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Begin Section 1: Mark 15 Text & Questions

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Verses 1-15  Jesus Before Pilate

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1Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

2“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3The chief priests accused him of many things.

4So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

6Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested.

7A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.

8The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,

10knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13“Crucify him!” they shouted.

14“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

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1)       Who was Pilate?

 

2)       Why did the Jewish religious leaders hand Jesus over to Pilate, given that only the Roman governor had the right to execute anyone?

 

3)       Why did Pilate ask Jesus whether he is the king of the Jews, given that the idea did not come from Pilate himself?

 

4)       Why did the chief priests accuse Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews, given that they wanted Pilate to have Jesus executed and that anyone who claimed to be a king opposed Caesar?

 

5)       In accordance with what Pilate said in verse 4 had Jesus answered any of the chief priests’ accusations?

 

6)       In accordance with verse 5 why was Pilate amazed?

 

7)       In accordance with verses 9 and 10 between Barabbas and Jesus whom did Pilate prefer to release and why?

 

8)       In accordance with verses 11 to 13 between Barabbas and Jesus whom did the crowd prefer to have released and why?

 

9)       According to verse 14 how did Pilate voice his concern that Jesus is innocent when the crowd demanded to have him crucified?

 

10)   According to verse 14 how did the crowd respond to Pilate’s expressed concern of Jesus’ innocence?

 

11)   According to verse 15 was Pilate more interested in defending the innocent or satisfying the crowd and why?

 

12)   How was flogging done?

 

13)   What did flogging do to Jesus, given that the lacerations from the flogging would tear into his skeletal muscles that had lots of blood vessels?

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Verses 1-15  Jesus Before Pilate

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Verses 16-20  The Soldiers Mock Jesus

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16The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers.

17They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

18And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”

19Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

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14)   Why did the soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus, given that a purple robe was fit for a king?

 

15)   According to verse 17 what did the soldiers set on Jesus’ head?

 

16)   According to verse 20 what did the soldiers do when they finished mocking Jesus?

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Verses 16-20  The Soldiers Mock Jesus

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Verses 21-32  The Crucifixion

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21A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).

23Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

24And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

25It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

26The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews.

27They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.

[28]

29Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30come down from the cross and save yourself!”

31In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!

32Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

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17)   Why did the soldiers force Simon to carry the cross, given that the person who was going to be crucified normally carried the cross?

 

18)   What was the purpose of the wine mixed with myrrh that the soldiers offered to Jesus, given that wine mixed with myrrh was a narcotic drink?

 

19)   Why did Jesus choose not to take the drink, given that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world?

 

20)   Why did the soldiers divide up Jesus’ clothes and cast lots to see what each would get, given that in Jesus’ time there was no low-cost manufacturing of clothing?

 

21)   In the context of his mission to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world, why did Jesus choose not to come down from the cross when those who mocked him consistently challenged him to do so?

 

22)   Why did Jesus choose to stay on the cross, given that had he come down from the cross, people’s belief in him would have been coerced by his power and not by faith?

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Verses 21-32  The Crucifixion

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Verses 33-41  The Death of Jesus

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33At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

34And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

35When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

40Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.

41In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

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23)   What was the phenomenon of darkness coming over the whole land between noon and three in the afternoon?

 

24)   According to verse 34 what did God the Father do to Jesus while Jesus was hanging on the cross, in addition to laying the sins of the whole world upon him and cursing him for the sins?

 

25)   In accordance with what Jesus cried out in verse 34 why did those who stood near think that he was calling Elijah, given that ‘God’ and ‘Elijah’ sound similar in the original language?

 

26)   What was the purpose of offering Jesus wine vinegar, given that wine vinegar was refreshing, Jesus was near death and people thought that Elijah might be coming to take him down?

 

27)   What was the curtain of the temple that was referred to in verse 38 for?

 

28)   What does the curtain of the temple being torn in two from top to bottom upon Jesus’ death symbolize, given that with the curtain torn in two the way into God’s presence was wide open?

 

29)   How did the death of Jesus open the way for people to come to God, given that it is their sins that have separated them from God?

