Mark

Jesus Before Pilate

Early in the morning, the chief priests, the elders, and the teachers of the law (that is, the whole Council or Sanhedrin) prepared their plan. They put Jesus in chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

Pilate asked him:

“Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus replied:

“You say so.”

 As the chief priests accused Jesus of many things,

Pilate asked him again:

“Have you no answer at all? See how many charges they bring against you.”

 Jesus gave no further answers, much to Pilate’s surprise.

Jesus’ Condemnation

At every Passover, Pilate used to release any prisoner the people requested.

There was a man named Barabbas, who was jailed along with the rioters who had committed murder during the uprising. 

When the crowd approached to ask Pilate for his usual favor, 

he asked them:

“Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?”

He knew that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him out of envy. 

However, the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask instead for the release of Barabbas. 

Pilate then asked:

“And what should I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”

The crowd yelled back:

“Crucify him!”

Pilate questioned:

“What evil has he done?”

They shouted even louder:

“Crucify him!”

 Since Pilate wanted to please the crowd, he released Barabbas; after having Jesus scourged, Pilate handed him over to be crucified.

Mockery by the Soldiers

The soldiers took him inside the courtyard, known as the praetorium, and called their fellow soldiers.

They dressed him in a purple cloak and twisted a crown of thorns, placing it on his head. 

Then they started to salute him, saying:

“Long life to the King of the Jews!”

They struck his head with a stick and spat on him; then they knelt down, pretending to worship him. 

When they finished mocking him, they removed the purple cloak and dressed him in his own clothes.

Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

The soldiers took him out of the city to crucify him.

On the way, they met Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the countryside and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 

When they led him to the place called Golgotha, which means the Skull, 

 they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he refused to take it. 

Then they nailed him to the cross and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what each man should take.

 It was around nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 

The inscription of his offense read: ‘The King of the Jews.’ 

They also crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. 

[[ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says: And with lawless ones, he was numbered.]]

People passing by laughed at him, shook their heads, saying:

“Aha! So, you are able to tear down the temple and build it up in three days?

 Save yourself now and come down from the cross!” 

Likewise, the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him, saying to one another:

“The man who saved others cannot save himself.

Let’s see the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from his cross, and then we will believe in him.”

Even the men who were crucified with Jesus insulted him.

When noon arrived, darkness covered the entire land and lasted until three o’clock;

and at three o’clock, Jesus cried out loudly:

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 

As soon as they heard these words, some of the bystanders said:

“Listen! He is calling for Elijah.”

And one of them quickly went to fill a sponge with bitter wine, placing it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying:

“Now let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.”

 But Jesus uttered a loud cry and gave up his spirit. 

 And immediately, the curtain that enclosed the temple Sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom.

The captain, who was standing in front of him, saw how Jesus died and heard the cry he gave; and he said:

“Truly, this man was the Son of God.”

 There were also some women watching from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome, 

who had followed Jesus in Galilee and watched over his needs. Others had come with him to Jerusalem. 

Burial of Jesus

It was now evening, and since it was Preparation Day— the day before the Sabbath—

Joseph of Arimathea boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph was a respected member of the Council who also awaited the kingdom of God.

Pilate was surprised that Jesus had died so quickly; so he summoned the captain and asked if Jesus was already dead. 

 After hearing from the captain, he allowed Joseph to take the body.

 Joseph took it down and wrapped it in the linen sheet he had bought. He laid the body in a tomb carved into the rock and rolled a stone across its entrance. 

 Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body had been laid.