Mark 15:1-20 "Jesus' Civil Trials"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City!

As mentioned… it’s the 1st Sunday of the month… which means…

Communion Sunday… and then gathering for fellowship lunch!

I know for me, and many of you… our first Sunday tradition is a blessing… as we commune with the Lord and then with one another!

Well… let’s now fellowship in the word… if you would… please open your Bibles to Mark 15. Mark 15:1-20 today.

We left off finishing Mark 14… that long 72 verse chapter of Mark.

And, we are in the straightaway… coming close to finishing this Gospel.

Just 2 more chapters and 67 verses to completing Mark… and next to Romans.

We should be there by Christmas.

… Just kidding… that’s way too soon.

Anyhow… in the last couple weeks we looked at Jesus’ arrest in the Garden… then His religious trials before the Jewish High Council… the Sanhedrin…

… and we also looked at Peter’s three denials… the subsequent restoration of Peter by Jesus… and Peter’s empowerment by Holy Spirit in Acts.

It always amazes me to think how Jesus was in the midst of redeeming ALL of mankind… and yet… His eye was still on Peter…

How much He loves us all… and has purpose for our lives.

Today, we come back to Jesus’ trials… now looking at “Jesus’ Civil Trials”… which is our message title for today.

Let’s Pray and then get into the word!

In reverence for God’s word, please stand as I read our passage.

Mark 15:1-20 “Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”

3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” 5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.”

Praise you Jesus! Please be seated.

This week and next week… we are in the most difficult of passages in the Gospels… looking at the torture and death of our Lord.

So… not surprising… I didn’t feel led to incorporate jokes this week…

Rather… this is a passage that should move us in other ways.

Namely… we should feel moved to worship Him… the author and finisher of our faith, who (as Heb 12:2) states… “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame...”

We… who place our faith in Jesus Christ… will never know the shame of the cross…

… redemption and forgiveness… love and fellowship… these are ours because of Jesus Christ…

So, let us posture our hearts in worship of Him as we behold this passion passage today.

Mark chapter 14 closed with Peter denying the Lord… and after the third denial… he made eye contact with Jesus… realized what he had done… and departed weeping bitterly.

Matthew and Luke document Jesus was then blindfolded, beaten, mocked and spit upon by His captors… the Jewish leaderships and Temple Guard.

“… marred more than any man…” as prophesied by Isaiah.

Then, Mark 15:1 opens with the words “Immediately, in the morning…”

And, as you read that verse you see the “whole council” has gathered… elders… scribes… this is the Sanhedrin…

This is the third religious trial… the only semi-legitimate trial, but a mere formality to check the “outwardly righteous” box the religious leaders felt compelled to check.

I do believe I mistakenly said the third religious trial was ONLY covered in Luke 22:66-71… where Luke provides the greatest detail…

… and words exchanged during the Third Trial…

BUT, upon closer examination… Mark 15:1 and Matt 27:1 also include a 1 verse brief synopsis of this third trial, but the details are found in Luke 22.

So, the verdict has been passed down… Matthew 27:1 states they “… plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.”

Thus, at the end of Mark 15:1 we read “… they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.”

The best the Jewish Supreme Court could do was “plot” to put Him to death.

But, since they were seeking the death penalty, they had to lead Jesus to Pontius Pilate the present Roman governor over Judea.

And, the reason Pilate had to get involved was because he had to give official approval for Jesus to be executed…

… because Rome revoked Israel’s right to enact capital punishment…POSSIBLY as early as 6 A.D. when Israel became a Roman province…

Which would be on par for Rome because they also revoked the right to capital punishment to other provinces they overtook… like Greece.

When you think about the life of Christ… in 6 A.D., Jesus would have been around 12…

And, Luke 2 records at age 12… Jesus was found at the Temple… engaged in conversation in the midst of Teachers.

I wonder if this topic of losing the right to capital punishment was of the things they talked about?

Because when this happened, there was a crisis of faith for many rabbis who were reported to cry out in mourning saying, “Woe unto us, for the scepter has been taken away from Judah, and Shiloh has not come.”

Thinking back to Gen 49:10 where it was promised, “The scepter [authority to rule] shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes...”

Shiloh is a Messianic title, and they thought Messiah had NOT come.

They thought scripture was broken… because the ability to rule and self-govern had been stripped from them… and they saw no Messiah… thus a crisis of faith.

But, scripture was NOT broken… The problem then… which is still a problem now… is the people were spiritually blind.

Jesus at age 12 was there in their midst… but they didn’t see Messiah… only a boy who astonished them at His understanding.

