MARK 15

Today’s titles are; Verses 1-5 Jesus before Pilate. Verses 6-19 Jesus sentenced to die. Verses 20-41 The crucifixion. Verses 42-47 The burial of Jesus. Mark 15 and verse 1 reads.

Mark 15:1] And 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.

In the last chapter we learned that it was illegal for them to hold trial overnight according to Hebrew law. Now, they bring Jesus to Pilate because only the Roman government can put anyone to death, since Jerusalem is under Roman authority. We have also learned that these scribes, elders and chief priests are Kenites. Pilate also knew that they held trial at night because they feared the people. Before we continue, let’s go to Psalms 2 and verse 1 reads.

Psa.2:1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
[2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
[3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
[4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
[5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

That cup of wrath will be poured out at Jesus’s second advent. The Father took the cup out of Jesus’s hands. Let’s first go back to Mark 14 and verse 36 reads.

Mark 14:36] And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Now let’s go to Isaiah 51 and verse 22 reads.

Isa.51:22] Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

This cup of wrath will be poured out at the seventh trump. The Father has taken it out of the hands of Jesus. His “Will” will be done. Back to Mark 15 and verse 2 reads.

Mark 15:2] And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

Jesus said, I didn’t say that, you said that.

Mark 15:3] And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
[4] And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
[5] But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Prophecy fulfilled, let’s go to Isaiah 53 and verse 7 reads.

Isa.53:7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Many prophecies will be coming to pass in this study today. Remember Matthew 5 and verse 17 reads.

Mat.5:17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Back to Mark 15 and verse 6 reads.

Mark 15:6] Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
[7] And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

Barabbas means; son of my father. Jesus is the Son of God. We have here our two choices even until today, will you follow Jesus or Satan. Let’s go to the first prophecy in God’s Word. Genesis 3 and verse 15 reads.

Gen.3:15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Enmity between the Serpent’s seed and the woman’s seed. Between the Kenites and the children of God. These Kenites will cry “crucify him!” We have them all around today, you will know them by their fruits. What we have here is the generation of the Fig Tree. Jesus told us to learn it in Mark 13:28. Back to Mark 15 and verse 8 reads.

Mark 15:8] And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
[9] But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
[10] For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

Pilate knew that they envied him not only because Jesus could heal and they couldn’t, but because the people loved him and his doctrine.

Mark 15:11] But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
[12] And 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?
[13] And they cried out again, Crucify him.
[14] Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

Though Pilate considered religion as superstition, he knew that Jesus was innocent of all charges. Let’s go back to Psalms 2 and verse 6 reads.

Psa.2:6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Jesus became the Lamb of God that was promised to Abraham on this same hill, called Morriah then, and Golgotha now at the time of Christ. Back to Mark 15 and verse 15 reads.

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

Pilate was more interested in keeping the peace than keeping justice. Let’s go to Isaiah 50 and verse 6 reads.

Isa.50:6] I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Also written in Isaiah 53 and verse 8 reads.

Isa.53:8] He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Back to Mark 15 and verse 16 reads.

Mark 15:16] And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
[17] And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
[18] And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
[19] And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

Let’s go back to Isaiah 53 and verse 5 reads.

Isa.53:5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Back to Mark 15 and verse 20 reads.

Mark 15:20] And 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.

These Roman soldiers will have their day before the LORD. It is written the LORD is not mocked. Let’s go to Galatians 6 and verse 7 reads.

Gal.6:7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Back to Mark 15 and verse 21 reads.

Mark 15:21] And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

I want you to know this is not a Gentile, but an Israelite. We know this by his name. Simon G4613 (Shimon) means; A hearing. Comes from the Hebrew word Simeon or Shimon H8095 and means; Heard. This man was definitely an Israelite. Obeying the commandment of God which he gave to all of Israel in Exodus 12 and verse 14 reads.

Exo.12:14] And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

This was the Passover, and the Passover Lamb was being delivered up. Israel was coming from all over the world to Jerusalem to worship God at his temple. Back to Mark 15 and verse 22 reads.

