21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country , Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus ), to bear His cross .
22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha , which is translated , Place of a Skull . 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh ; but He did not take it. 24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take . 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read , " THE KING OF THE JEWS ." 27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left . 28 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says , "And He was numbered with transgressors ."] 29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads , and saying , "Ha ! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days , 30 save Yourself , and come down from the cross !" 31 In the same way the chief priests also , along with the scribes , were mocking Him among themselves and saying , " He saved others ; He cannot e save Himself . 32 "Let this Christ , the King of Israel , now come down from the cross , so that we may see and believe !" Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
33 When the sixth hour came , darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour . 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice , " ELOI , ELOI , LAMA SABACHTHANI ?" which is translated , "MY GOD , MY GOD , WHY e HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying , "Behold , He is calling for Elijah ." 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine , put it on a reed , and gave Him a drink , saying , "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down ." 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry , and breathed His last .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 15:21-37
Commentary on Mark 15:15-21
(Read Mark 15:15-21)
Christ met death in its greatest terror. It was the death of the vilest malefactors. Thus the cross and the shame are put together. God having been dishonoured by the sin of man, Christ made satisfaction by submitting to the greatest disgrace human nature could be loaded with. It was a cursed death; thus it was branded by the Jewish law, Deuteronomy 21:23. The Roman soldiers mocked our Lord Jesus as a King; thus in the high priest's hall the servants had mocked him as a Prophet and Saviour. Shall a purple or scarlet robe be matter of pride to a Christian, which was matter of reproach and shame to Christ? He wore the crown of thorns which we deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory which he merited. We were by sin liable to everlasting shame and contempt; to deliver us, our Lord Jesus submitted to shame and contempt. He was led forth with the workers of iniquity, though he did no sin. The sufferings of the meek and holy Redeemer, are ever a source of instruction to the believer, of which, in his best hours, he cannot be weary. Did Jesus thus suffer, and shall I, a vile sinner, fret or repine? Shall I indulge anger, or utter reproaches and threats because of troubles and injuries?
Commentary on Mark 15:22-32
(Read Mark 15:22-32)
The place where our Lord Jesus was crucified, was called the place of a scull; it was the common place of execution; for he was in all respects numbered with the transgressors. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember what was written over his head; he is a King, and we must give up ourselves to be his subjects, as Israelites indeed. They crucified two thieves with him, and him in the midst; they thereby intended him great dishonour. But it was foretold that he should be numbered with the transgressors, because he was made sin for us. Even those who passed by railed at him. They told him to come down from the cross, and they would believe; but they did not believe, though he gave them a more convincing sign when he came up from the grave. With what earnestness will the man who firmly believes the truth, as made known by the sufferings of Christ, seek for salvation! With what gratitude will he receive the dawning hope of forgiveness and eternal life, as purchased for him by the sufferings and death of the Son of God! and with what godly sorrow will he mourn over the sins which crucified the Lord of glory!
Commentary on Mark 15:33-41
(Read Mark 15:33-41)
There was a thick darkness over the land, from noon until three in the afternoon. The Jews were doing their utmost to extinguish the Sun of Righteousness. The darkness signified the cloud which the human soul of Christ was under, when he was making it an offering for sin. He did not complain that his disciples forsook him, but that his Father forsook him. In this especially he was made sin for us. When Paul was to be offered as a sacrifice for the service saints, he could joy and rejoice, Philippians 2:17; but it is another thing to be offered as a sacrifice for the sin of sinners. At the same instant that Jesus died, the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom. This spake terror to the unbelieving Jews, and was a sign of the destruction of their church and nation. It speaks comfort to all believing Christians, for it signified the laying open a new and living way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. The confidence with which Christ had openly addressed God as his Father, and committed his soul into his hands, seems greatly to have affected the centurion. Right views of Christ crucified will reconcile the believer to the thought of death; he longs to behold, love, and praise, as he ought, that Saviour who was wounded and pierced to save him from the wrath to come.