Mark 15

Mark 15:1

STraightway in the morning] Matthew 27:1.

and the whole council] For there were Pharisees there, and ordinary priests, which are not here named.

and bound Jesus] Christ being bound before the judgementseat of an earthly judge, in open assembly, is condemned, as guilty, unto the death of the crosse; not for his own sins, as appeareth by the judges own words; but for ours altogether, that we, most guilty creatures, being delivered from the guiltinesse of our sinnes, might be quitted before the judgement-seat of God, even in open assembly of the angels.

and delivered him to Pilate] It was not lawfull for them to put any man to death; for all causes of life and death were taken away from them, first by Herod the great, and afterward by the Romans; and therefore they deliver Jesus to Pilate.

Mark 15:4

And Pilate asked him again] Matthew 27:13. For he had asked him once before, in the judgement-hall, where his enemies would not come to hear, John 18:33. Now, lest they should say Pilate had not dealt fairly, he asketh him again in their presence, Luke 23. 2.

Mark 15:6

he released unto them one prisoner] Used to release.

Mark 15:11

that he should] Or, to ask that he should. See the like, v. 8.

Mark 15:15

to content the people] Gr. to do sufficient to satisfie the people.

Mark 15:16

called] Gr. which is.

Mark 15:17

and platted a crown of thorns] Christ, going about to take away the sins of men, who went about to usurp the throne of God himself, is condemned as one that hunted after the kingdom, and is mocked with a false shew of a kingdom; that we, on the other side, who shall indeed be eternal kings, might receive the crown of glory at Gods hand.

about his head] Gr. about him.

Mark 15:19

owing] Gr. putting.

Mark 15:21

And they compelled one Simon] Matthew 27:32. The rage of the wicked hath no measure: but, in the mean season, even the weaknesse of Christ, being in pain, under the heavie burden of the crosse, doth manifestly shew, that a lamb is led to be sacrificed.

Mark 15:22

the place of a scull] Christ is led out of the walls of the earthly Jerusalem, into a soul place of dead mens carcases, as a man most unclean, not for his own, but for our sins, which were laid upon him; to the end that we, being made clean by his blood, might be brought into the heavenly Sanctuary.

Mark 15:24

they parted his garments] Christ hangeth naked upon the crosse, and, as if he had been the wickedest caitiff that ever was, he is most vilely reproached; that we, being clothed with his righteousnesse, and blessed by his bearing curses, and sanctified by his onely oblation, may be taken up into heaven.

Mark 15:25

it was the third hour] They fastned him to the crosse bout nine of the clock in the morning.

and they crucified him] Or, when they crucified him, Acts 5:7.

Mark 15:28

And he was numbred] Isaiah 53:12.

Mark 15:29

Ah, thou that destroyest the temple] A note not so much of insultation, as of detesTation.

destroyest] See on chap. 13. 2.

Mark 15:33

there was darknesse] How angry God was against our sins, which he punished in our surety his Son, it appeareth by this horrible darknesse. Or, with their sins that crucified him.

over the whole land] By this word, land, he meaneth Judea: so that the strangenesse of the wonder is so much the more set forth in this, That at the feast of the passeover, and in the full moon, when the sun shined over all the rest of the world, and at midday, that corner of the world, wherein so wicked an act was committed, was covered over with most grosse darknesse. Or, some understand it of the whole hemisphere.

Mark 15:34

Eloi] Mat. 7. 46.

Mark 15:37

cried with a loud voice, and] Gr sending forth a great voice.

Mark 15:40

There were also women] Christ, to the great shame of men, which forsook the Lord, chose women for his witnesses, which beheld all this businesse.

of James the lesse] It may be he was lesse in stature, or of lesse note, or younger then James the son of Zebedee: However, this is added, to distinguish him from that other James.

Mark 15:41

followed him] Luke 8. 3.

Mark 15:42

And now] Ma. 27. 57.

Mark 15:43

an honourable counsellour] A man of great authority, of the council of the Sanhedrin, or else taken into Pilates council.

and went in boldly unto Pilate] If we consider what danger Joseph cast himself into, we shall perceive how bold he was.