What does Mark 15:32 mean?
The claim of the chief priests and the scribes is disingenuous. God works in human history in different ways. Whether faced with the direct contact He had with Adam and Eve, the specific Law He gave Moses, or the reality of Jesus sitting on a throne during the millennial kingdom, there will always be those who reject God's authority and offer of grace. The scribes of Jerusalem saw the miracles of Jesus and accounted them acts of Satan (Mark 3:22). In three days, the priests will hear that Jesus is raised from the dead. For the next forty, they will hear that He is traveling around to encourage His followers (Acts 1:3). But instead of believing, they will persecute Jesus' followers (Acts 4:1–3; 5:17–18, 40; 6:8–15; 7:54–60).Mark cuts short the story of the two thieves, as does Matthew (Matthew 27:44). Scholars believe Luke got his information from Jesus' mother Mary, who stands at the base of the cross, at least for a while (John 19:26–27). Luke records that although the two thieves start by harassing Jesus, one has a change of heart (Luke 23:39–43). He rebukes his associate, pointing out that while they deserve their fate, Jesus is innocent. Then, in a stunning act of faith, he says, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Jesus responds, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
In two short verses, Luke gives us a treasure-trove of theology. First, this event makes blatantly obvious that any claim that someone must be baptized to be saved is wrong. The thief isn't baptized, and Jesus still affirms his eternal destiny.
Second, it debunks the idea that there are other doctrinal views necessary for salvation other than sincere submissive faith in Christ—this thief knew little other than whom to turn to for forgiveness.
Third, the claim that after death our souls "sleep" until judgment is also wrong. We don't know the exact sequence of events upon the death of a believer, but Jesus is clear that the first stop is paradise, with Him. Whether this means a holding-spot for a while or a time jump straight to the Bema Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10–12) isn't revealed. But when we die, we will see Jesus. The thief's actions may have earned him a horrible death, but his faith gives us great gifts of assurance and comfort.
Mark 15:21–32 describes the crucifixion of Jesus. The Romans refined crucifixion to be the most painful and humiliating death imaginable. Victims were usually stripped naked, then tied or nailed to a cross. Executioners were adept at driving nails between bones and arteries, but directly through nerves, extending the victim's agony. Hanging in this position, the condemned could only breathe if they lifted their weight on impaled feet or wrists. Exhaustion would soon lead to suffocation—typically taking a victim two or three days to die. Bodies were usually left to rot in public unless a family member was given special permission to remove them. More painful for Jesus, however, is the total separation from His heavenly Father. Still, though He suffers alone, He suffers with hope (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus' crucifixion is also detailed in Matthew 27:32–44, Luke 23:26–43, and John 19:16–27.
After sham trials, Jesus is taken to the local Roman governor, Pilate. This is the only person in Jerusalem with the legal authority to have Jesus executed. Pilate is not fooled, and he attempts to arrange for Jesus' release. But the ruler's ploys fail, in part because Jesus will not defend Himself, and partly because the mob is intent on His death. Pilate offers a prisoner exchange in Barabbas, and even has Jesus brutally beaten in order to pacify the crowd. Eventually, he caves in and Jesus is crucified. Thanks to His prior abuse, Jesus survives only a few hours on the cross before dying. Jesus is then buried in a tomb belonging to a secret follower among the Jerusalem council.
