Mark 15

The Explanation

It is early in the morning. The religious leaders have been busy all night. They tie Jesus up and bring Him to Pilate, the Roman governor. Only Pilate is allowed to sentence someone to death. Pilate asks Jesus: "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answers: "So you say." After that, He stays silent, even though many people accuse Him of terrible things. Pilate is amazed. He can see that Jesus is innocent.

There is a tradition: at the feast, the governor releases one prisoner. The crowd may choose. Pilate hopes they will pick Jesus. But the chief priests stir up the people. They shout for Barabbas, a murderer. And about Jesus they scream: "Crucify Him!" Pilate asks, "Why? What evil has He done?" But the shouting only gets louder. Pilate gives in. He wants peace, not justice.

Then it begins. The soldiers take Jesus into the palace. They put a purple robe on Him, as if He were a king. They press a crown of thorns onto His head. They bow down and mock: "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spit on Him and hit Him. Then they lead Him away to be crucified.

A man named Simon of Cyrene is coming in from the field. The soldiers force him to carry Jesus' cross. Jesus is too weak. On a hill called Golgotha, which means "place of a skull," they nail Him to the cross. It is nine in the morning. Above His head hangs a sign: "The King of the Jews."

For six hours Jesus hangs there. People walk by and mock Him. Even the men crucified next to Him insult Him. Then, at noon, something strange happens: darkness falls over the whole land. Three hours long. At three o'clock Jesus cries out loudly: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Shortly after, He breathes His last.

At that moment, the curtain in the temple tears in two, from top to bottom. A Roman officer who has watched everything says: "Truly this man was the Son of God."

In the evening, a man named Joseph of Arimathea dares to ask Pilate for Jesus' body. He wraps Him in linen and lays Him in a tomb hewn out of rock. A large stone is rolled in front of it. Two women watch where He is laid.

What Does This Mean?

Mark tells this chapter soberly, without pretty words. And that is exactly what makes it so heavy. Jesus is treated like the lowest of criminals, even though everyone knows He has done nothing wrong. Pilate knows it. The soldiers do not care. The crowd is stirred up. And Jesus? He hardly says a word.

The cry "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" is honest and raw. Jesus feels abandoned by His Father. That is one of the most difficult moments in the whole Bible. Not something you can explain away quickly. Jesus went through real darkness, so that we would never have to go through it alone.

The Common Thread

The torn curtain in the temple is not a small detail. That curtain hung in front of the Most Holy Place, where God's presence lived. No one was allowed to enter, except the high priest, once a year. And now it tears. From top to bottom, as if God Himself does it. The way to God is open. Not through a priest, not through a sacrifice, but through Jesus.

And notice: the first person who says out loud that Jesus is the Son of God is not a disciple. It is a Roman soldier. A stranger. Precisely the one you would not expect. God's kingdom opens up wider than people think.

For You

Sometimes you feel like no one understands you. Or something happens that is not fair. Jesus knows what that is like. He was not spared. He does not stand at a distance from your pain. He went through the deepest darkness Himself, and He came out on the other side. When you pray, you can be honest with God. Even with the questions you have no answer to.

Talk About It

Why do you think Jesus stayed silent when He was accused, while He could have defended Himself?

What do you think about the curtain tearing? What is God saying through that?

Praying Together

Lord Jesus, thank You that You did not run away. Thank You that You went through the darkness, so I never have to walk alone. When I do not understand something, help me to still trust You. Amen.