As I continue to read through the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15 has had the biggest effect on me. At times I had to pause and stop reading as the account of the rejection, suffering, and brutal venomous sin hate unleashed put upon Him, and the submission of our LORD Jesus to such humiliation by those whom He created and those whom He came to rescue…all seemed too much emotionally to take in!.

His submission was first to do the will of His Father and that included the suffering of hate filled people, like you and me. And before we raise our voices in protest, “I have never beaten Him or spat at Him…” No, we have not but what we have in common with the religious and Pilate, mob, and soldiers of that day, we all have at one time refused to submit to Jesus Christ- we too have chose to reject His authority over our lives, valuing ourselves, our way, our will above Him, His way and will. We too have been treacherous against our Creator! “We will not have this Man rule over us!”

I have not yet been able to get through the chapter, at times it just seems too much to consider how much He suffered…

But here are a few thoughts that I hope will encourage “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”-{Hebrews 12:2-3}

“Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners,…”

1.- CORRUPT LEADERSHIPS versus CHRIST!

Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent Man, that the chief priests, elders, scribes, entire council, and in turn the people wanted Him killed, not because of some sin, evil He had committed, for He went about doing good and with “good news”-{Mark 1:1}.. that people should “repent and believe the Gospel.” and to not die in their sins but be reconciled to God and become children of God-{Mark 1:15; John 1:12}… But the religious cared more about maintaining their power, prestige, position than in the peoples eternal welfare or for that matter their present wellbeing. The people were but a means to and end to them- to further their own sinful desires of the religious “hypocrites” as Jesus called them!

They had no authority legally to put Him to death, only Pilate could authorize that, so they appeal to Him, and what do they use? “They accused Jesus of many things”-{v3}

Pilate asked Jesus ,“Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. – -{v2}

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked Him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”-{Mark 15:2-5}. Both Pilate and his wife called Jesus a “Just man” –{Read Matthew 27:18;19.27}

Pilate was a representative of Rome and one thing Rome could not have was an uprising and someone who said they were a “King” sat themselves up against Ceasar! Passover was a time where people were commanded to meet and celebrate what God had done for Israel in delivering them when the death angel passed over them and spared the lives of all who had obeyed the LORD “…and each Israelite family who offered a perfect male lamb and place the blood of the lamb on their houses would not die! So. thousands upon thousands flocked to Jerusalem to celebrate. Among those times there was an expectation of the return of the Messiah, it was also a time when the Roman government were on high alert with the fear of an uprising! So amidst the celebrations, there was the potential of an uprising by some. And Pilate could not have an uprising, as he would be held accountable.

And only Ceasar was King! The religious sought to manipulate and before Pilate pit CEASAR versus CHRIST! They had tried to back him into a corner!-{Read 1:14}. 

Corrupt leaderships both religious and political joined up against Christ!

 

2.-CRIMINAL versus CHRIST.

As was custom at Passover Pilate had it in his power to release a criminal. And knowing the motivation of the religious people, he offered them Barabbas who was a known rebel. In Matthew 27:16 it says, “…a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.” In Mark 15;7 it says, “…And the one named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the revolt.” And the crowd incited by the religious called for Barabbas to be released, pardoned before the Passover.

3.- CROWD versus CHRIST.

It was but days earlier when the crowd cried out at the triumpahnt entrance of  the LORD Jesus. “Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”-{Mark 11:9}. And now we see the shouts of the crowds change to, “CRUCIFY HIM!”-{v 13}

“And the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. And responding again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” Intent on satisfying the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”-{Mark 15:8-15}.

The crowds were led by the religious….easily led and then Pilate asked what evil had Jesus done? They did not answer with facts of the evil He had done, but responded with “CRUCIFY HIM.” The insanity of sin. They did not need for Him to have done any evil they too wanted Him crucified! They made a choice- The Crowds chose themselves, their ways over Christ! They were the ones doing evil. They had a heart problem, Jesus put it this way, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”-{Luke 6:45}. Their evil words came from an evil heart where murder resided!

The Crowds chose themselves, their ways over Christ! The heart of every SPIRITUAL problem is a heart problem! Society was corrupt!

4.- CHOICE FOR OR AGAINST CHRIST!

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent but CHOSE to go against the truth. James puts it this way, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”-{James 4:17}. He knew what was right and chose not to do what is right, and though he could pass it off as the religious and people’s choice it was his choice and knowing what was right chose not to doit and Scripture calls it…sin!

“Intent on satisfying the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”-{1:15}. But note… Both Pilate and his wife called Jesus a “Just man” –{Read Matthew 27:18;19.27}… and yet they chose to reject Him! The truth did not set them free but condemned them!

TODAY’S CHOICE;

Today people are confronted with the LORD JESUS CHRIST… including religious people, who fight to hold onto their position, prestige, and are opposed to the claims of the LORD JESUS.

  • Some religious people use the help of governments to seek to suppress the truth that His followers hold forth in their countries.
  • Some recognize the claims of the LORD Jesus as those in the book of Hebrews, chapter 6:4-6 –“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” It is not a case of ignorance but of willful rejection of Him! It is not a case of ignorance but of willful rejection of Him!

Religions are Corrupt; Some Governments have Corrupt leaderships; Society are corrupt all due to a heart problem

  • Everyone makes a choice concerning the LORD Jesus Christ.
  • Everyone has a choice to make about the LORD Jesus Christ.

Today people are still making up their mind about Jesus,

The verdict against Christ still continues today and those who know what is right and do not do it in bowing in submission to Him, to them it is sin! And the sad news is they will die in their sins having had the opportunity to trust Him by faith, His sacrifice and come under the blood- the death of Christ- for their sin, and experience the provision “BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.”… JESUS CHRIST OUR PASSOVER! –{Read John 1:29},

THE LAMB SLAIN IS NOW THE LAMB WORSHIPPED!

“And they sang in a mighty chorus: 

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
    to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and blessing.”-{Rev 5:12}

God bless,

Aidan.