Big Idea: The central purpose of Jesus’s incarnation is his death on the cross (Phil. 2:6–8). All takes place in accordance with God’s will and plan, so divine sovereignty, not Jewish hatred or Roman might, controls the action. Jesus dies as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Understanding the Text

There are four parts to the crucifixion narrative in an A-B-A-B pattern: the mockery by the soldiers (15:16–20), the crucifixion of Jesus (15:21–27), the mockery by the Jewish spectators and leaders and the two bandits (15:29–32), and the death of Jesus (15:33–37). Mark centers on the horror of putting to death the royal Messiah, and negative elements predominate (compare the prayers in Luke 23 and the personal touches in John 19).

Structure

There are three parts to this scene: (1) Jesus is…