Mark 15:35 Commentary and Bible Study

By now the light has returned. John’s Gospel tells us that at this point Jesus, knowing that his sufferings and the atonement were near completion spoke words that would cause a further Scripture to be fulfilled. ‘After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst’ (John 19:28). It was this that caused one to run and fetch a sponge soaked in vinegar. The Lord was in perfect control of events, even at this time of extreme agony. Many of the events surrounding the cross were in the hands of God’s providence, but this was something which Christ had control over. Having perfect knowledge of all that was written about him, he must fulfil every prophecy and leave nothing undone. This too was a fulfilment of Psalm 22 (verse 15), and also of Psalm 69:21.‘And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.’ Some commentators think there was a genuine mistake over what Jesus had said, and therefore the Aramaic words are quoted by way of explanation for this mistake. The Roman soldiers might not have understood the Aramaic words correctly. But most treat these words as mockery. It is felt that no one could seriously believe that he was calling for Elijah to help him, because the words of the Psalm were too clear. They hear Psalm 22 quoted and, so determined are they not to believe, that they make a joke of it. ‘This man calleth for Elias’, as Matthew renders their words. Hendriksen comments that the voice was loud and clear, and ‘there could be no mistake about what Jesus had just now said … What is described, then … is the mockery of those heartless persons who tried to make others believe that they heard Jesus cry to Elijah for help.’One ran to fetch vinegar. This is likely to have been one of the soldiers, acting perhaps under instruction, for it is hard to see how any of the Jews would intervene in this situation where the Romans were in charge of carrying out the death sentence. Having given Jesus a drink, this man tells the others to leave him alone, by which he appears to mean, ‘I have given him a drink. Now stand back and watch, and don’t interfere further.’ Matthew records that these words were spoken by the rest, that is, not by the one who fetched the sponge. It may be that the same words were spoken by different people with different intent.