Mark 15:22] And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
[23] And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

This wine would be mingled with a drug to endure the cross, which means torture in Latin. But Jesus would refuse it because he said I will not drink of the vine until I be with you a new in my Father’s kingdom. Mat.26:29. Let’s go to Psalms 69, we have more prophecies coming to pass here, and verse 19 reads.

Psa.69:19] Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
[20] Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
[21] They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Back to Mark 15 and verse 24 reads.

Mark 15:24] And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

This was prophesied 1,000 years before in Psalms 22 and verse 18 reads.

Psa.22:18] They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

The entire Psalms 22 is the prophecy of the crucifixion written by King David. Back to Mark 15 and verse 25 reads.

Mark 15:25] And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

This would be at 9am the time of the morning oblation. Let’s see why our Lord was crucified. Hebrews 2 and verse 14 reads.

Heb.2:14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

The love of the Father is greater than any other love. Back to Mark 15 and verse 26 reads.

Mark 15:26] And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
[27] And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
[28] And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

Another prophecy is fulfilled. Let’s go to Isaiah 53 and verse 9 reads.

Isa.53:9] And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Between the two malefactors, one on his right hand and the other on his left. Being buried in a rich man’s tomb, his uncle Joseph of Arimathea. Back to Mark 15 and verse 29 reads.

Mark 15:29] And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
[30] Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
[31] Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

All prophecies coming to pass quickly. Let’s go back to Psalms 22 and verse 6 reads.

Psa.22:6] But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
[7] All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying,
[8] He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Remember this Psalms 22 was written a thousand years before it ever happened. Back to Mark 15 and verse 32 reads.

Mark 15:32] Let 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.

Finally, the chief priest call’s him by his true name. Christ the King of Israel, not just king of the Jews.

Mark 15:33] And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

This brings us to noon. Also prophesied long ago in Amos 8 and verse 9 reads.

Amos 8:9] And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

Backing up to verse 33, we have come to 3pm. 9am was the morning oblation, 3pm on the Passover is the only time of the year that the chief priest can go behind the veil into the holy of holies. Back to Mark 15 and verse 34 reads.

Mark 15:34] And 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?

Many pastors teach Jesus had a weak moment. How absurd, Jesus always being the teacher that he is, is telling us to go back to Psalms 22. Psalms 22 and verse 1 reads.

Psa.22:1] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Jesus never had a weak moment while in the flesh. I know Jesus taught the whole of Psalms 22 by what is said in John 19:30, It is finished. The same words from Hebrew to Greek in Psalms 22:31 That he hath done this. Jesus simply taught all of Psalms 22 from the cross. Back to Mark 15 and verse 35 reads.

Mark 15:35] And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

Elias is Greek for Elijah. Did they know prophecy? Did they know that Elijah would come before that great and terrible Day of the LORD?

Mark 15:36] And 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.
[37] And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
[38] And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

The first thing Jesus will do is rent the veil from top to bottom, from heaven to earth. Remember the high priest Caiphas would be there at this time, about to enter into the holy of holies. He must have seen the hands of God rent the veil in two. Wouldn’t you like to have seen his face? No longer is a priest needed to come between us and the LORD. What an awesome blessing.

Mark 15:39] And 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.

This centurion believed Jesus was the Son of God. John 3:16. He gave the declaration for baptism. He heard the testimony of Jesus that he gave from the cross, the prophecy of David, Psalms 22 in its entirety.

Mark 15:40] There 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.

All the women that followed Jesus were there. None of them scattered as the men did, with the exception of John.

Mark 15:42] And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

This gives us the timeline. Jesus was crucified on the fourteenth day of Abib, being a Wednesday, he needed to be put in the tomb before sundown. Sundown would be the fifteenth day, Passover.

Mark 15:43] Joseph of Arimathaea, and honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
[44] And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
[45] And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

Joseph was kinsman redeemer of Jesus, and Christ is our Redeemer.

Mark 15:46] And 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.
[47] And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Fulfilling prophecy in Isaiah 53, buried in a rich man’s tomb. There was so much prophecy fulfilled in today’s lesson. I hope you understand how important it is that all is fulfilled exactly as it was written. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible