Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Mark 15:1–20 (2)

Introduction:

· Juxtaposition: Two ideas that seem contradictory or at odds with each other

LET’S LOOK AT THE CLAIMS OF THE KING, THE CONDEMNATION OF THE KING, AND THE SUBSTITUTION OF THE KING.

I) The Claims Of the King

A. Jesus is Put on Trial…as a King?

i. The Charges brought against Jesus (vv. 1-3)

1. Religious leaders manipulate the system for their purposes (vs. 1)

2. Religious leaders changed from religious to political charges (vs. 2)

ii. Pilate’s Question: Are you a King? (vs 2)

1. Pilate’s question is not theological but political: Is Jesus a threat to Rome?

2. Jesus could have said: “Relax…” but instead: “You say…” (vs 2b)

B. The Subversive Nature of Jesus’ kingdom is…and isn’t political

i. Jesus disappoints those who expect a political revolution

1. Palm Sunday and the hopes for a liberation movement (see Mk. 11)

2. APPLICATION: Today people ally Jesus with political causes/parties

ii. Jesus disappoints those who simply expect a spiritual guru

1. Early church stood up for women’s rights; fought abortion; cared for poor

2. APPLICATION: in a political season that is tumultuous…

PILATE SEES NOTHING IN JESUS DESERVING OF DEATH; IN FACT, IN VS. 5, HE’S ACTUALLY IMPRESSED BY JESUS. BUT HE PILATE IS A WEAK LEADER.

II) The Condemnation of the King

A. Jesus is Condemned (vv. 3, 10, 11, 12, 15)

i. Pilate’s weak governance leads to Jesus’ condemnation

1. Pilate is a weak leader, caving to the Jewish leadership (vv. 3, 10, 11)

2. Pilate’s fear of the crowd leads to him being handed over (vs. 15)

ii. Jesus is condemned not just for religious fault but moral guilt

1. Jesus has been pronounced guilty of a religious sin (“Unclean”)

2. But now: “Condemned by a civil judge” – not just Jews, but the nations

3. QUOTE: Heidelberg Catechism (Q/A 38):

Q. Why did he suffer “under Pontius Pilate” as judge?

A. So that he,

though innocent,

might be condemned by an earthly judge,1 and so free us from the severe judgment of God

that was to fall on us.

B. Jesus is Crowned (vv. 16-20)

i. Jesus’ enemies twist around something true in order to humiliate Jesus

1. How to humiliate someone? Find what’s near to them and twist it around

2. JUXTAPOSITION: Jesus as Palm Sunday & Good Friday King

ii. Jesus invites us to surrender ourselves to a suffering king

1. Surrendering to King Jesus = service, sacrifice, and suffering

2. Surrendering to King Jesus = loyalty to a king & kingdom the world rejects

HOW CAN WE LEARN TO WALK THIS ROAD, THEN?

III) The Substitution of the King

A. Jesus Is Condemned as a Substitute

i. Pilate’s strategy: Save Jesus by a substitute (vv. 6-15)

1. Pilate presents a “no-brainer” option (or so he thought) (vs. 6)

2. Barabbas was with “THE” revolution – a violent murderer (vs. 7)

ii. Jesus is condemned in place of a guilty

1. Mark is showing us salvation through a substitute: (vv. 11-12)

2. Jesus is condemned for crimes that should have put Barabbas to death; Barabbas is freed for living the kind of life that Jesus lived.

B. Jesus’ Condemnation Means Our Release

i. We deserve condemnation for our guilt

1. The nature of sin is such that it deserves death

2. EXAMPLE:

ii. But Jesus has stood in our place so that we might be freed

1. “Penal Substitutionary Atonement” Jesus was penalized as our substitute

2. APPLICATION: This is what leads us to surrender to a king!

Transition:

Conclusion

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