Mark 15:21-41

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²¹ They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.^{(A) 22} Then they brought Jesus^[a] to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). ²³ And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.^(B)

²⁵ It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶ The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” ²⁷ And with him they crucified two rebels, one on his right and one on his left.^{[b] 29} Those who passed by derided^[c] him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,^{(C) 30} save yourself, and come down from the cross!” ³¹ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.^{(D) 32} Let the Messiah,^[d] the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.^(E)

The Death of Jesus

³³ When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land^[e] until three in the afternoon. ³⁴ At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^{[f](F) 35} When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” ³⁶ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”^{(G) 37} Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. ³⁸ And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.^{(H) 39} Now when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he^[g] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”^[h](I)

⁴⁰ There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,^{(J) 41} who followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.^(K)