Mark 15

Study Guide 98: Mark 14-16 JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION Overview Each of the Gospel writers gives us much detail about the last evening Jesus spent with His disciples, and about the trials which led up to His execution. Yet few Christians are aware of the exact sequence of events, or of their locations. In this Teacher’ s Commentary each Gospel’ s report of Jesus’ death and resurrection is given a slightly different treatment, designed to reflect the emphasis of the Gospel. In the study of Matthew, we explore the meaning of Christ’ s death as a sacrifice for sins. In that study we answer the theologian’ s question, “ Why did God become man?” In this study of Mark’ s Gospel we emphasize the sequence of the events on the day Christ died. In the study of Luke’ s Gospel we focus on evidence that, throughout the experience, Jesus remained in control. He gave His life; it was not taken. In the study of John’ s Gospel we examine Christ’ s instructions to His disciples at the Last Supper, and the striking confrontation Jesus had with Pilate, the Roman governor. Through each of these studies we come to appreciate more the suffering of Christ, and sense more of the love He showed to you and me at Calvary.

Commentary The events associated with Jesus’ trials and death took place in and around Jerusalem. While there is debate concerning some of the specific locations, such as the location of Joseph’ s tomb, we have a great deal of information on the specific places Jesus traveled to on that fateful night. Jerusalem in the time of Jesus was a typical walled city. The “ lower city,” built along a steep hillside, was filled with crowded tenement-type structures. The upper city contained the larger city homes of the wealthy, like Caiaphas, the high priest and the beautiful palace of Herod. It was the temple, however, which dominated the city, and was the focus of the faith of all Jews in every land. Immediately next to the temple was the Fortress Antonia, where a Roman army contingent was stationed and Pontius Pilate held court. Directly across from the temple, separated from it by the deep Kidron Valley, and up on the side of the Mount of Olives lay the Garden of Gethsemane, an olive orchard where Jesus often stopped to rest and pray. On the other side of the city, just outside the city walls, was the public execution grounds, Golgotha — the place of the skull. Many believe that a tomb nearby, hewn into the living rock and matching perfectly the description given in the Gospels, is the very tomb which Joseph of Arimathea surrendered to the Saviour. This, then, was the setting for those familiar yet terrible events that we know so well as Jesus, near the end of His life on earth, approached the Cross.

Tuesday and Wednesday: Mark 14:1-11Jesus passed the two days between His confrontation with the Jewish leaders and His final day on earth with friends in Bethany. There He was anointed by a woman who poured expensive perfume on His head. This was a “ beautiful thing” done in preparation “ for My burial.” The woman may not have understood, but she did love the Lord and expressed that love by giving. Judas, on the other hand, “ went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them” for the promise of money. What a contrast. The woman gave generously because she loved Jesus: Judas betrayed Jesus because he loved money. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN It is important for all of us to link giving with love for Jesus. We can help boys and girls make this connection by letting them help decorate our offering plate, or create special offering envelopes. For the first, have each child write on a paper plate, “ I love Jesus” and decorate the plate with hearts, or whatever scene they may wish. For the second, have each child scotch tape two 4 x 6 cards together. Tape three sides, but leave one side untaped so money can be slipped into it. Again let each child in your class write, “ I love Jesus” on the envelope and decorate it appropriately. Then each week use a different child’ s decorated plate or offering envelope to take up the collection, letting the child who made it take up the offering. Pray with the children, thanking Jesus that because you love Him you want to give to Him all.

