of God. In the entire history of the world, there has been no time as dark and evil as those three hours.

34 Then, just before He died, Jesus called out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is a quotation from Psalm 22:1.

Why did Jesus say that? Because the darkness that fell on the whole land fell on Jesus also. He also, in full measure, experienced separation from God. He experienced God’s full wrath, God’s full curse upon sinful men. He knew that cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree, that is, on a cross (see Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13 and comment). During the time Jesus hung on the cross, God indeed did forsake Him. Our sin was laid on Jesus; He was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). But God cannot look upon sin; therefore, God withdrew His face from Jesus. In the garden of Gethsemane, an angel had come to strengthen Jesus (Luke 22:43). But on the cross, there was no one to comfort and strengthen Him. This was the price that Jesus paid to redeem us, to deliver us from God’s wrath. This is what it meant for Him to give his life as a ransom for many (see Mark 10:45 and comment).

35-36 The people standing nearby heard Jesus say, “Eloi, Eloi,” and mistakenly thought He was calling the prophet Elijah.

According to John 19:28-30, Jesus said He was thirsty, so He was given a drink. When He had received the drink from the soldier, he said, “It is finished.” His work was finished. He had accomplished what His Father had sent Him into the world to do (see John 17:4).

37  At this time, according to Luke 23:46, Jesus also said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” And after saying this, Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

38  The curtain of the temple mentioned in this verse was the curtain at the entrance to the innermost room of the Jewish temple, the “Most Holy Place,” where only the high priest was allowed to enter. The Jews considered that God’s presence dwelled in that room (see Hebrews 9:1-5 and comment). Once a year the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to offer a sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people (see Hebrews 9:7 and comment). At the moment of Jesus’ death, this curtain at the entrance of the Most Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom, that is, it was destroyed. This meant that no longer would the high priest have to enter the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin; no other sacrifice would ever be necessary.

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, God has now forgiven the sins of believers and has declared them righteous. Not only that, because believers have been declared righteous by God, they can now enter directly into His presence (see Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 3:18). No longer is there a curtain keeping us from drawing near to God. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body … let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Many of the Jewish priests learned about the tearing of the curtain. Perhaps it is for this reason that later a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).

According to Matthew 27:51-53, there was also an earthquake at the time of Jesus’ death. Tombs broke open, and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. And after Jesus’ resurrection they came into Jerusalem and appeared to many people. This was a sign of the resurrection of all believers that will occur at the end of the world. This was like an “advance” of what will happen to us when Jesus comes again. Jesus was the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 and comment). He was the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1:18). Thus at the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection, some of the Old Testament saints also rose. Then, when Jesus comes again, the rest of us shall rise also.

From this we can see that the faithful saints of the Old Testament who never knew Christ will in the end be brought to life. Christ, through His death, conquered death indeed! (1 Corinthians 15:54,57). And by His death He destroyed him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14).

39 The centurion and the soldiers who crucified Jesus (Matthew 27:54) were amazed as they watched Him die. Only a short time before they had been mocking Jesus. They had driven the nails through Jesus’ hands as they placed Him on the cross. But then they saw the earth darken. They felt the earthquake. They heard the words of Jesus from the cross. They heard His final cry. Jesus did not die like other men they had seen. The centurion said, “Surely this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47). “Surely this man was the Son of God.”

40-41 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee were more faithful and devoted than Jesus’ disciples were.¹¹⁸ They witnessed Jesus’ death, and they later reported to the disciples what they had seen and heard.

Mary Magdalene had been healed by Jesus of seven demons (Luke 8:2). Salome was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of the disciples James and John (Matthew 27:56). Some Bible scholars believe that the second Mary mentioned here was Mary the mother of Jesus, but this is not certain.

(Matthew 27:57-61; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

42-43 On the Preparation Day of Passover week, that is, the Friday before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.¹¹⁹ Joseph was a member of the Council, the Sanhedrin. He was a disciple of Jesus, but he only believed secretly, because he feared the Jews (John 19:38). He was a good and upright man who had not agreed with the decision of the Jewish leaders to condemn Christ (Luke 23:50-51).

44-46 Pilate agreed to Joseph’s request. Joseph took the body and laid it in a new tomb, which he had just recently prepared for himself (Matthew 27:60; Luke 23:53). Then he sealed the entrance of the tomb with a very large stone (Mark 16:4).

Just as Jesus had no place to lay His head while He was alive (Luke 9:58),so He had no tomb in which to lay His body when He was dead. He was laid in another man’s tomb.

47 Two of the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee, Mary and Mary Magdalene (verse 40) saw where Jesus was buried. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes with which to embalm the body (Luke 23:56).

According to John 19:39-42, Nicodemus¹²⁰ accompanied Joseph when he went to Pilate, and then helped him bury Jesus’ body. They wrapped the body with spices according to the Jewish custom. The women wanted to add additional spices as a token of their love and devotion to Jesus.