Mark 15:36-41

Mark 15:36 (KJB)
And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

Immediately someone had taken a sponge and filled it with vinegar and attempted to give it to Jesus to drink. (Psa 69:21 KJV) They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. This was also a fulfillment of prophecy. It was probably a soldier who gave Jesus the vinegar because no one would be allowed near the prisoners. It may have been an act of kindness or it may have been continual mocking. What they would do is mix the vinegar with a very salty solution and when they would place the sponge against the mouth, the sponge would then release all the salty beverage and vinegar and it would flow into the wounds of the prisoner thus causing more pain. They might have also wanted to prolong the life of Jesus but for what reason except more mocking because the sooner the prisoners died, the faster the soldiers could go home.

Mark 15:37 (KJB)
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

(John 19:30 KJV) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. When they gave Him the vinegar, He stated it was finished, that is, the sacrifice for all the Elect of God. God’s salvation program was now complete, all He had to do from now on is to apply salvation to those He named before the foundation of the world. So now the mockers have had their time, but that is now over and now that Jesus had physically died, they are now going to make sure His disciples do not steal the body and then claim He arose. Even in death, His enemies could not leave Him alone.

Mark 15:38 (KJB)
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

When Jesus had died, in the temple, the veil was rent in two from top to bottom which was the second veil between the Holy Place and Holy of Holies. It was rent from the top because it would have shown that no mere human did this. The thickness of the veil was a handbreadth equal to about 3 inches or 7.6 cm. It was an act of God. The Holy of Holies was now open and there was no more need for a human High Priest because one can now approach the Father through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The era of the Mosaic system was now at an end and the age of grace began. (Mat 27:51 KJV) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Then there was a great earthquake at that time and one of the things that Jesus told His disciples was that earthquakes did not mean the end. It was just the beginning but right now all things looked bleak. (Nahum 1:5 KJV) The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Mark 15:39 (KJB)
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Once Jesus had died, and the centurion had seen all the things surrounding the crucifixion including the earthquake, he had no problem in realizing that Jesus was different and He was no regular prisoner. He no doubt heard others speaking about the fact that Jesus had claimed to be the Son of God and I am sure the centurion was at many other executions and never saw anything like the events he witnessed that day. It caused him to realize that Jesus was who He claimed to be and that was the Son of God. Maybe this centurion had become saved at that time or at a later time because there were some centurions who had become saved. Cornelius was a good example of this. The fear that he experienced had turned into his better understanding of who Jesus was.

Mark 15:40 (KJB)
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

After all the men had left the scenes, the ones who stayed behind were the women. Here we have Mary Magdalene of whom Jesus cast out seven devils which were inside her. (Luke 8:2 KJV) And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, Then there was Mary the mother of James and Joses who was the wife of Cleopas. Then there was Salome who was the mother of Zebedee’s children which we knew before as the sons of thunder. She was the mother of the apostles James and John.

Mark 15:41 (KJB)
(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

Jesus did not only travel with His disciples but He also had many women in the company to help out. They had to stand away at a distance from the cross probably for their own protection. They were now witnesses of the fact that Jesus really died on the cross as they saw the spear pierce Him and heard Him give up the Ghost as He commended His spirit into the hands of His Father. (Luke 23:46 KJV) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. They would also help in preparing the body for burial the best they could with the little time they had before sundown and the approaching Sabbath and Passover when they could do no work.

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