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Mark 15

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.

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

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

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

But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

And they cried out again, Crucify him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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

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

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,

Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

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

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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;

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

What does Mark 15:17 mean?

Explanation

Mark 15:17 refers to the event where Roman soldiers mockingly dressed Jesus Christ in a purple robe and crowned Him with a crown of thorns before his crucifixion.

The purple robe was a symbol of royalty and the soldiers did this in a derisive attempt to present Jesus as the "King of the Jews," an accusation that led to His sentencing by Pontius Pilate.

The crown of thorns was both a mock symbol of a royal crown and an instrument of torture, causing Jesus physical pain.

This verse reflects the mockery and suffering that Jesus endured before His death, and it simultaneously portrays the paradox that Jesus is indeed a king, but His kingdom is not of this world.

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Historical Context

This event took place during the last hours of Jesus' life, after He had been arrested, tried, and condemned to death by crucifixion.

The Roman practice of crucifixion was not only a method of execution but also a form of public humiliation and deterrent to others.

The mocking gestures of clothing Jesus in a royal robe and crowning Him with thorns was a further humiliation, emphasizing the stark contrast between the claim of being a king and the helplessness of a condemned criminal.

Theological Insights

The image of Jesus adorned with purple and a crown of thorns has been interpreted in different ways by theologians.

Some see in this a fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecies, with Jesus as the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53. Others view this as a profound irony, displaying human power mocking divine kingship, not knowing that Jesus' kingdom is spiritual and not of this world (John 18:36).

Practical Applications

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the humility and sufferings of Jesus, encouraging believers to accept their own sufferings with grace.

It cautions against the worldly understanding of power and glory and invites reflection on the nature of true kingship and leadership, which is characterized by service and sacrifice.

It also highlights the theme of looking beyond appearances, recognizing the worth and dignity of individuals even when the world may mock or misunderstand their true identity and purpose.

Cross-References

Matthew 27:28-29: "And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe.

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!"

John 19:2-3: "And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands."
Isaiah 53:3: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Language Study

The original Greek term for "purple" in this verse is "πορφύραν" (porphuran), which referred to a type of cloth dyed a purple or reddish-purple color, typically associated with royalty or wealth.

The word "crown" in Greek is "στέφανον" (stephanon), which generally denotes a wreath or garland, often worn by victors in athletic competitions or by royalty as a symbol of authority.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, the color purple was associated with royalty due to the rarity and cost of the Tyrian purple dye.

Many cultures also used thorns in symbolism, often representing sin, struggle, or the harshness of life. The act of mocking a supposed king with a fake coronation is not unique to Jesus' story and can be found in other historical accounts where a usurper or enemy is humiliated before execution.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the crown of thorns would have caused significant pain as the thorns pierced the skin of the scalp, leading to bleeding and possibly infection.

The purple cloth, while not causing physical harm, would have added to the psychological torment by mocking Jesus' claim to spiritual authority.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer various insights on Mark 15:17.

Some emphasize the fulfillment of prophecy and the foreshadowing of Jesus' resurrected kingship. Others focus on the historical and cultural aspects of the verse, such as the Roman practice of mocking those they considered threats to the empire.

Many commentaries reflect on the dichotomy between the appearance of defeat and the ultimate victory of Jesus over death, highlighting the irony of the soldiers' actions in unwittingly proclaiming Jesus' true identity as King.

Mark 15

Mark 15

What does Mark 15:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 15:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?