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More than 1/3 of Mark’s narrative is focused on passion week. He includes many details that other Gospel accounts do not. For instance, Matthew’s Gospel reveals that Barabbas is a “notorious” criminal but Mark associates him with rebels who had committed murder.
Mark also highlights and explains the process of releasing a prisoner and the fact that Pilate seemed to find no guilt in Jesus. Pilate directly suggests to the crowd that he could release Jesus back to them. It’s possible that he also sensed their envy of Jesus and slightly mocked the religious leaders by referring to Him as the “King of the Jews.”
Another detail that Mark includes, which I find very interesting, is the way he describes the cross-bearer, Simon of Cyrene.
They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.
Mark 15:21 NASB
To my knowledge, no other account describes the family of Simon of Cyrene as noted here. There must have been a reason. Most likely, Mark’s Roman audience would have known and understood these details. Here is where it gets really interesting. If we travel to the book of Romans we read where Paul specifically mentions the name Rufus.
Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.
Romans 16:13 NASB
Is it the same man? We don’t know for sure. Although the name was common, I lean in my thinking that there is a connection here. It’s fascinating to consider that Simon’s household may have been saved by such a “right place, right time” moment like this. But, as we know, this is how God works.
One last detail that Mark includes is the description of the soldier who confesses his faith during Jesus’ last breath. Mark calls him a centurion.
When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Mark 15:39 NASB
This would have meant that he was a prominent Roman captain in charge of 100 men. According to tradition, this man was saved after his eye-witness testimony of Jesus’ crucifixion!