They needed spiritual sight to see Messiah… sight like that of Anna and Simeon…

Who… when Jesus was about 40 days old… they saw Jesus and knew He was Messiah.

Simeon was of the faithful remnant waiting for the coming of the Messiah… and Luke 2 say “the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

And, when Simeon saw Jesus… he recognized Jesus was Messiah… even as a babe…

Luke 2:28-32 Simeon “...took Him [baby Jesus] up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Shiloh HAD come… Micah 5:2 predicted Bethlehem as His birthplace…

With the babe lying in a manger a multitude of heavenly hosts praised God…

And, the Shepherds carried the testimony back to Bethlehem… glorifying and praising God.

And, then the Wise Men around age 2… they followed the star… and the Chief priests even referenced the Christ would be born in Bethlehem according to Mic 5:2.

And, then the forerunner… John the Baptist…

And, then the testimony of the Father from heaven… His ministry of healings and teaching…

It’s sad that the chief priests of Israel… did not see that Messiah had been revealed.

Having a knowledge of religion… even having a knowledge of the Scriptures… does NOT save…

One must spiritually recognized who Jesus is… and like Simeon embrace Him as their Savior.

This should hit close to home for any of us who has loved ones that follow their religion… but have never known what an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ looks like.

Many of you have labored in pray… pleading with the Lord that their eyes would be open.

Don’t lose heart… continue to pray for them.

Pray the scales would be removed from their eyes, like Paul…

Pray they would have an encounter about being born again, like Nicodemus…

Pray they would come to that place like so many did where they discovered who He is and worshipped Him…

Like James… or Joseph of Arimathea… truly any of the disciples… the men… the women.

So many stories of faith encounters… and turning to Jesus. There’s hope yet!

But, for the Jews in the 1st Century… there were those who became part of the faithful remnant, but the religious leaders… Not so.

They are set on their course and bring Jesus to Pilate.

Many of us have heard the name Pontius Pilate and know he is linked to Jesus through the civil trials…

What we are seeing here at the end of Mark 15:1 is the first of Jesus’ three civil trials.

First before Pilate (which Mark captures in vv 1-5 of chapter 15)… then Pilate happily sends Jesus to Herod Antipas who oversaw the Galilee area for the second trial (as recorded in Luke 23:8-12)… but Jesus is returned to Pilate for the Third and final Civil trial (which is recorded in vv 6-20 of Mark 15).

For you note takers… you may want to note in Mark 15… vv 1-5 is the 1st Civil Trial…

VV 6-20 is the 3rd Civil Trial.

So, we know of Pilate’s role in these trials…

As far as Pontius Pilate… here’s some background on the man…

His full name was Marcus Pontius Pilatus…

From 26-36 A.D. (10 years), he was the Roman prefect or governor over Judaea (where Jerusalem is… where this first trial happened)…

Pilate reported to Tiberius Caesar Augustus… the 2nd Roman Emperor.

And, it was a nerve-racking position because IF you did not maintain ORDER in the area you governed… you would hear from Caesar… which could mean demotion, banishment, or even your life.

And, Pilate oversaw one of the most troubled areas. Jewish zealots caused uprisings… there was constant tension between Israel and Rome…

We know how it eventually ends in 70 A.D.... Rome destroys the Temple and Jerusalem… renames Israel “Palestine”… and dispersed the Jews throughout the Roman Empire… hoping to blot their name out of existence.

That was only 37-40 years after Jesus’ crucifixion… so just keep that in perspective… Pilate knew the Jews were on the brink of another revolt…

And, Pilate was about one riot more from losing his job.

There used to be more critics voicing their doubts about the existence of Pilate.

Until 1961.... when the Pilate Stone was discovered…

At Caesarea by the Sea… Caeasara Maritima.... a stone was found engraved with “Pontius Pilate Prefect of Judea.”

Then, in 1969, Pilate’s Ring was discovered at the Herodium linking Pilate and Herod Antipas.

So, the naysayers have mostly been silenced… once again by archeological evidence.

Pilate was a Roman equestrian (a knight) of the Samnite clan of the Pontii (hence “Pontius”).

He was no snowflake… he was a warrior, and likely came into power through his marriage with Claudia Procula who is thought Emperor Augustus’ granddaughter.

So… he married up… and went from military to politics…

Hey… and I know you know this already… but, just bear with me… this is just a refresher course.

Pilate was criticized heavily by the Jews for his heavy handed style of rule…

… and for displaying symbols of the Emperor on banners and coins…

… which was considered idolatry in Jewish law.