 

30)   According to verse 39 who of all humanity was the first to confess that Jesus was the Son of God?

 

31)   In the context of grammatical tense was there some flaw in the centurion’s confession of Jesus and why?

 

32)   Who was Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome, given that James, Joseph and Salome were Jesus’ siblings?

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Verses 33-41  The Death of Jesus

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Verses 42-47  The Burial of Jesus

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42It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,

43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

44Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.

45When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.

46So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

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33)   According to verse 43 what was Joseph of Arimathea waiting for?

 

34)   According to verse 46 what did Joseph do with Jesus’ body?

 

35)   According to verse 47 who saw where Jesus was laid?

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Verses 42-47  The Burial of Jesus

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End Section 1: Mark 15 Text & Questions

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Begin Section 2: Mark 15 Questions & Answers

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Verses 1-15  Jesus Before Pilate

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Concerning Jesus coming before Pilate,

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1)       Who was Pilate?

o   Pilate was the governor of the Roman province of Judea.

 

2)       Why did the Jewish religious leaders hand Jesus over to Pilate, given that only the Roman governor had the right to execute anyone?

o   The Jewish religious leaders wanted Pilate to have Jesus executed.

 

3)       Why did Pilate ask Jesus whether he is the king of the Jews, given that the idea did not come from Pilate himself?

o   The chief priests accused Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews.

 

4)       Why did the chief priests accuse Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews, given that they wanted Pilate to have Jesus executed and that anyone who claimed to be a king opposed Caesar?

o   The chief priests were compelling Pilate to have Jesus executed.

 

5)       In accordance with what Pilate said in verse 4 had Jesus answered any of the chief priests’ accusations?

o   No.

 

6)       In accordance with verse 5 why was Pilate amazed?

o   He was amazed.

o   Because

o   Jesus did not answer any of the chief priests’ accusations.

o   Not even after

o   He prompted Jesus to answer them.

 

7)       In accordance with verses 9 and 10 between Barabbas and Jesus whom did Pilate prefer to release and why?

o   Pilate preferred to release Jesus.

o   Because

o   He knew that it was out of self-interest.

o   That

o   The chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

 

8)       In accordance with verses 11 to 13 between Barabbas and Jesus whom did the crowd prefer to have released and why?

o   The crowd asked

§  For Barabbas to be released.

§  And for Jesus to be crucified.

o   Because

o   That was how the chief priests stirred them up to ask.

 

9)       According to verse 14 how did Pilate voice his concern that Jesus is innocent when the crowd demanded to have him crucified?

o   “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate..

 

10)   According to verse 14 how did the crowd respond to Pilate’s expressed concern of Jesus’ innocence?

o   They shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

 

11)   According to verse 15 was Pilate more interested in defending the innocent or satisfying the crowd and why?

o   He was more interested in satisfying the crowd.

o   Because

o   He

§  Released Barabbas.

§  And handed Jesus over to be crucified.

 

12)   How was flogging done?

o   Flogging was done with a whip with

§  A short handle.

§  And several long leather thongs in which

Ø  Small iron balls. 

Ø  Or sharp pieces of animal bones.

§  Were tied at intervals.

 

13)   What did flogging do to Jesus, given that the lacerations from the flogging would tear into his skeletal muscles that had lots of blood vessels?

o   Jesus lost significant amounts of blood.

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Verses 1-15  Jesus Before Pilate

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Verses 16-20  The Soldiers Mock Jesus

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Concerning the soldiers mocking Jesus,

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14)   Why did the soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus, given that a purple robe was fit for a king?

o   They were mocking Jesus as king of the Jews.

 

15)   According to verse 17 what did the soldiers set on Jesus’ head?

o   They

§  Twisted together a crown of thorns.

§  And set it on him.

 

16)   According to verse 20 what did the soldiers do when they finished mocking Jesus?

o   They

§  Took off the purple robe.

§  Put his own clothes on him.

§  And led him out to crucify him.

