Marcos 15

Jesús ante Pilato

1 Tan pronto como amaneció, los jefes de los sacerdotes, con los ancianos, los maestros de la ley y el Consejo en pleno, llegaron a una decisión. Ataron a Jesús, se lo llevaron y se lo entregaron a Pilato.

2 —¿Eres tú el rey de los judíos? —le preguntó Pilato.—Tú mismo lo dices —respondió.

3 Los jefes de los sacerdotes se pusieron a acusarlo de muchas cosas.

4 —¿No vas a contestar? —le preguntó de nuevo Pilato—. Mira de cuántas cosas te están acusando.

5 Pero Jesús ni aun con eso contestó nada, de modo que Pilato se quedó asombrado.

6 Ahora bien, durante la fiesta él acostumbraba soltarles un preso, el que la gente pidiera.

7 Y resulta que un hombre llamado Barrabás estaba encarcelado con los rebeldes condenados por haber cometido homicidio en una insurrección.

8 Subió la multitud y le pidió a Pilato que le concediera lo que acostumbraba.

9 —¿Quieren que les suelte al rey de los judíos? —replicó Pilato,

10 porque se daba cuenta de que los jefes de los sacerdotes habían entregado a Jesús por envidia.

11 Pero los jefes de los sacerdotes incitaron a la multitud para que Pilato les soltara más bien a Barrabás.

12 —¿Y qué voy a hacer con el que ustedes llaman el rey de los judíos? —les preguntó Pilato.

13 —¡Crucifícalo! —gritaron.

14 —¿Por qué? ¿Qué crimen ha cometido?Pero ellos gritaron aún más fuerte:—¡Crucifícalo!

15 Como quería satisfacer a la multitud, Pilato les soltó a Barrabás; a Jesús lo mandó azotar, y lo entregó para que lo crucificaran.

Los soldados se burlan de Jesús

16 Los soldados llevaron a Jesús al interior del palacio (es decir, al pretorio) y reunieron a toda la tropa.

17 Le pusieron un manto de color púrpura; luego trenzaron una corona de espinas, y se la colocaron.

18 —¡Salve, rey de los judíos! —lo aclamaban.

19 Lo golpeaban en la cabeza con una caña y le escupían. Doblando la rodilla, le rendían homenaje.

20 Después de burlarse de él, le quitaron el manto y le pusieron su propia ropa. Por fin, lo sacaron para crucificarlo.

La crucifixión

21 A uno que pasaba por allí de vuelta del campo, un tal Simón de Cirene, padre de Alejandro y de Rufo, lo obligaron a llevar la cruz.

22 Condujeron a Jesús al lugar llamado Gólgota (que significa: Lugar de la Calavera).

23 Le ofrecieron vino mezclado con mirra, pero no lo tomó.

24 Y lo crucificaron. Repartieron su ropa, echando suertes para ver qué le tocaría a cada uno.

25 Eran las nueve de la mañana^[a] cuando lo crucificaron.

26 Un letrero tenía escrita la causa de su condena: «El Rey de los judíos».

27 Con él crucificaron a dos bandidos,^[b] uno a su derecha y otro a su izquierda.^[c]

29 Los que pasaban meneaban la cabeza y blasfemaban contra él.—¡Eh! Tú que destruyes el templo y en tres días lo reconstruyes —decían—,

30 ¡baja de la cruz y sálvate a ti mismo!

31 De la misma manera se burlaban de él los jefes de los sacerdotes junto con los maestros de la ley.—Salvó a otros —decían—, ¡pero no puede salvarse a sí mismo!

32 Que baje ahora de la cruz ese Cristo, el rey de Israel, para que veamos y creamos.También lo insultaban los que estaban crucificados con él.

Muerte de Jesús

33 Desde el mediodía y hasta la media tarde quedó toda la tierra en oscuridad.

34 A las tres de la tarde^[d] Jesús gritó a voz en cuello:—Eloi, Eloi, ¿lama sabactani? (que significa: “Dios mío, Dios mío, ¿por qué me has desamparado?”).^[e]

35 Cuando lo oyeron, algunos de los que estaban cerca dijeron:—Escuchen, está llamando a Elías.

36 Un hombre corrió, empapó una esponja en vinagre, la puso en una caña y se la ofreció a Jesús para que bebiera.—Déjenlo, a ver si viene Elías a bajarlo —dijo.

37 Entonces Jesús, lanzando un fuerte grito, expiró.

38 La cortina del santuario del templo se rasgó en dos, de arriba abajo.

39 Y el centurión, que estaba frente a Jesús, al oír el grito y^[f] ver cómo murió, dijo:—¡Verdaderamente este hombre era el Hijo^[g] de Dios!

40 Algunas mujeres miraban desde lejos. Entre ellas estaban María Magdalena, María la madre de Jacobo el menor y de José, y Salomé.

41 Estas mujeres lo habían seguido y atendido cuando estaba en Galilea. Además había allí muchas otras que habían subido con él a Jerusalén.

Sepultura de Jesús

42 Era el día de preparación (es decir, la víspera del sábado). Así que al atardecer,

43 José de Arimatea, miembro distinguido del Consejo, y que también esperaba el reino de Dios, se atrevió a presentarse ante Pilato para pedirle el cuerpo de Jesús.

44 Pilato, sorprendido de que ya hubiera muerto, llamó al centurión y le preguntó si hacía mucho que^[h] había muerto.

45 Una vez informado por el centurión, le entregó el cuerpo a José.

46 Entonces José bajó el cuerpo, lo envolvió en una sábana que había comprado, y lo puso en un sepulcro cavado en la roca. Luego hizo rodar una piedra a la entrada del sepulcro.

