Mark 15:16-32

15:16-20 | The soldiers who brutalized Jesus were probably auxiliary troops brought up from Caesarea – non-Jews recruited from Palestine and throughout the empire. They beat Jesus into a bloody mess, savagely mocking Him and continually spitting on Him. As they did so, they play-acted the coronation of a Roman emperor, unaware that as they put the King of the Jews on the cross, He actually was winning His kingdom. This is always the case with the kingdom of God: God is present and active in the world regardless of human perception.

15:21 | The savage beating so weakened Jesus that He could not carry the wood on which He would be nailed. Simon was evidently a Jew who had come to Jerusalem for the feast. Some think his sons are mentioned because the church in Rome may have known them (Rom. 16:13).

15:22-24 | Several elements of Jesus’ crucifixion were prophesied in Psalm 22, revealing Jesus to be the true, suffering David. The soldiers stripped Jesus of His clothes and decided to gamble for them, fulfilling one prediction (Ps. 22:18).

15:23 | Why Jesus was offered wine laced with myrrh (as the Greek implies) is not clear. One theory is that it was meant as an anesthetic to help curb the pain. Another theory believes the offer was meant to taunt an already-thirsty Jesus. Perhaps the best option is that myrrh-flavored wine was regarded as a delicacy and this was all part of the ongoing mockery.

15:25 | The third hour corresponds to 9 AM.

15:27-28 | Mark cites a prophecy of Isaiah (Isa. 53:12).

15:29-32 | Compare the comments of Jesus’ opponents with those predicted in Psalm 22:7-8.