Mark 15:16-47

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Mocked by the Military

¹⁶ Then^(A) the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard (that is, headquarters^(B)) and called the whole company together. ¹⁷ They dressed Him in a purple^(C) robe, twisted together a crown^(D) of thorns, and put it on Him. ¹⁸ And they began to salute Him, “Hail,^(E) King^(F) of the Jews!” ¹⁹ They kept hitting Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him. Getting down on their knees,^(G) they were paying Him homage. ²⁰ When they had mocked^(H) Him, they stripped Him of the purple robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

Crucified between Two Criminals

²¹ They^(I) forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’ cross.^(J) He was Simon, a Cyrenian,^(K) the father of Alexander and Rufus.^{(L) 22} And^(M) they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place^(N)). ²³ They tried to give Him wine^(O) mixed with myrrh,^(P) but He did not take it. ²⁴ Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes, casting lots^(Q) for them to decide what each would get. ²⁵ Now it was nine in the morning^[a] when they crucified Him. ²⁶ The inscription of the charge written against Him was:

²⁷ They^(T) crucified two criminals^[b](U) with Him, one on His right and one on His left. [²⁸ So the Scripture was fulfilled that says: And He was counted among outlaws.]^{[c](V)[d] 29} Those^(W) who passed by were yelling insults^(X) at^[e] Him, shaking their heads,^(Y) and saying, “Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days,^{(Z) 30} save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”^{(AA) 31} In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes^(AB) were mocking Him to one another and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! ³² Let the Messiah,^(AC) the King^(AD) of Israel,^(AE) come down now from the cross,^(AF) so that we may see and believe.”^(AG) Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him.

The Death of Jesus

³³ When^(AH) it was noon,^[f] darkness came over the whole land^[g] until three in the afternoon.^{[h](AI) 34} And at three^[i] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá^[j] sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”^(AJ)[k]

³⁵ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!” ³⁶ Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink,^(AK) and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down!”

³⁷ But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. ³⁸ Then the curtain^(AL) of the sanctuary^[l] was split in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He^[m] breathed His last, he said, “This man really was God’s Son!”^[n](AM)

⁴⁰ There^(AN) were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene,^(AO) Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ When He was in Galilee,^(AP) they would follow Him and help Him. Many other women had come up with Him to Jerusalem.^(AQ)

The Burial of Jesus

⁴² When^(AR) it was already evening, because it was preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward^(AS) to the kingdom of God,^(AT) came and boldly went in to Pilate^(AU) and asked for Jesus’ body.^{(AV) 44} Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He had already died. ⁴⁵ When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶ After he bought some fine linen, he took Him down and wrapped Him in the linen. Then he placed Him in a tomb^(AW) cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone^(AX) against the entrance to the tomb. ⁴⁷ Now^(AY) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where He was placed.