47 María Magdalena y María la madre de José vieron dónde lo pusieron.

Marcos 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

Christ before Pilate. (1-14) Christ led to be crucified. (15-21) The crucifixion. (22-32) The death of Christ. (33-41) His body buried. (42-47)

Verses 1-14 They bound Christ. It is good for us often to remember the bonds of the Lord Jesus, as bound with him who was bound for us. By delivering up the King, they, in effect, delivered up the kingdom of God, which was, therefore, as by their own consent, taken from them, and given to another nation. Christ gave Pilate a direct answer, but would not answer the witnesses, because the things they alleged were known to be false, even Pilate himself was convinced they were so. Pilate thought that he might appeal from the priests to the people, and that they would deliver Jesus out of the priests' hands. But they were more and more urged by the priests, and cried, Crucify him! Crucify him! Let us judge of persons and things by their merits, and the standard of God's word, and not by common report. The thought that no one ever was so shamefully treated, as the only perfectly wise, holy, and excellent Person that ever appeared on earth, leads the serious mind to strong views of man's wickedness and enmity to God. Let us more and more abhor the evil dispositions which marked the conduct of these persecutors.

Verses 15-21 Christ met death in its greatest terror. It was the death of the vilest malefactors. Thus the cross and the shame are put together. God having been dishonoured by the sin of man, Christ made satisfaction by submitting to the greatest disgrace human nature could be loaded with. It was a cursed death; thus it was branded by the Jewish law, ( Deuteronomy 21:23 ) . The Roman soldiers mocked our Lord Jesus as a King; thus in the high priest's hall the servants had mocked him as a Prophet and Saviour. Shall a purple or scarlet robe be matter of pride to a Christian, which was matter of reproach and shame to Christ? He wore the crown of thorns which we deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory which he merited. We were by sin liable to everlasting shame and contempt; to deliver us, our Lord Jesus submitted to shame and contempt. He was led forth with the workers of iniquity, though he did no sin. The sufferings of the meek and holy Redeemer, are ever a source of instruction to the believer, of which, in his best hours, he cannot be weary. Did Jesus thus suffer, and shall I, a vile sinner, fret or repine? Shall I indulge anger, or utter reproaches and threats because of troubles and injuries?

Verses 22-32 The place where our Lord Jesus was crucified, was called the place of a scull; it was the common place of execution; for he was in all respects numbered with the transgressors. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember what was written over his head; he is a King, and we must give up ourselves to be his subjects, as Israelites indeed. They crucified two thieves with him, and him in the midst; they thereby intended him great dishonour. But it was foretold that he should be numbered with the transgressors, because he was made sin for us. Even those who passed by railed at him. They told him to come down from the cross, and they would believe; but they did not believe, though he gave them a more convincing sign when he came up from the grave. With what earnestness will the man who firmly believes the truth, as made known by the sufferings of Christ, seek for salvation! With what gratitude will he receive the dawning hope of forgiveness and eternal life, as purchased for him by the sufferings and death of the Son of God! and with what godly sorrow will he mourn over the sins which crucified the Lord of glory!

Verses 33-41 There was a thick darkness over the land, from noon until three in the afternoon. The Jews were doing their utmost to extinguish the Sun of Righteousness. The darkness signified the cloud which the human soul of Christ was under, when he was making it an offering for sin. He did not complain that his disciples forsook him, but that his Father forsook him. In this especially he was made sin for us. When Paul was to be offered as a sacrifice for the service saints, he could joy and rejoice, ( Philippians 2:17 ) ; but it is another thing to be offered as a sacrifice for the sin of sinners. At the same instant that Jesus died, the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom. This spake terror to the unbelieving Jews, and was a sign of the destruction of their church and nation. It speaks comfort to all believing Christians, for it signified the laying open a new and living way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. The confidence with which Christ had openly addressed God as his Father, and committed his soul into his hands, seems greatly to have affected the centurion. Right views of Christ crucified will reconcile the believer to the thought of death; he longs to behold, love, and praise, as he ought, that Saviour who was wounded and pierced to save him from the wrath to come.

Verses 42-47 We are here attending the burial of our Lord Jesus. Oh that we may by grace be planted in the likeness of it! Joseph of Arimathea was one who waited for the kingdom of God. Those who hope for a share in its privileges, must own Christ's cause, when it seems to be crushed. This man God raised up for his service. There was a special providence, that Pilate should be so strict in his inquiry, that there might be no pretence to say Jesus was alive. Pilate gave Joseph leave to take down the body, and do what he pleased with it. Some of the women beheld where Jesus was laid, that they might come after the sabbath to anoint the dead body, because they had not time to do it before. Special notice was taken of Christ's sepulchre, because he was to rise again. And he will not forsake those who trust in him, and call upon him. Death, deprived of its sting, will soon end the believer's sorrows, as it ended those of the Saviour.

Footnotes

• [a] "Eran " "… " "mañana" . Lit. "Era la hora tercera" .
• [b] "bandidos" . Alt. "insurgentes" .
• [c] "izquierda" . Var. "izquierda. " 28?"Así se cumplió la Escritura que dice: «Fue contado con los malhechores». " (Is 53:12)
• [d] "Desde " "… " "tarde" . Lit. "Y llegando la hora sexta vino oscuridad sobre toda la tierra hasta la hora novena. " 34?"Y en la hora novena."
• [e] Sal 22:1
• [f] Var. no incluye: "oír el grito y" .
• [g] "era el Hijo" . Alt. "era hijo" .
• [h] "hacía mucho que" . Var. "ya" .