Mark 14-16 - Will You Accept Jesus as King?

from NoDa Church · host Ryan Russell

Ryan's Ramblings Blog Mon - 14.1-11 Tues - 14.12-26 Wed - 14.27-52 Thurs - 14.53-72 Fri - 15.1-41 Sat - 15.42-47 Sun - 16 A scholar from Oxford named Thomas E. Schmidt did some incredible work detailing the parallels between Jesus’s crucifixion in Mark’s Gospel with the coronation of Nero. We cannot say with 100% certainty that this was Mark’s intent but it fits within the themes I see in Mark’s Gospel where he seems to draw parallels between Jesus and Nero to show who the true Son of God is. Here’s a link to Schmidt’s work if you want to dig deeper. https://www.baslibrary.org/bible-review/13/1/11 For our purposes, here is a quick rundown of what took place at Nero’s coronation. I’ve placed the corresponding verses of each so you can follow what Mark might be doing with how he writes the events of Jesus’s crucifixion: 1.  The Imperial Guard gathers to hail Caesar as lord and god. (15:16) 2.  On Caesar they place: Royal robes, a wreath crown, and a scepter. (15:17-18) 3.  He is then lead through a procession (lined with incense alters). (15:20) 4.  Following Caesar was the sacrifice (in Nero’s case, a bull), and he carries the instrument of death. (15:21) 5.  They arrive at Capitoline Hill (Named “head hill” where a human head was found buried when Rome was founded); Caesar is offered an expensive wine mixed with myrrh, but he refuses it, pouring it out. (15:22-23) 6.  The bull is sacrificed, and Caesar demonstrates he has the power of life and death by pronouncing death or life on a host of prisoners. (15:24) 7.  The emperor ascends the steps of the temple with the High Priest on his right and his commander on his left. (15:27) 8.  The people sing the praises of Caesar, acclaiming him as “lord and god.” (15:29-32) 9.  The people then wait for a sign from heaven (According to history, there was an eclipse in Nero’s coronation). (15:33)

What this episode covers

Ryan's Ramblings Blog Mon - 14.1-11 Tues - 14.12-26 Wed - 14.27-52 Thurs - 14.53-72 Fri - 15.1-41 Sat - 15.42-47 Sun - 16 A scholar from Oxford named Thomas E. Schmidt did some incredible work detailing the parallels between Jesus’s crucifixion in Mark’s Gospel with the coronation of Nero. We cannot say with 100% certainty that this was Mark’s intent but it fits within the themes I see in Mark’s Gospel where he seems to draw parallels between Jesus and Nero to show who the true Son of God is. Here’s a link to Schmidt’s work if you want to dig deeper. https://www.baslibrary.org/bible-review/13/1/11 For our purposes, here is a quick rundown of what took place at Nero’s coronation. I’ve placed the corresponding verses of each so you can follow what Mark might be doing with how he writes the events of Jesus’s crucifixion: 1. The Imperial Guard gathers to hail Caesar as lord and god. (15:16) 2. On Caesar they place: Royal robes, a wreath crown, and a scepter. (15:17-18) 3. He is then lead through a procession (lined with incense alters). (15:20) 4. Following Caesar was the sacrifice (in Nero’s case, a bull), and he carries the instrument of death. (15:21) 5. They arrive at Capitoline Hill (Named “head hill” where a human head was found buried when Rome was founded); Caesar is offered an expensive wine mixed with myrrh, but he refuses it, pouring it out. (15:22-23) 6. The bull is sacrificed, and Caesar demonstrates he has the power of life and death by pronouncing death or life on a host of prisoners. (15:24) 7. The emperor ascends the steps of the temple with the High Priest on his right and his commander on his left. (15:27) 8. The people sing the praises of Caesar, acclaiming him as “lord and god.” (15:29-32) 9. The people then wait for a sign from heaven (According to history, there was an eclipse in Nero’s coronation). (15:33)