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Verses 16-20  The Soldiers Mock Jesus

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Verses 21-32  The Crucifixion

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Concerning the crucifixion,

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17)   Why did the soldiers force Simon to carry the cross, given that the person who was going to be crucified normally carried the cross?

o   Jesus might have been so weakened by the flogging.

o   That

o   He was not able to carry it.

 

18)   What was the purpose of the wine mixed with myrrh that the soldiers offered to Jesus, given that wine mixed with myrrh was a narcotic drink?

o   It was for dulling the pain of crucifixion.

 

19)   Why did Jesus choose not to take the drink, given that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world?

o   Jesus chose to endure the full force of the physical aspect of the penalty.

 

20)   Why did the soldiers divide up Jesus’ clothes and cast lots to see what each would get, given that in Jesus’ time there was no low-cost manufacturing of clothing?

o   They did not have many changes of clothing.

o   Because

o   Clothing was expensive.

 

21)   In the context of his mission to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world, why did Jesus choose not to come down from the cross when those who mocked him consistently challenged him to do so?

o   Jesus chose to endure the

§  Scorn.

§  And shame.

§  And pain.

o   In order to fulfill his mission.

 

22)   Why did Jesus choose to stay on the cross, given that had he come down from the cross, people’s belief in him would have been coerced by his power and not by faith?

o   Jesus saves us

§  By our faith in him that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

§  Not by our coerced belief in his power.

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Verses 21-32  The Crucifixion

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Verses 33-41  The Death of Jesus

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Concerning the death of Jesus,

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23)   What was the phenomenon of darkness coming over the whole land between noon and three in the afternoon?

o   It was a solar eclipse.

 

24)   According to verse 34 what did God the Father do to Jesus while Jesus was hanging on the cross, in addition to laying the sins of the whole world upon him and cursing him for the sins?

o   God the Father forsook Jesus.

 

25)   In accordance with what Jesus cried out in verse 34 why did those who stood near think that he was calling Elijah, given that ‘God’ and ‘Elijah’ sound similar in the original language?

o   Jesus was near death.

o   They mistook his utterance of

§  The word ‘God’.

§  For the word ‘Elijah’.

 

26)   What was the purpose of offering Jesus wine vinegar, given that wine vinegar was refreshing, Jesus was near death and people thought that Elijah might be coming to take him down?

o   It was for prolonging Jesus’ consciousness.

o   In case

o   Elijah was coming to take him down.

 

27)   What was the curtain of the temple that was referred to in verse 38 for?

o   The curtain of the temple separated

§  The Most Holy Place of the temple.

§  Where

§  God’s presence was.

§  From

§  The rest of the temple.

 

28)   What does the curtain of the temple being torn in two from top to bottom upon Jesus’ death symbolize, given that with the curtain torn in two the way into God’s presence was wide open?

o   It symbolizes that the death of Jesus has opened the way for people to come to God.

 

29)   How did the death of Jesus open the way for people to come to God, given that it is their sins that have separated them from God?

o   Jesus opened the way for people to come to God.

o   When

o   He

§  Had died.

§  And paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world.

 

30)   According to verse 39 who of all humanity was the first to confess that Jesus was the Son of God?

o   The centurion who stood there in front of Jesus was the first to confess that Jesus was the Son of God.

 

31)   In the context of grammatical tense was there some flaw in the centurion’s confession of Jesus and why?

o   Yes, he should have

§  Used the present tense.

§  And said, “Surely this man is the Son of God!”

 

32)   Who was Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome, given that James, Joseph and Salome were Jesus’ siblings?

o   Mary was Jesus’ mother.

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Verses 33-41  The Death of Jesus

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Verses 42-47  The Burial of Jesus

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Concerning the burial of Jesus,

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33)   According to verse 43 what was Joseph of Arimathea waiting for?

o   He was waiting for the kingdom of God.

 

34)   According to verse 46 what did Joseph do with Jesus’ body?

o   He

§  Bought some linen cloth.

§  Took down the body.

§  Wrapped it in the linen.

§  Placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.

§  And rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

 

35)   According to verse 47 who saw where Jesus was laid?

o   Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus saw where he was laid.

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Verses 42-47  The Burial of Jesus

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End Section 2: Mark 15 Questions & Answers

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