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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 15:36 mean?

Explanation

Mark 15:36 describes a moment from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, where an unnamed bystander runs to soak a sponge in vinegar (a sour wine) and, placing it on a reed, offers it to Jesus to drink.

The words "Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down" reflect the bystander's curiosity about a prophecy or expectation that Elijah (Elias in some translations) would come to rescue the Messiah.

This action is a blend of potential mockery and a test to see if prophetic expectations would come to fruition.

The deeper meaning may also reflect the fulfillment of scripture and the human condition in the face of divine mystery.

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Historical Context

During the time period in which the Gospel of Mark was written, crucifixion was a Roman method of execution reserved for slaves, criminals, and those considered enemies of the state.

The inclusion of vinegar on a sponge could be seen as a customary act of slight mercy, as it was thought to alleviate thirst somewhat, although it’s also been interpreted as an act of mockery towards the crucified.

The expectation that Elijah would come to rescue the Messiah is rooted in Jewish eschatology, where Elijah was prophesied to return before the coming of the Messiah.

Theological Insights

Theologically, different traditions have drawn varied insights from this verse.

In Christian thought, this episode is often seen as Jesus fulfilling the Messianic prophecies and demonstrating his humility and suffering for humanity's salvation.

The bystander's challenge to Jesus suggests a misunderstanding of the nature of Jesus' mission; it wasn't to be saved from death but to conquer it through resurrection.

This passage may underscore human skepticism versus divine purpose.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse serves as a reminder of compassion in the face of suffering and the human tendency toward doubt.

It encourages believers to have faith in divine plans, even when they do not align with human expectations.

It also may call individuals to examine how they respond to others’ suffering, whether with mockery, indifference, or compassion.

Cross-References

Psalm 69:21: "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
Matthew 27:48: "And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink."
John 19:28-30: "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst."

Language Study

The key terms in this verse are:

"Vinegar" (Greek: oxos) refers to a sour wine or a wine-based concoction common among Roman soldiers.
"Reed" (Greek: kalamos) likely refers to a long, slender plant stalk, used here to extend the sponge to Jesus.
"Elias" is the Greek form of Elijah, a prophet who was taken to heaven and was expected to return.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Jewish expectations of Elijah's return mirror elements found in other cultures where a prophetic figure is believed to return at a pivotal moment in history.

Elijah’s anticipated return before the "great and terrible day of the LORD" (Malachi 4:5) can be compared to expectations of figures like the Mahdi in Islamic eschatology, who is also believed to arrive before an end-times scenario.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, offering vinegar to someone who is dehydrated would not provide hydration but might temporarily relieve the sensation of thirst due to its strong flavor.

The acceptance or rejection of offered liquids might also reflect on a person's physiological state at the moment of near death.

Commentaries

Modern biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse.

Some suggest that the offering of vinegar was indeed a gesture of cruelty, while others see it as an act of mercy, however inadequate. The challenge to see if Elijah would come is often explained as a taunt based on a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission.

Scholars often connect this moment with the psalm cited above (Psalm 69:21), emphasizing that Jesus' experience was a fulfillment of prophecies regarding the suffering servant.

Mark 15

Mark 15

What does Mark 15:36 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 15:36 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?