Thursday: Mark 14:12-15:1 The Passover meal (Mark 14:12-26). That Thursday Jesus and His followers met in a room in a house in Jerusalem’ s upper city. John’ s Gospel tells us in great detail what Jesus taught His disciples there. Mark simply tells us that Jesus, seated at the table, told the Twelve that one of them was about to betray Him. Judas then slipped away to go to the chief priests. Mark tells us that then Jesus broke bread and told the disciples, “ This is My body.” And He took the cup, saying, “ This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” After they sang a hymn, they left the house where they had eaten and went to the Mount of Olives. It was night, and the little party probably went down steps that still lead down the steep hillside near the house of Caiaphas into the valley. Traveling back along the Hinnom Valley into the Kidron, they moved up a path that climbed the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter’ s denial predicted (Mark 14:27-31). On the way Jesus remarked that soon all the disciples would desert Him. Peter was incensed. “ Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You.” But Jesus told Peter that that very night he would disown Christ three times — three times before the rooster crowed. Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42). It was now late at night. The tired disciples could hardly stay awake. But Jesus was in anguish, so tormented by His knowledge of what was about to come that He was “ overwhelmed with sorrow.” Jesus needed their companionship, but the disciples’ eyes were so heavy they kept nodding off. Finally Jesus wakened them. At the base of the hill, torches could be seen, and the sounds of a mob stumbling up the hill could be heard. Jesus arrested (Mark 14:43-52). Judas was leading the armed crowd that had been sent by the religious leaders to seize Jesus. He identified Christ with a kiss, and the men roughly grabbed hold of the Lord. Other Gospels tell us that it was Peter who then bravely drew a sword and struck out. His blade grazed the head of a servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Again, another Gospel tells us that Jesus picked up the severed ear and replaced it. As Jesus rebuked the mob, His terrified disciples all slipped away and fled. Most believe that the “ young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment” who was following Jesus was John Mark himself, the author of this Gospel. When the mob seized Jesus, Mark was so terrified he fled “ leaving his garment behind him.” On trial before Annas. Jesus was taken back through the Kidron Valley and up the Hinnom to the steps that led up the hill toward Caiaphas’ house. John tells us that He was taken first to Annas, who is also called the high priest. In fact, Annas was high priest emeritus, and was the father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas. He exerted such influence that Luke, in Acts 4:1-37, spoke of Annas as high priest. After a preliminary examination in which Jesus was struck in the face (John 18:22), Christ was sent on to Caiaphas. On trial before Caiaphas (Mark 14:55-65). The home of the high priest was large, with a handsome courtyard. There the leadership gathered to determine how they might get rid of Jesus. The leaders interviewed those who volunteered to give false testimony against Jesus, but their testimony was not consistent. Finally the high priest asked Jesus bluntly, “ Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus answered, “ I am.” To the leaders this was blasphemy: Jesus had claimed to be God Himself! And the penalty for blasphemy was death. Jesus had not yet been officially condemned. The “ trial” had been more of a hearing, but a hearing before those who would soon serve as judges. By the time the Sanhedrin met in official session the verdict would be settled. In the meantime, some began to spit at Jesus, and to strike Him with their fists. In the Jerusalem house that tradition says was that of Caiaphas there is a dark, dungeon-like basement. It may be that the guards who Mark tells us then beat Christ took Him down into that shadowy room. Peter denies Jesus (Mark 14:66-72). Peter alone of all the disciples had followed the mob that took Jesus all the way back into Jerusalem. There some recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ followers. And when Peter spoke, his accent betrayed him as a Galilean. The frightened Peter swore again and again that he did not even know “ this Man you’ re talking about.” It was then the cock crowed . . . and Peter remembered that Jesus had known about his denial. Crushed, Peter “ broke down and wept.” On trial before the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:1). Mark 15:1 sums up what Luke 22:66-71 describes. Early in the morning, just before dawn, Jesus was brought back before the Sanhedrin, now officially constituted. Jesus was asked again if He were the Christ, the Son of God. Again Jesus affirmed that He is. Now the verdict was officially passed. Jesus was guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be God. There was only one problem, not recognized by the Sanhedrin. Jesus is God. The court had met, and had condemned — itself.

