The Gospel of Mark
The Death and Resurrection of Jesus: Mk 15,1-16,8
The two final chapters of the Gospel is presented as a three day story (15,29), with chapter 15 covering the first day. The chapter begins very early in the morning (15,1) and then there is the crucifixion of Jesus at the third hour (15,25). This is followed by darkness over the whole land from the sixth to ninth hours (15,33) which is the time when Jesus dies (15,34). Finally, in the evening (15,42), the body of Jesus is buried.
The following day is the sabbath which ends in the evening (16,1). The third day of the story then begins that evening with the women buying the spices. It is early on the first day of the week (Christian time, but this is still the third day Jewish time) that we are told that the women go to the tomb (16,2).
It is only in this chapter that Jesus is called King of the Jews (6 times: 15,2.9.12.18.26.32). We will look at this title more closely as we do our reading.
Pilate dominates this chapter and it is only here that he appears in this Gospel. Pilate is not called the governor in this Gospel; that is added by Matthew (27,2). Pilate is central to the trial scene (15,1-15) and it is he who gives permission for the burial of Jesus (15,43-45). The crucifixion of Jesus takes place under his authority (15,15).
It is notable how the phrase "they crucified him" or similar expressions echo through the chapter (verses 13,14,15,20,23,25 as well as verse 27 and 32).
The first scene of the chapter therefore is the trial before Pilate (15,1-15).
In the second scene, 15,16-39, we find that the soldiers are in charge. The pronoun "they" refers to them from verse 16 through to verse 27. Then at the end there is the centurion's acclamation in verse 39. Thus the presence of the soldiers gives these verses a unity. Other things are happening in these verses as well, we will look at them more closely in due course.
Next, in verse 40, a new group appear on the scene, the women. They are present in both the scenes which end the Gospel and they are the key to them. These two scenes of the burial (15,42-47) and resurrection (16,1-8) both take place at the tomb.
What separates the two scenes is the second day, the sabbath day, the day of complete rest. It is mentioned in both scenes (15,42 and 16,1).
We will therefore read these last two scenes together (15,40-16,8). We will look more closely when we come to them at the unity given to these scenes by the presence of the women.
Return now to the main page for the reading plan.