He was also known to provoke Jews and Samaritans to riot… probably he never put the warrior to rest.

Keep all this tension in mind as we look at the interaction today between Pilate and the Jews..

Before moving on… if you fast forward to after Jesus’ crucifixion…

Pilate became increasingly resentful and brutal, culminating in 36 A.D. when he stood on trial for cruelty and oppression.

It’s thought he was banished to Gaul where, ultimately… he killed himself.

It’s sad to think that Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

He… like the religious leaders… looked truth in the face, but never came to know Him.

In Mark 15:2… Jesus is delivered to Pilate and Pilate asks Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” and Jesus responds, “It is as you say.”

Now… turn over to John 18… because what Mark recorded is the tail end of a longer conversation… Mark just documents a very abbreviated version of what happened…

… which was Mark’s style… quick… to the point… action scenes…

But, John richly captures the tense interaction between Pilate and the religious leaders… and a more complete conversation between Jesus and Pilate…

John 18:28-38 “Then they [the whole multitude of Jews from the Religious trials… according to Luke] led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium [the official residence of the Governor… which some believed housed in the Antonia Fortress, which I have a slide of… which was next to the Temple Mount. Others hold the Praetorium was located at Herod’s Palace… at a different location in Jerusalem], and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 Pilate then went out to them [I love that detail] and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” [Luke adds they also said, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” Which was different then their very Jewish and original charge of “blasphemy”… which wouldn’t stand up in Roman court. So, they change the charge now before Pilate. Pilate moves past the first two charges… corrupting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar… and will hone in on the third charge… Jesus declaring Himself a King.] V31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” [proof that their right to enact capital punishment had been revoked] 32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. [only Rome could crucify… and Jesus predicted He would be “lifted up” in John 3:14] 33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” [the third accusation} 34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” [Latin “Quid est veritas?”] And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”

This is one of the most personal conversations between Jesus and one who asks questions that have echoed down through the ages… namely that stirring question, “What is truth?”

Be it an honest question, a snide remark, a cynical expression… reality is Pilate stood before “THE Truth,” and he turned away.

This conversation ranks up there with John 3, when Jesus engages Nicodemus at night… and Jesus tells him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

And, you could argue this, but unlike Nicodemus… I don’t get the sense that Pilate who asked, “What is truth?”… was seeking truth.

In this scene, Pilate was staring truth in the face… for earlier Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn 14:6)

But, Pilate was not born again… he could not see the kingdom of God…

Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Pilate was not of the truth… he did not hear the voice of Jesus and recognize Him as Messiah…

This is the second time in this message today that we’ve discussed this idea of spiritual blindness…

So… again… if you have a loved one to pray for… that they would be born again… that they hear the truth…

I encourage you to pray with an elder at the end of our service today…

Because reality is… every person stands before Jesus in their lifetime and must acknowledge or deny The Truth.

Pilate saw but did not perceive… and heard but never understood.

He stood before the truth, but never turned to him… and history records his end.

How important is it for lift up our loved ones in prayer?

Going back to that John 18 interaction, you get the sense of the tension between Pilate and the Jews…

And, Pilate seems to play a game with them… he seems to do the bare minimum to appease them… he seems suspicious of their motives…

He conducts an informal inquiry with Jesus… and has a private interview with Jesus…

And, in the end Pilate determines, “I find no fault in Him at all.”

Which was true, but… not really a thorough investigation… Pilate doesn’t seem to be truly interested in the judicial process…

And, so when he goes back to the Jews with a “not guilty” verdict…

V3 of Mark 15 reads, “And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.”

Luke gives a few examples of what these many accusations were…

Luke 23:5 reads, “But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”

Now if Pilate took Jesus “stirring up the people” as being a disturber of the peace…

Pilate might be concerned… because you DID NOT violate the Pax Romana… the peace of Rome.

Instead… Pilate’s ears perk up when he hears “Galilee”… more on that in a moment…

AND, Pilate turns to hear Jesus’ defense…

We read in Mark 15:4-5 “Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” 5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.”

Now… do you remember in the Religious Trials how Jesus was silent when false witnesses accused Him?

He only spoke when the chief priest officially adjured Him asking, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

And, Jesus answered in affirmative? Remember that scene?

Well… when Jesus stood in front of fools who accused Him of nonsense… in wisdom He didn’t have anything to say.

And NOW… once again… this time before the entire Sanhedrin… He has nothing to say.

And, how loud does His silence speak?

