Jesus Dies, and His Burial Is Witnessed

15:33 Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 15:34 Around three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 15:35 When some of the bystanders heard it they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah!" 15:36 Then someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Leave him alone! Let's see if Elijah will come to take him down!" 15:37 But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. 15:38 And the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. 15:39 Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" 15:40 There were also women, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 15:41 When he was in Galilee, they had followed him and given him support. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were there too. 15:42 Now when evening had already come, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 15:44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time. 15:45 When Pilate was informed by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 15:46 After Joseph bought a linen cloth and took down the body, he wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb. 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was placed.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Mark presents Jesus’ death as the great turning point in God’s saving work. Darkness covers the land, Jesus cries out with the words of Psalm 22, and then he dies. The torn temple curtain and the centurion’s confession show that his death has deep meaning. Mark also names the women, Joseph of Arimathea, and the official burial so that Jesus’ death is shown as a real event with public witnesses.

From noon until three, darkness covered the land. Mark does not explain the darkness directly, but it fits the solemn, judgment-like tone of the scene. It shows that Jesus’ death is no ordinary death.

At about three o’clock, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark keeps the Aramaic words and then gives their meaning. This cry comes from Psalm 22:1. Jesus is not speaking in unbelief. He is truly entering the depth of righteous suffering and abandonment. Mark shows real anguish here, not calm distance or a staged display.

Some bystanders misunderstood him and thought he was calling for Elijah. One man offered sour wine and spoke with mockery. Even at the end, Jesus is surrounded by confusion and scorn.

Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. Mark is brief and forceful here. His death stands at the center of the passage.

At once, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. Mark does not say which curtain it was, so caution is needed. The strongest reading is that it signals both judgment and a new way of access to God through Jesus’ death. It points to a serious change in the temple order.

Then the centurion said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” In Mark, this is a great confession. We should not say more about the centurion’s full understanding than the text allows. Still, Mark uses his words to show that Jesus’ identity is revealed at the cross, in the very form of his suffering and death.

Mark then names the women who were watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee and supported him. They are faithful witnesses. They also connect the death scene to the burial and the resurrection account.

Joseph of Arimathea then went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. This was brave public action. Jesus had been executed, yet Joseph openly identified with him.

Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead, so he checked with the centurion before giving the body to Joseph. This confirms that Jesus really died.

Joseph wrapped the body in linen, laid it in a rock-cut tomb, and rolled a stone across the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was placed. That detail matters because it prepares the way for the resurrection account and shows that the tomb was known and witnessed.

• Jesus’ cry comes from Psalm 22 and shows real suffering and abandonment.
• The darkness and torn curtain show that Jesus’ death has divine significance.
• The torn curtain likely points to both judgment on the temple order and new access to God, though Mark does not specify the curtain.
• The centurion’s confession is a major Markan statement about Jesus’ identity.
• The women and Joseph serve as witnesses to Jesus’ death and burial.
• The official confirmation of death and the known tomb prepare for the resurrection account.

• Mark does not directly explain the darkness, so its meaning should not be overstated.
• The exact identity of the temple curtain cannot be proved from Mark alone.
• The centurion’s full personal understanding cannot be reconstructed with certainty.
• This passage should be read as public history with theological meaning, not as detached symbolism.

Jesus’ death is the climactic act in God’s saving plan. The cross reveals his identity as the Son of God, fulfills Scripture in the cry of Psalm 22, and brings a God-initiated change in the temple order. The named witnesses and the burial in a known tomb prepare for the resurrection that will follow.

Believers should read suffering honestly and pray with Scripture, as Jesus did in Psalm 22. They should trust that Christian faith rests on real events, not ideas alone. They should also be willing to stand with Jesus when that is costly, like Joseph and the women did.

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