Mark 15:1-39; The King Was Killed

Sermon in a sentence: Jesus died so that we can too.

Mark 8:34–9:1 ESV

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Romans 6:1–11 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The King Was Killed For Killers (vs. 1-15)

Pilate was wicked and ruthless. But, he was not strong enough to do the right thing.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Conflict with the Jewish People

Pilate’s cruel behavior and disregard for Jewish customs began immediately upon his arrival in Palestine in AD 26. He obtained his position through his mentor Sejanus—who was commander of the Praetorian Guard and known to hate Jews (Philo, On the Embassy to Gaius 159). Pilate first offended the Jews by bringing Roman standards—with images of the emperor—into Jerusalem. Previous prefects had not placed any images in Jerusalem. The Jewish people sent a delegation to Caesarea and pleaded with Pilate for five days to remove the images from the city. On the sixth day, Pilate sent soldiers into the crowd. At his signal, they were to draw their swords and cut the Jews to pieces if they did not allow Caesar’s image. The Jews fell down together and exposed their necks, for they would rather die than transgress their law. Pilate, not desiring a revolution, decided to remove the images from Jerusalem (Josephus, Jewish War 2.9.2–3 §§169–74; Antiquities 18.3.1 §§55–59).

The crowd hated Jesus even more than they hated Barabbas.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Conflict with the Jewish People

Pilate’s cruel behavior and disregard for Jewish customs began immediately upon his arrival in Palestine in AD 26. He obtained his position through his mentor Sejanus—who was commander of the Praetorian Guard and known to hate Jews (Philo, On the Embassy to Gaius 159). Pilate first offended the Jews by bringing Roman standards—with images of the emperor—into Jerusalem. Previous prefects had not placed any images in Jerusalem. The Jewish people sent a delegation to Caesarea and pleaded with Pilate for five days to remove the images from the city. On the sixth day, Pilate sent soldiers into the crowd. At his signal, they were to draw their swords and cut the Jews to pieces if they did not allow Caesar’s image. The Jews fell down together and exposed their necks, for they would rather die than transgress their law. Pilate, not desiring a revolution, decided to remove the images from Jerusalem (Josephus, Jewish War 2.9.2–3 §§169–74; Antiquities 18.3.1 §§55–59).

Barabbas means from the father. Jesus was the substitute from the father.

The King Was Killed For Criminals (vs. 16-39)

Men that misuse their power and position are cowards and criminals.

The Roman centurion realized he killed the Son of God.