Definition: And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

Explanation: Okay, let's break down that verse from Mark 15:18: “And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!” It’s a really striking and unsettling part of the Gospel account of Jesus’ crucifixion. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this is a dramatic, almost celebratory outburst by Jewish bystanders as they watched Jesus being put to death. Here's a more detailed explanation: “And began to salute him…” : This isn’t a calm, respectful greeting. It's a loud, enthusiastic, and somewhat defiant shout of approval. It suggests the crowd was incredibly excited about Jesus' fate. “…Hail, King of the Jews!” : This is the crucial part. “King of the Jews” is a very specific phrase. It’s a title of respect used by the Jewish leaders (the High Priest and his officials) when addressing Jesus. It meant he was the rightful ruler of Israel – a powerful position. So, they were saying, "Look at Jesus! He's the King of Israel!" Why did they do this? The exact reason is debated by scholars, but here are some likely interpretations: A desperate attempt to stop the execution: The Romans had already ordered Jesus’ crucifixion. These bystanders were trying to prevent the execution. They were essentially saying “Stop! You're going to kill him!” A symbolic gesture of defiance: It could also be seen as a powerful, almost violent, declaration that Jesus was still considered king, even in death. It showed them they wouldn’t let him be killed without a fight. A display of religious fervor: It's possible it reflected the intense religious beliefs of the time and the importance placed on the image of Jesus as a divine figure. Important Note: The verse is often interpreted as a moment of extreme emotion – perhaps anger, frustration, or even a strange kind of pride – rather than a genuine expression of belief in Jesus’ divinity. In short, it's a powerful and somewhat bizarre moment where the Jewish crowd showed their support for Jesus by shouting "Hail, King of the Jews!" --- Would you like me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the context of this verse in more detail (like its historical significance)?