Loud enough that Pilate marveled at His silence…

Pilate can’t believe it.

The most powerful men in Israel cast accusations against Jesus… and once again Jesus does not defend against false accusations.

And, the same two verses come to mind…

Pro 26:4 “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.”

Jesus shows wisdom by not getting ensnared in the fools trap and digressing to the same level as the fool.

A good reminder for us to not get drawn in to foolish conversations.

And, the other verse… Isa 53:7… once again fulfilled in these trials… “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”

So… the religious leaders grew fierce and cast foolish accusations… Jesus was silent… and Pilate marvelled…

Turn over to Luke 23… In Luke 23:5, Jesus’ accusers mention Jesus taught in Judea and Galilee…

Judea was Pilate’s district, but not Galilee…

So the words “Galilee” rung in Pilate’s ears… and Pilate thought…

“Aha, that’s the ticket! I can pass the buck to Herod! Let him deal with this mess!”

Let’s read Luke 23:6-7 “When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.”

So… Jesus is led away from the Praetorium and likely over to Herod’s Palace (which I have a slide of… notice the temple in the background… top right)…

These civil trials are becoming a political mess…

Pilate sees the opportunity to offload this case to Herod… specifically Herod Antipas.

The son of Herod the Great who massacred the babies in Bethlehem… There are several Herod’s mentioned in the Gospels and Acts.

The Herods were the rulers of various parts of Israel… all part of the Herodian dynasty.

Herod Antipas, here… appears in the New Testament more frequently than any other Herod…

He was involved in the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist… and this same Herod now will have John’s cousin… Jesus stand before him on trial.

So… now the second Civil Trial of Jesus…

Luke 22:8-12 “Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. [Again… when Jesus stands before fools, He is silent] 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.”

Which is a sad silver lining to see wicked politicians uniting in this mess of a scene.

Herod here stands… with all his questions and the religious leaders with all their intense accusations… and Jesus is silent in the middle of it all.

Herod initially wants Jesus to do a little song and dance for him… “perform a miracle Jesus… heal someone!”

And, Herod had many questions… many words for Jesus, but Jesus remained silent.

And, there are many Herods in the world still today… if Jesus won’t perform a miracle for them… if Jesus won’t respond to their many questions…

If Jesus won’t bow down to their desires and their requests… they become like Herod and his men of war… and treat Jesus with contempt, mock Him, and dress Him up as a false King.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Herod like many… are gods in their own eyes… and there’s no place for submitting to the true God of the universe in their hearts.

And, how difficult it must have been for Jesus… standing before… and being mocked by the very man who killed His cousin and forerunner… John the Baptist?

Spurgeon… upon reflecting on this scene wrote, “Herod had already silenced the voice [John the Baptist], and no wonder that he could not hear the word. For what was John? He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (John 1:23). What was Jesus but the word (John 1:1)? He that silences the voice may well be denied the word.”

Yet another example of one who stood before Jesus and did not receive Him…

Herod only wanted to see parlor tricks… miracles upon demand just to entertain…

And, in A.D. 39, Herod Antipas would be stripped of power and banished to exile, where he died in obscurity.

Well, let’s wrap up, looking at Jesus’ Third Civil Trial… His sixth trial altogether…

Continuing in Luke 23:13-16, now back at the Praetorium… we read… “Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them,“You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him…”

Pilate declares Jesus’ innocence here… and yet announces he will have Him chastised… whipped… scourged…

Why scourge an innocent man?

This was a sad attempt by Pilate to appease the furious Jewish crowds, and to save an innocent man’s life, but it will fail on both accounts.

Now… turn back to Mark 15… pick up in V6 is where Mark records this same Third trial of Jesus…

And, we will see Pilate making yet another attempt to appease the Jews…

V6 “Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.”

Pilate discerned the chief priest’s motive for handing over Jesus was “envy”… jealousy.

Jealousy is a marvelous motivator to destroy another person in the heart of the person given over to their idols.

And, what did Jesus have that the chief priests desired?

A strong following?

The worship of the people?

Did they want to ‘become like God?’ That ancient temptation.

Luke records “… they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas…”

Barabbas was a notorious prisoner… imprisoned for a rebellion made in the city… he was a robber (according to John)… and a murderer…

An all around nice guy… Pilate thinks there’s no way they will pick this guy over Jesus.

Barabbas had a compound name… Bar Abbas… meaning “son of a father” or “son of the father.”

In ancient copies of Matthew, his name is recorded “Jesus Barabbas.”

So, the Jews have to chose between... a criminal Jesus… son of the father -or- King Jesus the true Son of the Father.

