Why did the crowd choose Barabbas instead of Jesus?

Pilate had a custom of releasing one prisoner during the feast. He offered the crowd a choice between Jesus, who was innocent, and Barabbas, who had taken part in an uprising and committed murder. The chief priests stirred up the people to ask for Barabbas. This shows how envy and pressure can twist justice, and how people can prefer a violent rebel over a righteous man. It also pictures how the guilty one goes free while the innocent one is condemned, pointing to Jesus suffering in the place of sinners.

Why did Jesus stay mostly silent before Pilate and His accusers?

When the chief priests brought many charges, Jesus did not argue back. He answered only briefly when Pilate asked if He was the King of the Jews. His silence was not weakness, but willing submission. He was like a lamb being led to sacrifice, choosing to endure false words rather than escape the cross. Pilate was amazed, because most prisoners beg and defend themselves. Jesus’ quiet acceptance shows His obedience to His Father’s plan and His readiness to suffer for others’ sins.

What is the meaning of the crown of thorns and the soldiers’ mockery?

The soldiers dressed Jesus in a purple robe, put a crown of thorns on His head, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.” They hit Him, spat on Him, and bowed in fake worship. They meant it as cruel humor, treating His kingship as a joke. Yet even in their scorn, they spoke the truth without knowing it. The thorns picture the pain and curse He bore. The scene shows how the world rejects God’s true King, while God uses this shame to bring salvation through His suffering.

Why did Jesus refuse the wine mixed with myrrh on the way to the cross?

At Golgotha, they offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh, which likely would dull some pain. He refused to drink it. This shows He chose to face the suffering of the cross with a clear mind, not softened by drink. He took the full weight of pain, shame, and God’s judgment on sin without easing it. His refusal fits with the whole passage: He does not run from the cost of saving others, but drinks the bitter cup of suffering that His Father has given Him, all the way to the end.

What does “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” mean here?

As darkness covered the land, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” He was using the words of an old psalm, speaking from real anguish. Here we see how deeply He entered into the judgment sin deserves. Though He had done no wrong, He felt the horror of being left under God’s curse in the place of sinners. This does not mean the Father stopped loving Him, but that Jesus bore the full weight of wrath against sin, so that those who trust Him would not be forsaken.

Why was there darkness over the land during the crucifixion?

From the sixth hour to the ninth hour, there was darkness over the land in the middle of the day. This was not normal. It was a sign from God that something very serious was happening as His Son hung on the cross. The darkness pointed to God’s anger against sin, which Jesus was carrying as a substitute. While the world went on in daylight elsewhere, this place of greatest evil, where the innocent Savior was killed, was covered in gloom, showing God’s judgment and the weight of that moment.

What is the significance of the veil of the temple being torn in two?

When Jesus cried out with a loud voice and died, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. This thick curtain had separated the most holy place from the rest, showing that sinful people could not freely enter God’s presence. Its tearing from above shows God’s own act. It points to the way now opened through Jesus’ death for sinners to come to God. What once was closed and fearful is now open because the true sacrifice has been offered, and access to God no longer depends on that barrier.

Why did the centurion say, “Truly this man was the Son of God”?

The centurion was a Roman officer who stood near the cross. He watched how Jesus suffered, how He cried out, and how He died. Seeing this, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” This is striking, because he was not a Jew, yet he recognized something divine in Jesus. His words stand in contrast to the mockery of the crowd and leaders. While many around the cross insulted Jesus, this hardened soldier saw His innocence, His manner of dying, and confessed His true identity.

Who was Joseph of Arimathea, and why was his role important?

Joseph of Arimathea was a respected council member who was waiting for God’s kingdom. Though it was risky, he went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. After getting permission, he wrapped Jesus in fine linen and laid Him in a tomb cut out of rock, then rolled a stone over the entrance. His act mattered because it honored Jesus after such a shameful death, showed his hope in God’s promises, and placed Jesus in a known tomb. Women watched where He was laid, which prepared the way for the story of His rising.

How should believers today respond to Jesus’ suffering in this passage?

This passage shows Jesus falsely accused, mocked, nailed to a cross, feeling forsaken, and then buried. Believers are called to see their own sin in this scene and to see His love. Instead of siding with the crowd or living for human praise like Pilate, we are invited to trust the King who wore a crown of thorns. Remembering His silence, patience, and obedience helps us face unfair treatment without hatred, and His death for sinners moves us to turn from sin, seek forgiveness in Him, and live in hope of His kingdom.

Mark.15.1

Mark 15:1

KJV

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.

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

1 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.

2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

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

7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

Pilate Delivers Up Jesus

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

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

17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

21 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.

22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King of the Jews.

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

28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

29 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,

30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

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

32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

The Death of Jesus

33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

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

39 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.

40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

The Burial of Jesus

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Cross References

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