Friday: Mark 15:2-46Jesus before Pilate (Mark 15:2-15). The Jews, like other peoples in the Roman Empire, were granted a great degree of self-government. Of course, local laws were subordinate to Roman law. But only a Roman citizen had access to Roman courts. So most of the civil as well as religious disputes in Judea and Galilee were settled by the Jewish court. But the Sanhedrin lacked one very important power. It had no authority to execute. It was for this reason that Jesus was now sent, under guard, to the Fortress Antonia to appear before Pilate. It was very early. But it’ s possible that even that early in the morning Jesus was taken outside the city, through the narrow valleys, to approach the fortress without being observed. The Jewish leaders would not have wanted to rouse the city that had hailed Christ as the Messiah just a few days earlier. Luke tells us that after an initial appearance before Pilate, Jesus was taken to Herod Antipas. Herod was technically ruler of Galilee. Sending Jesus to Herod was a courtesy, and Luke tells us that Herod appreciated it. In fact, the gesture healed a rift that had developed between the two. But Herod, after Jesus disappointed him by performing no miracle, returned Christ to Pilate. After all, only Pilate had the power of life and death. Each of the Gospels tells us how hard Pilate tried to avoid condemning Jesus. But Pilate, technically the ruler of this subject people, was unwilling to offend them. To satisfy the crowd Pilate went against his own conscience, and ordered Jesus’ crucifixion! Mocked by soldiers (Mark 15:16-23). Jesus was then turned over to the military to be prepared for crucifixion. This involved beating, designed to weaken the victim. In this case the soldiers took great delight in mocking Jesus. These Roman soldiers were auxiliaries, probably Franks and Gauls marched across the empire from France to serve in hot, dusty Palestine. They neither understood nor liked the Jews. To ridicule and torment one who called Himself King of the Jews must have stimulated their smoldering hostility and cruelty. The Crucifixion (Mark 15:24-32). Jesus was taken by a direct route from the Fortress Antonia to the execution ground outside the city. This was located on a major road, where all would profit by seeing what happened to criminals under Roman rule. Crucifixion was a method of execution that Roman law ordained for the worst of criminals. No Roman citizen could be executed in this way. The crucified did not die from the wounds in their hands or ankles. The blood in the suspended victims, especially one who had suffered much loss of blood from whippings, was forced into the lower body. The pulse rate increased; after agony which might have lasted for days, the victim died from lack of blood circulating to the brain and heart. As Jesus suffered crucifixion’ s excruciating pain, the soldiers on the execution detail gambled for His clothing, while onlookers either mocked or sorrowed. Even the thieves who were crucified too “ heaped insults on Him.” Jesus’ death (Mark 15:33-41). Jesus hung on the cross from about 9 a.m. to noon. Then, at noon, a terrible darkness blotted out the sun. After three more hours, at about 3 p.m., Jesus cried out, “ My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This cry reflects the real anguish of the cross. It was not the physical pain that tormented Jesus. It was the fact that, when our sin was laid on Jesus, He was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). At that moment, for the first and only time, the Father turned away from the Son, and Jesus experienced the full meaning of the alienation from God that sin must always cause. A moment later, the work of redemption done, Jesus “ breathed His last.” The Saviour was dead. “ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” This curtain cut off the holy of holies, the temple’ s most inner room, which could only be entered once a year by the high priest, bearing sacrificial blood. This curtain was visible evidence in Old Testament religion that there was no direct access to God for the worshiper. The tearing of the curtain showed that now, through the death of Jesus, the way to God was open to all. Jesus is buried (Mark 15:42-46). The Jewish Sabbath began at sundown Friday. The death of Jesus moved His followers to act quickly. Joseph of Arimathea, a council member but a believer, hurried to beg Pilate for Jesus’ body. Pilate checked to be sure Jesus was actually dead; death usually took much longer. When the death was confirmed by the commander of the execution party, Pilate gave the body to Joseph. Joseph had to hurry. Rushing back to Golgotha, he wrapped Christ’ s body in some linen cloth and placed it in his own nearby tomb. The burial must be completed before Sabbath. It was. And suddenly the stunning reality must have struck all of those who loved Jesus. He was gone. He was really gone. As the cut stone circle was rolled up to cover the tomb door all their hopes died as well.

