15:21–32 It is striking that the central event in the story of Jesus’ obedience to the will of God is narrated with such stark simplicity and economy of words (compare the Lucan version, 23:26–43). The mention of Simon, the Cyrenian Jew (v. 21), a person included in all the Synoptic accounts of the crucifixion (cf. Matt. 27:32; Luke 23:26), looks like an echo of early tradition. In Mark, there is the distinctive reference to two sons of the man (Alexander and Rufus, v. 21), perhaps indicating that the men were known to the first readers. There are also the details of Jesus being offered drugged wine (v. 23) and of the gambling for Jesus’ garments (v. 24). The emphasis of the passage, however, is clearly upon the merciless mockery from the bystanders (vv. 25–32), who continue a ridicule of …