Mark 15

King of the Jews

King of the Jews — the promised Messiah-King of David's line

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. Mark 15:1–5

Jesus accepts the title King of the Jews, then stays silent before His accusers. Isaiah foresaw this silence.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:7 — He openeth not his mouth
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:11-14 — Matthew's account of the trial before Pilate
• the same event in John 18:33-37 — John's account: My kingdom is not of this world
• the same title in Matthew 2:2 — The wise men seek him that is born King of the Jews

Condemned in the place of the guilty

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. Mark 15:6–15

A guilty murderer goes free while innocent Jesus is scourged and sent to the cross, a picture of what the Atonement does for each of us. His stripes fulfill Isaiah's words.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:5 — With his stripes we are healed
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:15-26 — Matthew's account of Barabbas released
• a parallel account in Luke 23:18-25 — Luke's account of Barabbas released

King crowned with thorns

King of the Jews — the promised Messiah-King of David's line

And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. Mark 15:16–20

The soldiers mock Jesus with a robe, a crown, and pretend worship, yet everything they do in scorn is true. He is the King, and one day every knee will bow to Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 50:6 — I hid not my face from shame and spitting
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:27-31 — Matthew's account of the mocking by the soldiers
• the same event in John 19:2-3 — John's account of the crown of thorns and purple robe

Crucifixion at Golgotha

And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. Mark 15:21–25

Jesus is crucified at Golgotha, 'the place of a skull.' Soldiers gamble for His clothes, exactly as David's psalm foretold.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 22:18 — They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture
• fulfils 1 Nephi 11:33 — Nephi saw Him lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:32-36 — Matthew's account of the crucifixion
• the same event in John 19:17-24 — John's account, quoting the psalm about His garments

THE KING OF THE JEWS (the title on the cross)

King of the Jews — the promised Messiah-King of David's line

And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Mark 15:26

The charge nailed above Jesus was meant as an accusation, but it announced the truth to everyone who passed by.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in John 19:19-22 — John's account of Pilate's title on the cross
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:37 — Matthew's account of the superscription

Numbered with the transgressors

And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. Mark 15:27–28

Mark says outright that Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled when the sinless Christ was crucified between two criminals, counted as one of the sinners He came to save.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:12 — He was numbered with the transgressors
• fulfils Mosiah 14:12 — Abinadi's quotation of the same prophecy

Temple of His body, rebuilt in three days

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Mark 15:29–30

The mockers throw His temple saying back at Him without knowing it would come true: in three days the temple of His body would rise. Their wagging heads fulfill Psalm 22.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 22:7 — They shoot out the lip, they shake the head
• interpreted by John 2:19-21 — He spake of the temple of his body
• alludes to Mark 14:58 — The false witnesses' version of the temple saying

Christ the King of Israel

Christ — the Anointed One (Messiah)

Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Mark 15:31–32

The priests speak truer than they know: to save others, Jesus would not save Himself. They mock Him with His real titles, Christ and King of Israel.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 22:8 — He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:41-43 — Matthew's account of the priests' mocking
• the same title in John 1:49 — Nathanael: thou art the King of Israel

Death of Jesus on the cross

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. Mark 15:33–37

Darkness covers the land as Jesus cries the first line of Psalm 22, feeling even the Father's presence withdrawn so He could finish the Atonement alone. Then He gives up His life. In the Americas Samuel the Lamanite had foretold darkness at His death, and it came.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Psalm 22:1 — My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
• fulfils Psalm 69:21 — In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (v. 36)
• fulfils Helaman 14:20 — Samuel: in the day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened
• the same event in 3 Nephi 8:19-23 — Thick darkness in the land of the Nephites at His death
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:45-50 — Matthew's account of His death

Veil of the temple — His flesh

And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Mark 15:38

The temple veil shut people out of the Holy of Holies, God's presence. Torn from top to bottom at Jesus' death, it shows that through His torn flesh the way back to God is open to all.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Hebrews 10:19-20 — A new and living way... through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
• alludes to Exodus 26:31-33 — The veil dividing the holy place from the most holy
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:51 — Matthew's account of the rent veil

Son of God (the centurion's witness)

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. Mark 15:39

A Roman soldier who watched Jesus die testifies that He is the Son of God, the same witness Mark opens his Gospel with.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Matthew 27:54 — Matthew's account of the centurion's confession
• the same title in Mark 1:1 — The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Burial of Jesus

And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Mark 15:42–47

Jesus is truly dead and buried in a sealed rock tomb, which makes the empty tomb three days later so powerful. His burial fulfills His own sign of Jonah.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:9 — He made his grave... with the rich in his death
• fulfils Matthew 12:40 — The Son of man three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
• a parallel account in Matthew 27:57-60 — Matthew's account of the burial
• the same event in John 19:38-42 — John's account of Joseph and Nicodemus burying Him