ONLOOKERS OR PARTICIPANTS
Play Audio
If you prefer listening to today’s Bible guide reading, play this audio file.
If the audio bar is not appearing, click here to play the audio.
Opening Prayer
Take me back, Lord Jesus, to remember that day of sacrifice made for me. Help me to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell the reality of what you were willing to do so that I could receive life eternal.
Read MARK 15:21–39
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
21 A 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. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those 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, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In 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! 32 Let 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.
The Death of Jesus
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And 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?”).[b]
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone 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.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
Footnotes
- Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Luke 22:37.
- Mark 15:34 Psalm 22:1
- Mark 15:39 Some manuscripts saw that he died with such a cry
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What can you do on this day when we remember the horror of Christ’s crucifixion, to honor him in a meaningful way?
And so, we arrive at the turning point of history. The death of God’s Son. For us, the heartbreaking breakthrough of a price paid. Yet, for many of those who witnessed it, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Golgotha was a very public place, a through route from here to there. Simon was the unlucky one, a passerby on his way in from the country, forced into the role of cross-bearer (v. 21). Doubtless he shared the insults hurled at Jesus. Soldiers offered Jesus the routine sedative, then shared out the spoils, as usual. Mockery heaped on mockery from those on their way to market, or maybe (ironically) to the temple, at the assumed charlatan, found out for who he was (vv. 29–32). Even fellow criminals joined in with their dying breath (v. 32b).
Within all this cacophony, at the final dying cry of Jesus, there is one man who saw through it all. ‘Surely this man was the Son of God’ (v. 39). Where is the emphasis in what he said? ‘Surely’ means ‘definitely, a moment of enlightenment.’ ‘Was’, however, implies that it’s all over. ‘Son of God’ grants Jesus the acclaim, the title of Messiah. All this from a Roman centurion, a gentile, far from home, simply doing his job.
What do we make of this? I’ve passed through many an Easter weekend, participating in worship while at the same time planning a walk, looking forward to football, anticipating the family’s arrival. Maybe it’s all too familiar. Maybe I need to look at these events through the eyes of those who don’t yet believe, those far from home, those who yearn for purpose in their lives. For this is the turning point of history. This is when everything changed.
Apply
Find a place away from distractions. Give this passage enough time. Look at Jesus through the eyes of God, his Father. Let your eyes be opened.
Closing prayer
Lamb of God, thank you for being the way, the truth, and the life. There was no other way, apart from your sacrifice on the cross, for me to come to my Father—thank you for the forgiveness your suffering and death purchased for me.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.