Look to the Sympathetic Jesus – Mark 15:1-41
15 Very early in the morning the chief priests, together with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. (2) Pilate asked him, Are you the King of the Jews? He answered him, You are correct in saying so. (3) The chief priests accused him of many things. (4) Pilate again asked him, Do you make no reply? Look at all the things of which they are accusing you. (5) But Jesus made no further reply; this caused Pilate to wonder.
(6) At the feast Pilate used to release for them one prisoner whom they requested of him. (7) Now there was one named Barabbas, imprisoned with those men who had led an insurrection, and who in the insurrection had committed murder. (8) The crowd went up and began to ask Pilate to do as was his custom to do for them. (9) Pilate asked, Would you have me to release for you the King of the Jews? (10) He asked this because he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. (11) But the chief priests incited the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. (12) Then Pilate asked them again, What then shall I do with him whom you call the King of the Jews? (13) And they cried out again, Crucify him. (14) Pilate said to them, Why, what crime has he committed? But they cried out vehemently, Crucify him.
(15) So Pilate, wishing to pacify the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and, after he had scourged him, handed Jesus over to be crucified. (16) Then the soldiers led him away into the courtyard, (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. (17) They clothed him with a purple robe, and weaving together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. (18) Then they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! (19) They repeatedly struck his head with a rod, and spit upon him, and bowing their knees before him, they worshiped him. (20) After they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own garments back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
(21) Now a certain man from Cyrene named Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country; the soldiers forced him to come with them, in order to carry Jesus’ cross. (22) They brought him to the place called Golgotha (which, being interpreted, means, The place of a skull). (23) They offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he refused to take it. (24) So they crucified him. Dividing his garments among themselves, they cast lots to determine what each one would take. (25) Now it was the third hour of the day when they crucified him. (26) The written notice of the charge against him read, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (27) Along with him they crucified two robbers; one on his right, and one on his left. (28) So the scripture was fulfilled, that says, “And he was numbered with transgressors.” (29) Those who passed by hurled insults at him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, (30) save yourself, and come down from the cross. (31) In the same way, the chief priests along with the scribes were also mocking him among themselves, saying, He saved others; but he cannot save himself. (32) Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe. Even those who were crucified with him insulted him.
(33) When the sixth hour of the day arrived, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. (34) At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (which, being interpreted, means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (35) Some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, said, Listen, he is calling for Elijah. (36) One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a rod, and offered it to Jesus to drink, saying, Leave him alone; let us see whether Elijah comes to take him down. (37) Then Jesus let out a loud cry and yielded up his spirit. (38) And the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. (39) When the centurion who was standing in front of Jesus saw how he had yielded up his spirit, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
(40) There were also women watching from a distance; among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome. (41) When he had been in Galilee, they had followed him and ministered to him. And many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with him were also present.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