What a play on words.

Again, a choice! Thematic for today. The Jews were granted to release one prisoner during feasts… as some sort of Roman mercy accommodation.

And, the Nation denied the true Christ… and chose the counterfeit.

And, 40 some years later… 70 A.D.... the whole Nation falls.

So interesting how history documents the demise of those who rejected Christ in these scenes.

Matt 27:19 records this interesting detail,  “While he [Pilate] was sitting on the judgment seat [bēma], his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

Pilate’s wife was Claudia Procula…

… and for receiving this dream, and interceding on Jesus’ behalf… she has been venerated as a saint by Eastern Orthodox churches…

And, the traditions and legends that surround her go way too far!

But, now even Pilate’s own wife testifies of Jesus’ innocence.

And, scripture documents several who have proclaimed Jesus was innocent…

Judas, Pilate, and Claudia all now professed Jesus’ innocence…

And, the Law of Two or Three Witnesses is established.

Picking up in V11 of Mark 15… “But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” 14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” [Luke even records Pilate wished to release Jesus.] But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

The chief priests stir up the crowd against Jesus Christ in favor of Jesus Barabbas…

And, the priests had a lot of power over the people.

If you think back to John 9… there is a scene where a blind man is healed by Jesus… and the Pharisees question the man’s parents…

And, they replied, “He is of age; ask him.”

And, John 9:22 notes, “His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue."

And, so from that verse… you get a sense of the power the religious leaders held over the people.

We saw similar lording over the people in the Philippines… people feared if they were “born again” then the Catholic church would not allow them to bury their dead in their cemeteries…

… which I don’t understand, but it was a big deal to them.

And, so as the chief priests stir up the people… these same people who only days before welcomed Jesus into the city crying out “Hosanna! Blessed is He who come in the name of the Lord!”

Now cry out “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

They cry out for the Roman death penalty that was of the most brutal forms of a death penalty.

So brutal it was illegal for Roman citizens to be executed this way.

We’ll come back to this in future weeks.

And, then in V15… notice how Pilate’s motive to appease the crowd is recorded…

“So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.”

Pilate was not truly interested in justice… he just wanted no riots.

So he takes an innocent man… Jesus… and has Him scourged… which was so bad and brutal… many prisoners bled out and died during the scourging.

I have a slide depicting various scourges… a “flagrum” in Roman terminology.

It was a leather whip knotted with bones, metal, glass… even hooks.

The victims arm would be stretched out making the skin of their back tight, and more susceptible to the whip.

As the whip hit their back, buttocks, and legs… flesh would be ripped off… bones and organs were sometimes exposed.

This torture often preceded crucifixion, and was intended to extract truth.

A scribe would be positioned to take names of accomplices or any confessions of the accused.

But, Jesus was silent. There was no confession… and He gave up no one. Not one of His disciples was named… nor you or I.

Isa 50:6 reads, “I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”

All this He endured for us. Keep this in mind as we partake in communion today.

vv 16-20 of Mark 15 then record, “Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.”

Pilate then brings Jesus out to display Him before the Jews and John records he says, “Behold the Man!” …

Luke records the Jews were insistent and demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voice prevailed… Pilate gave in to the sentence they requested.

Matthew records Pilate saw he could not prevail and a tumult… a riot was brewing…

So Pilate “took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” 25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

The washing of hands to profess innocence was more of a Jewish custom than Roman custom. There are OT references to this custom such as Dt 21:6 & Ps 26:6.

And, while Pilate washed his hands, and tried to claim innocence... little did he know that he would be written into the Apostles’ Creed some 400 years later…

“...who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried...”

You CANNOT simply wash your hands to be innocent in this lifetime.

Innocence before God comes ONLY by one way… by ‘confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead…’ then you will be saved.

Today we take communion… and if you have never made a faith confession… do that today before you take communion.

Let’s Pray!

Keep in mind all we looked at today… and posture your heart in praise as I read our Communion Passage:

1 Cor 11:23-29 “...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Please distribute the elements...

Communion is a time for us to look three directions…

We look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… His broken body and shed blood for the remission of our sins.

His new covenant. Salvation by faith and in grace.

Look forward in hope of His imminent return… we proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. He is coming.

And, looking inward to examine ourselves… to take communion in a worthy manner.

Time to do business with God.

Once you have prayed… take the communion elements individually.

Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.

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If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord...

...either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option...

…first accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.

Our Elders will be up front to guide you in a prayer of faith… to confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

… then take communion.

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