Mark 15:1-5
Early in the morning, the chief priests with the elders, scribes, and the entire Council immediately held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led Him away, and turned Him over to Pilate. And Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "It is as you say." And the chief priests started accusing Him of many things. But Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You offer nothing in answer? See how many charges they are bringing against You!" But Jesus said nothing further in response, so Pilate was amazed.

† Jesus' silence fulfilled Isaiah 53:7, the Lamb before His shearers.
† Pilate recognized the accusations were false, yet remained amazed at Jesus' calmness.
† The true King of the Jews stood condemned by His own people.

Mark 15:6-15
Now at the Passover Feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. And the one named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the revolt. And the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. And responding again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify Him!" But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!" And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

† Barabbas, a murderer, was released while the innocent Son of God was condemned.
† The crowd chose rebellion over righteousness, echoing Israel's rejection of God.
† Pilate's cowardice showed fear of man over justice.

Mark 15:16-20
Now the soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. And they dressed Him in purple, and after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began saluting Him: "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spit on Him, and kneeling, they bowed down before Him. And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple cloak off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

† The soldiers mocked His kingship, not knowing they were declaring truth.
† The crown of thorns symbolized the curse He bore for humanity.
† Mockery and abuse fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 50:6).

Mark 15:21-32
And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), as he was coming in from the country, to carry His cross. Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man would take. Now it was the third hour when they crucified Him. The inscription of the charge against Him read: "The King of the Jews." And they crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself by coming down from the cross!" In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were ridiculing Him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself! Let this Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!" Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

† Simon carried the cross, showing the burden of discipleship.
† The dividing of garments fulfilled Psalm 22:18.
† The mockers unwittingly testified that He was indeed the Christ.

Mark 15:33-41
When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" And some of the bystanders, when they heard Him, began saying, "Look! He is calling for Elijah!" And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, "Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down." But Jesus let out a loud cry, and died. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw that He died in this way, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" Now there were also some women watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and serve Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

† Darkness signified divine judgment and cosmic upheaval.
† Jesus' cry echoed Psalm 22, expressing both agony and trust.
† The tearing of the temple veil showed the end of the Old Covenant and access to God through Christ.

Mark 15:42-47
When evening had already come, since it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself also waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Now Pilate was surprised that He was already dead; and he summoned the centurion, and questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And after learning this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been cut out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching to see where He was laid.

† Joseph of Arimathea courageously identified with Jesus in His death.
† Jesus' burial fulfilled Isaiah 53:9, "with a rich man in His death."
† The women's witness prepared for the testimony of His resurrection.

How it applies to us today:
† Mark 15 reveals Christ's rejection, crucifixion, and burial. The fulfilled perspective shows that His death ended the Old Covenant, tore the veil, and opened the way to God. For us today, the cross calls us to trust in His finished work, embrace His kingdom, and live as witnesses of the Lamb who was slain and now reigns.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †

Source Index
† Josephus, Wars 6.5.4
† Tacitus, Annals 15.44
† Philo, On the Embassy to Gaius 301
† Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.18.3