Mark 15:21-47
Crucifixion
21 A
man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was
passing by, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to “the place of the
skull”. 23 Then they
offered him wine and spices, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his
clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 25 It
was nine in the morning. 26 The
written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
27 They
crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by mocked him, saying,
“So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save
yourself!”
31 In
the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him, “He
saved others, but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of
Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those
crucified with him also insulted him.
Death
33 At
noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 At three in the afternoon Jesus cried out
in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?”).
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen,
he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone
filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and gave it to Jesus
to drink. “Now let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
37 With
a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of
the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood
there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was
the Son of God!”
40 Some
women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary
the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him
and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem
were also there.
Burial
42 It
was the day before the Sabbath. As evening came, 43 Joseph of Arimathea was an important member
of the Council who was waiting for the kingdom of God. He went boldly to
Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate
was surprised that Jesus was already dead. He asked the centurion about Jesus. 45 When he learned from the
centurion that Jesus had died, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took
down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of
rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of
Joseph saw where he was laid.
Questions
1.
How many eye witnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion can you find
in the story? Compare their words and reactions. Why do you think they had such
reactions?
2.
Jesus’ question in v.34 (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) is taken from Psalm 22. What is the significance? What’s
the answer to the question?
3.
What is the significance of the temple curtain torn into
two from top to bottom? (v.38)
4.
What were the things Joseph had done to bury Jesus’ body?
What can we learn from him?
5.
How is the story speaking to us about our relationship with
God? How do you respond?
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