ISB ~ Mark 15 v24

they crucified him:A form of Roman execution adopted from earlier Persian practice. Crucifixion was torturous, degrading, and reserved for the most heinous criminals—usually insurrectionists. The victims’ feet were nailed to an upright stake and their wrists to a wooden crossbeam (Ps 22:16). Death came slowly from a combination of blood loss and asphyxiation, a process that could be hastened by breaking the criminal’s legs (Jn 19:33). Corpses were often left hanging for days as a public deterrent against criminal activity and a powerful symbol of Rome’s domination of Palestine.

• Christian tradition sees in Jesus’ physical death on the tree (Acts 10:39) the antithesis of Adam’s spiritual death at the tree of good and evil (Gen 3:6, 17-19). Whereas Adam’s sin brought death to the entire human family, Jesus’ death rescues man from sin and gives him new life in the family of God (Rom 5:12-19).

divided his garments:The collection of spoil by the execution squad recalls the messianic prophecy of Ps 22:18. This text is explicitly quoted in Jn 19:24. See note on Mk 15:34.