Sunday Morning: Mark 16:1-8Jesus had been put in the garden tomb without normal preparation of the body. So Sunday, when the Sabbath with its restrictions on what one might do had passed, three women brought spices intending to rewrap and anoint Jesus’ body. They were uncertain. A military guard had been set on the tomb, and a seal on the stone. Who would roll the stone away so they could slip into the rock-hewn tomb? But when they reached the garden the stone had been rolled away! Inside the tomb there was a “ young man” (an angel) waiting for them. “ Don’ t be alarmed,” he announced. Jesus is no longer there. “ He has risen.” The women, trembling and bewildered, set off to deliver a message to Peter and the disciples. Jesus is alive. “ He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.” Jesus had died, yes. But Jesus lives! The Cross was not the end, but a new beginning — for us all.

Events of Trial Crucifixion and Resurrection in Gospels EventsMatthewMarkLukeJohn Thursday The Passover Meal HeldMat_26:17-29Mar_14:12-25Luk_22:7-22Joh_13:1-38 The Last Supper Teaching14-16 Jesus’ High Priestly PrayerJoh_17:1-26 Prayer at GethsemaneMat_26:36-46Mar_14:32-42Luk_22:39-46Joh_18:1 Jesus ArrestedMat_26:47-56Mar_14:43-52Luk_22:47-53Joh_18:2-12 On Trial before AnnasJoh_18:12-14, John 18:19-23 On Trial before CaiaphasMat_26:57-68Mar_14:53-65Luk_22:54Joh_18:24 Peter Denies the LordMat_26:69-75Mar_14:66-72Luk_22:54-62Joh_18:15-18, John 18:25-27 On Trial before the SanhedrinMat_27:1Mar_15:1Luk_22:66-71 Suicide of JudasMat_27:3-10 Friday On Trial before PilateMat_27:11-14Mar_15:2-5Luk_23:1-5Joh_18:28-38 Taken to HerodLuk_23:6-12 Returned to PilateMat_27:15-26Mar_15:6-15Luk_23:13-2518:39-19:16 Mocked by SoldiersMat_27:27-30Mar_15:16-19Luk_22:63-65 Led to CalvaryMat_27:31-34Mar_15:20-23Luk_23:26-32Joh_19:16-17 Jesus’ CrucifixionMat_27:35-56Mar_15:24-41Luk_23:33-49Joh_19:18-37 Jesus’ Body BuriedMat_27:57-60Mar_15:42-46Luk_23:50-54Joh_19:38-42 Saturday Women Visit the TombMat_27:61Mar_15:47Luk_23:55-57 A Guard Set over the TombMat_27:62-66 Sunday The Women ReturnMat_28:1-8Mar_16:1-8Luk_24:1-12Joh_20:1-10 Teaching Guide Prepare Read through these Mark chapters. If you wish, check parallel passages that supplement Mark’ s report.

Explore Duplicate and give out to your group members the list of events associated with the trial and death of Jesus. Quickly set the scene, explaining each of the events in sequence.

Expand

1. Ask each group member to select one incident listed on the sequence chart. Each person is to study his incident carefully, to re-create the scene in his or her mind. Identify those who were present. Try to sense their feelings, outlook, attitudes. What were Jesus’ feelings in this situation? What did He do and say? Why did He speak or act as He did? What does this particular incident say to us today? How should it affect us today? After some 15 or 20 minutes, meet together as a group and go through the events in sequence, with each person speaking on his or her segment.
2. Some in your group may be curious about Mark 16:9-20. Is this disputed section of Mark’ s Gospel really part of the original text? Is it, as many believe, a later addition? The Bible Knowledge Commentary contains an excellent summary, and concludes that it is best to consider these verses part of canonical Scripture. However, our goal in this study — to place the events of Thursday through Sunday in perspective — is achieved without going into these verses.

Apply Share: “ Which of the incidents in these chapters moves you most? How are you affected by it?”