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. See the Notes on Matth. 27.1.2. Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governour in Iudea at this time, Luke 3.1. The reasons of their carrying Christ to him, when they had condemned him to Death for Blasphemy (a crime cognoscible before them as appeareth in the case of Stephen Acts 7.) see in our Notes on Matthew; what time in the Morning they carried him before Pilate, is not said, only Iohn says it was early, and we read it was the about the Sixth hour, when Pilate dismissed him, being by him condemned, (that is, with us twelve of the Clock, so probably they were with Pilate, by Six or Seven in the Morning. This Morning was the Morning after the evening in which they had eaten the Passover, and the first day of their feast of Vnleavened Bread. So little did they regard Gods Ordinance.

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 cryed out again, Crucifie him.

Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil has he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucifie 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 souldiers led him away into the hall called Pretorium; 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 crucifie him. This History of our Saviours examination before, and Condemnation by Pilate, together with the indignities offered him, after his Condemnation, is recorded in some degree or other, by all the four Evangelists, by the comparing of which it will appear that Mark has left out many material circumstances, and parts of it. In our Notes on Matth. 27. v. 2.3.4, &c. We have compared, and considered them all, and shall thither refer the Reader. Only observing, 1. How much more favour Christ found from a Gentile Heathen, than from the Iewish High Priest, and not Favour only, but Iustice also. 2. Hour close our Saviour kept upon his Guard, not accusing himself. 3. The horrible debauchery of these Priests, that they would prefer a Murderer, and Seditious Person, before a most innocent Person. 4. The weakness of a corrupt heart, to resist an ordinary Temptation. Pilate was convinced the Prosecution was Malicious, that there was no guilt in Christ; yet he must content the People, and is basely afraid of their misrepresenting him to the Roman Emperour. 5. That the point upon which Christ was Condemned, was his maintaining his spiritual Kingdom, in, and over his Church, for he expresly disclaimed any claim to any earthly Kingdom, before Pilate as the other Evangelists tell us. 6. How punctually the words of Christ are, by the Providence of God fulfilled, we have now heard how Christ was delivered to the Gentiles, by them mocked, scourged, spit upon, and now going to be killed. 7. How Christ has made all our bitter Waters sweet? Sanctifying every cross to us, and taking the curse out of it. He was reviled imprisoned, mocked, scourged, spit upon, and last of all killed; he has tasted of all these bitter Watters, and by that tast they are made wholesome, and medicinal for us, and he has learned us, that there is no ignominy, shame, and contempt, no indignity, and species of suffering for his sake, in which we may not boast and Glory, as being thereby made conformable to the sufferings, and Death of Christ. And if we suffer with him, we shall be glorified together.

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 scull.

And they gave him to drink, wine mingled with myrrhe: 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 crucifie two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, And he was numbred 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 thy self, 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, lame 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 cryed with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. To make this History complete, all the other Evangelists must be consulted, and compared with Mark, who omitteth many considerable passages recorded by them, we have done it in our Notes on Math. 27.32, 33, &c. to which I refer the Reader, both for the understanding the several passages of this Relation, and reconciling any small differences betwixt the Relations of the several Evangelists. It is the observation of some, that when in Scripture the Father is made known by the Son, or Sons, it signifieth some more eminency in the Sons, then in the Father. Many think that this Simon was a Pagan, tho it be not certain, yet it is not improbable, that this Alexander was the same who is mentioned, Acts 19.33. persecuted there by the Iews, and Rufus he whom Paul saluteth Rom. 16.13. calling him chosen in the Lord. They say they were both at Rome, where they judge St. Mark was when he wrote this History, and that Mark mentioneth them, as those who could attest the truth of this part of the History. The Father bare Christ's Cross, (or one end of it,) there is all we read of him. The Sons believe on him, who died upon it. So free is Divine Grace, fixing where it pleaseth. Concerning the Wine mingled with Myrrhe, we spake in our Notes on Matth. 27. Some think our Saviours friends gave it him, to refresh him: But it is most prob ble it was given him to entoxicate him, that he might be less sensible of the pain he should endure upon the Cross; whatsoever they intended, our Saviour refused it, having Wine to uphold him, which they knew not of. For other things relating to this Story, see the Notes on Matth 27.32.33.

And the vail 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 ministred unto him; and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. The Prodigies happening upon the Death of our Saviour, and the passages happening betwixt the time of his expiration, and his Burial, are more largely reported by the other Evangelists then by Mark; we have put them all together, and considered the passages relating to them in our Notes on Matth. 27. v. 51.52.53. &c.

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

Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, 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 linnen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linnen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewen 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. The circumstances of our Saviours honourable burial as related by this, and the other Evangelists, are gathered together, and opened in our Notes on Matthew 27. from v. 57. to 66.