ACC ~ Mark 15 v6 - 15

OVERVIEW:

While the guilty were receiving pardon, the pardoner was being pronounced guilty. The civic justice that failed in fair judgment in the presence of the final judge will be corrected on the last day (AUGUSTINE). The classic exegetes found the trial full of poignant ironies: He who now crowns martyrs with garlands was himself once crowned with thorns (CYPRIAN). The incarnate Lord did not remain aloof from sin but identified himself with sinners, taking their sins upon himself. The violent crowd who voluntarily sent him to death was even more culpable than the soldiers who involuntarily carried out the orders of others (AUGUSTINE). Jerusalem repaid him with evil for the immensity of his grace (EPHREM THE SYRIAN).

15:12 | Crucify Him!

WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS?

AUGUSTINE: Those who cried out that he should be crucified were the Lord’s real crucifiers, rather than those who simply discharged their service to their chief according to their duty. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 3.13.49. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 0273, 3.13.49.335.19; NPNF 1 6:202**.

15:13 | Why, What Evil Has He Done?

PILATE’S ASSUMPTION OF JESUS’ INNOCENCE

AUGUSTINE: Mark, who studies brevity more than any of the Evangelists, has given a concise indication of Pilate’s desire and of his efforts to save the Lord’s life. For, after giving us the statement, “And they cried again, ‘Crucify him’” (which makes it clear that they had cried out before for Barabbas to be released), he has appended these words: “Then Pilate continued to say [1] to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” [2] Thus by one short sentence he has given us an idea of matters which took a long time for their transaction. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 3.13.47. [3]

[1] In what follows, Augustine argues that Pilate continued to ask what evil Jesus had done. Time is telescoped into one short phrase.

[2] Mt 27:22-23; Mk 15:13-14; Lk 23:21-22.

[3] Cetedoc 0273, 3.13.47.332.18; NPNF 1 6:201*. Mark, who may have been addressing a Roman audience, pointedly indicated that Pilate made repeated efforts to provide a fair trial.

15:15a | He Released for Them Barabbas

THE IRONY OF JESUS’ CONDEMNATION COMPOUNDED

AUGUSTINE: The criminal escaped; Christ was condemned. [1] The one guilty of many crimes received a pardon; he who had remitted the crimes of all who confess was condemned. And yet the cross itself also, if you reflect upon it, was a courtroom. In the middle of it stood the final judge. TRACTATES ON JOHN 31.11. [2]

[1] Cf. Mt 27:26; Mk 15:15.

[2] Cetedoc 0278, 31.11.34; FC 88:40*. The one being judged is the final judge.

15:15b | Having Scourged Jesus

HIS SCOURGING VINDICATED

CYPRIAN: He himself suffered the lash, in whose name his servants now scourge the devil and his angels. [1] He who now crowns the martyrs with eternal garlands was himself crowned with thorns. [2] THE GOOD OF PATIENCE 7. [3]

[1] Cf. Mt 27:26; Mk 15:15; Jn 19:1.

[2] Cf. Mt 27:29; Mk 15:17; Jn 19:2.

[3] Cetedoc 0048, 7.132; FC 36:270. Justice is reversed: the whipped becomes the judge, garlands replace thorns.

15:15c | He Delivered Him to Be Crucified

JERUSALEM’S TREATMENT OF JESUS

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: [The daughter of Zion] repaid him with evil for the immensity of his grace. The Father had washed her from her blood, but she defiled his Son with her spitting. [1] The Father had clothed her with fine linen and purple, but she clothed him with garments of mockery. [2] He had placed a crown of glory on her head, but she plaited a crown of thorns for him. [3] He had nourished her with choicest food [4] and honey, but she gave him gall. [5] He had given her pure wine, but she offered him vinegar in a sponge. [6] The One who had introduced her into cities, she drove out into the desert. The One who had put shoes on her feet, she made hasten barefoot towards Golgotha. [7] The One who had girded her loins with sapphire, she pierced in the side with a lance. [8] When she had outraged the servants [of God] and killed the prophets, she was led into captivity to Babylon, and when the time of her punishment was completed, her return [from captivity] took place. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON. [9]

[1] Cf. Ezek 16:9; Mt 26:67; Mk 14:65.

[2] Cf. Ezek 16:10, 13; Mt 27:28; Mk 15:17.

[3] Cf. Ezek 16:12; Mt 27:29; Mk 15:17; Jn 19:2.

[4] Literally, “with fat.”

[5] Cf. Ezek 16:13; Mt 27:34.

[6] Cf. Jn 19:29.

[7] Cf. Ezek 16:10; Mt 27:33; Mk 15:22; Jn 19:17.

[8] Cf. Ezek 16:10-11; Jn 19:34.

[9] Leloir 1963:204; JSSS 2:269.

JUDGED WITH THE UNGODLY

AUGUSTINE: For Christ was not separated from the ungodly, but was judged with the ungodly; for it was said about him, “He was counted among the wicked.” [1] TRACTATES ON JOHN 31.11. [2]

[1] Is 53:12.

[2] Cetedoc 0278, 31.11.32; FC 88:40.