Mark 15
Jesus Faces Pilate
Immediately, ain the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and bdelivered Him to Pilate. 2 aThen Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He aanswered nothing. 4 aThen Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” 5 aBut Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
Taking the Place of Barabbas
6 Now aat the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But athe chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the aKing of the Jews?”
13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, awhat evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
15 aSo Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be bcrucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16 aThen the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they astruck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had amocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
The King on a Cross
21 aThen they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 aAnd they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 aThen they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, athey divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25 Now ait was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And athe inscription of His accusation was written above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 aWith Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, a“And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
29 And athose who passed by blasphemed Him, bwagging their heads and saying, “Aha! cYou who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31 Likewise the chief priests also, amocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved bothers; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”
Even athose who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
33 Now awhen the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, a“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then asomeone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and boffered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”
37 aAnd Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then athe veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So awhen the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
40 aThere were also women looking on bfrom afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also afollowed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb
42 aNow when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who awas himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 aThen he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid. The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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