Mark lesson 34
Read Mark 15:22-47 – https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.15.esv
Mark 15:22-41
It was a standard act of mercy to give a narcotic to condemned criminals
when they were crucified. The drug would dull the pain a bit and allow
the victim to pass away more comfortably. Jesus refused this
tranquilizer. He was determined to suffer in full consciousness.
The ridicule grew. The soldiers who guarded the cross gambled for Jesus'
clothes. Bystanders laughed at the idea that He could rebuild the
temple when He couldn't even save Himself. “Come down from the cross,”
they taunted, “and we'll believe in You!” Some Jewish officials standing
nearby smirked that He had been able to save others, but was powerless
to save Himself. Even the two thieves who were executed on either side
of the Lord ridiculed Him. From noon until 3 p.m. the sky was dark.
Shortly thereafter, Jesus cried out in anguish, using the very words of
Psalm 22:1: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" Then after a few
more minutes, He cried out again and died. At that moment the temple
veil split in two, and a centurion who was observing exclaimed, "Truly
this man was the Son of God."
Note-‐-‐ The majesty of Jesus' death: There were multiplied ironies in the events of those final hours. As they ridiculed Jesus saying that He had saved others, but now couldn't save himself, they were unaware that He was fully capable of saving Himself, but that if He had, He would not have saved others. He died voluntarily. He had at His disposal thousands of angels who could have rescued Him, but He deliberately chose to lay down His life because He loved us. Jesus had the power to do anything He wanted against His tormentors, but he subdued all desire for revenge and actually prayed for God to forgive those who were treating Him so cruelly (Luke 23:34). By dying as He did, Christ provided the sacrifice that would forgive men’s sins. Therefore, the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom. The veil had blocked access to God's presence-‐-‐it was a symbol of man's sin. Since Jesus' death atoned for sin, the veil was severed, demonstrating that with sin removed men could once again enter into fellowship with God. Truly, this man was the Son of God!
1. What was written above Jesus, while He hung on the cross (v26)? Answer: A sign over Him that said, "The _____ of the _____. ”
2. The people mocking Christ said they would believe on Him if He would
do what? Answer: They would believe if he would _____ from the cross.
3. What occurred in the temple when Jesus died? Answer, the _____ of the temple was torn in two.
4. Jesus was crucified with what kind of men? Answer, He was crucified between two _____.
Mark 15:42-47
Joseph, a prominent Jewish official and secret disciple of Christ (see
John 19:38), asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus' body. He had to
act quickly since according to Jewish law He could not bury the body on
the Sabbath, which officially began at sundown. He gathered the corpse
up in a sheet and put it in a hole chiseled into the wall of a cave,
which served as a typical grave in that era. He closed off the cave by
rolling a large rock over the entrance.
5. In whose tomb was Jesus buried (v43)? Answer: The tomb belonged to _____. (see Matt. 27:57-‐60.)
6. How did Pilate make sure Jesus was dead (v44, 45)? Answer: He asked the _____ if Jesus was dead.
7. What was the tomb made of, and how was the opening sealed (v46)?
Answer: It was hewn out of _____ and the opening was covered with a
large _____