THE DEATH OF THE KING OF THE JEWS

Mark 15:16-47

Key Verse: 15:34

 

            And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

 

 

  1. Read verses 12, 16-20.  How and why did the Roman soldiers mock Jesus?  How did their mockery and torture of Jesus fulfill prophecy? (See Isa 53:4) What was the meaning of this to Peter and to us? (1Pe 2:24)

 

  1. Read verse 21.  How might Simon’s participation in Jesus’ crucifixion have changed his life?  Read verses 22-24.  What did the soldiers do?  Why?  Describe crucifixion.  Why did Jesus refuse the pain-dulling wine mixed with myrrh?

 

  1. Read verses 25-32.  What was the charge written on the cross?  What did this mean to the Roman officials?  To the religious leaders?  To God?  What was the purpose of crucifying him between two robbers?

 

  1. How did they taunt him?  Why didn’t Jesus save himself? (Mt 26:53)  How did all others try to save themselves? (Pilate, the disciples, the religious leaders.)

 

  1. Read verses 33-39.  What happened from the sixth to the ninth hours?  What did Jesus’ cry at the ninth hour mean?  What did the curtain torn from top to bottom mean?  What was the centurion’s testimony?  What did this mean?

 

  1. Read verses 40-41.  Who were these women?  How had they served Jesus and how had they been served by him?  Think about the agony of Jesus’ mother (Jn 19:25, Lk 2:35).

 

  1. Read verses 42-47.  How did Jesus’ burial confirm the fact of his death and set the stage for the resurrection?  Who was Joseph?  From what does Jesus’ death save us? (Rev 21:8; Rev 5:12)