Catholic Bible Study: Lectio Mark — Jesus’s Suffering, Death, and Resurrection

Augustine Institute | Aired: February 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the narrative climax of the Gospel of Mark, exploring Jesus’s Passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. Drawing on both biblical text and prophetic fulfillment, the host offers a deep Catholic reflection on the meaning of Jesus’s suffering and resurrection, linking Old Testament prophecy to New Testament reality. Listeners are invited to experience these events not only as history, but as the foundation of Christian discipleship and hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jesus Bears Adam’s Curse (00:06–05:00)

• Jesus is mocked, scourged, and crowned with thorns before carrying his cross. Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service (Mark 15:21).
• The crossing symbolism: Jesus, the new Adam, bears the curse of Adam (the thorns represent the curse from Genesis).
• “He will die bearing the ultimate curse upon Adam, which is death.” (00:40)

Refusal to Ease Suffering (05:00–07:00)

• Jesus refuses wine mixed with myrrh (a narcotic) in order to fully embrace suffering:
  “He is going to drink the dregs of this cup that the Father has given him. He is going to suffer fully and freely for you and for me.” (01:15)

Prophecy of Psalm 22 Fulfilled (07:00–15:00)

• Jesus’s clothes divided and lots cast — direct allusion to Psalm 22, a prophecy of the passion.
• The “King of the Jews” title highlights contrasting perspectives between Romans (“King of the Jews”) and Jewish authorities (“King of Israel”): “You can see the historical accuracy of who’s saying what, which again shows you the eyewitness testimony and accuracy of these stories.” (03:20)

Irony & Recognition at the Cross (15:00–20:00)

• Mocking by chief priests and scribes fulfills the prophecy: “He saved others, he cannot save himself.”
• Only the Roman centurion ultimately recognizes Jesus’s true identity: “Ironically, it’ll be a Roman centurion who will see and believe ... but the chief priests and the scribes, the scholars, they see but disbelieve.” (04:40)

Jesus’s Cry: “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?” (20:00–32:00)

• Explains Jesus's declaration (Mark 15:34) as a reference to Psalm 22, not a cry of despair but a summoning of the entire psalm.
• The act of speaking on the cross is described as almost superhuman due to extreme pain: “To get enough breath in your lungs during a crucifixion to be able to speak, you have to lean up ... it is an act of extraordinary pain. But he speaks an entire line.” (09:35)
• The psalm moves from abandonment to declaration of trust; suffering is not rejection by God but utter abandonment to His will.
• “Psalm 22 is an astounding psalm of praise and promise ... that there will be a righteous suffering one who will be abandoned and mocked ... and yet God will vindicate this suffering servant.” (15:45)
• The host parallels Isaiah 53’s “suffering servant” theme as foretelling both Passion and Resurrection.

The Temple Veil Torn: Cosmic Significance (32:00–39:00)

• Jesus breathes his last; the temple veil (50 feet high) is torn top to bottom — a supernatural act symbolizing the barrier between God and humanity being removed.
• The word “torn” (schizo) links back to Jesus’s baptism (beginning of Mark), signaling the Spirit’s movement from heaven to earth.
• “For Mark, this is the key message ... the barrier between heaven and earth has been rent aside by Jesus.” (36:10)
• Baptism is reinterpreted as sharing in Jesus’s death and resurrection — not mere cleansing, but dying and rising with Christ (cf. Romans 6).

Recognition by the Centurion; Faithful Discipleship (39:00–45:00)

• The centurion’s confession: “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39) — fulfillment of Jesus’s predictions that ‘outsiders’ would see and believe.
• Joseph of Arimathea courageously requests Jesus’s body, fulfilling prophecy that the suffering servant is buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9).
• “He takes courage. And he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” (42:00)

The Resurrection: The New Creation (45:00–54:00)

• The women visit the tomb on “the first day of the week” (Mark 16:2) — the dawn of the new creation, likened to Genesis’s “beginning” (arche).
• Jesus’s resurrection is “the first fruits” of the new creation (cf. 1 Corinthians 15). The old creation persists, but the new has begun.
• The abrupt ending of Mark (at 16:8 in early manuscripts) possibly due to external pressures (e.g. persecution), drawing a parallel to the challenge of concluding the story of Jesus.
• The emotional impact: “It is hard to conclude because I know I haven’t done justice. There’s such beauty and depth to the story.” (53:05)

The Call to Discipleship and Trust (54:00–end)

• Metanoia: Jesus’s call is for a change of mind/heart (pistis — trust): not simply believing a creed, but entrusting oneself to God.
• “By watching what Jesus is willing to endure ... Jesus can carry his cross gives us the trust that we too can walk in his footsteps.” (55:40)
• Discipleship means following Jesus along the way — through suffering, into death, and ultimately into resurrection.
• The story of Peter in Rome (“Quo Vadis?”): Our failures do not cancel God’s mercy or call, as shown by Peter’s reinstatement and martyrdom.
• “We can’t let our failures discourage us or make us despair ... if he could forgive Peter and make him the head of his church ... he can forgive you and I. And that is the mercy of his love.” (59:20)
• Jesus's kingship is enthroned on the cross, inviting us to worship, trust, and follow.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jesus’s suffering:
  “Only God is foolish enough to be faithful and to die for us.” (14:52)

• On prophetic fulfillment:
  “You can’t have a more incredible and yet profound prophecy being fulfilled to its utter detail. And no one can fake this prophecy being fulfilled. Who wants to be crucified to claim that they have fulfilled this psalm?” (14:40)

• On the Resurrection as New Creation:
  “All the Gospel writers called this the first day of the week, because it’s the first day of the new creation.” (47:30)

• On following Christ:
  “He doesn’t die so that we don’t have to. He dies so that we’ll have the grace and the strength to follow God’s will and to be faithful to him. That we can die with faith.” (56:00)

• On the mercy of Jesus:
  “If he could forgive Peter … he can forgive you and I. That is the mercy of his love. And that is the Lord who’s worthy of worship.” (59:40)

Key Timestamps

• 00:06 — Introduction; Jesus carries the cross, Simon of Cyrene
• 03:00 — Romans’ vs. Jewish leaders’ titles for Jesus
• 05:00 — Jesus refuses narcotic wine; embrace of suffering
• 07:00 — Prophecy in Psalm 22, divided garments, mocking
• 15:45 — Interpretation of Jesus’s cry from the cross
• 32:10 — Jesus’s death; temple veil torn; cosmic implications
• 39:15 — Roman centurion’s confession; Joseph of Arimathea
• 45:30 — Resurrection, the first day, new creation theology
• 53:10 — The abrupt ending of Mark’s Gospel
• 55:40 — Discipleship and Jesus as model for trust
• 59:20 — Peter’s failure and redemption; mercy of Jesus

Tone and Style

The host speaks with reverence, learned insight, and a catechetical depth aimed at fostering awe, faith, and personal encounter with Christ’s suffering and resurrection. There are scholarly references, meditative pauses, and emotional appeals to the listener’s faith and heart, maintaining a tone both theological and pastoral.

Conclusion

This Bible study masterfully illuminates how Mark’s Passion and Resurrection narratives fulfill Scripture and frame Christian discipleship. The episode emphasizes that Jesus’s suffering is not only redemptive but also a call for disciples to trust, follow, and bear witness in the world — assured of both mercy and ultimate vindication in the resurrection.