Mark 15

Jesus Sent to Pilate

Prior to Jesus being sent to Pilate the Sanhedran had condemned Jesus to death. They met the morning after the illegal meeting the night before to officially charge Jesus. However they needed Pilate to issue the sentence of death for Jesus.

Pilate refused to accept the charges the Sanhedran were bringing against Jesus. Instead he chose to question Jesus himself. He asked Jesus if He was the king of the Jews. Obligated to the truth Jesus answered “it is as you say”. John records this encounter a little more extensively that leads to a better understanding. John 18:33-37

John 18:33–37 NASB95

Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Jesus is giving Pilate an opportunity to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Pilate smuggley confesses that He is not a Jew and doesn’t need a Messiah. Jesus explains to Him that His kingdom is not of this world. It is not a temporary kingdom but one that is eternal. Jesus also noted that His servants could easily defend Him and He would not be handed over by the Jews.

Though claiming to be a king was punishable by death in Roman law, the explanation that His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom was not grounds for death.

Jesus had put Pilate in a difficult situation. First Pilate had to decide if Jesus was the Messiah and believe in Him. This would mean that He would have to submit to His authority. Pilate was a Roman Governor and would not relinquish his power to anyone. It is unlikely that Pilate would believe. John 18:38 “Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.”

Secondly, Pilate did not have enough evidence to sentence Jesus to death. Yet the Sanhedran demanded that Jesus be crucified.

Jesus Silence

When Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the chief priests began to accuse Jesus of many things. The very things they tried to accuse Him of during the illegal trial they tried to bring up again. Jesus did not need to defend Himself because the accusations were false and could not be proven.

Pilate was amazed at the silence of Jesus. He was amazed because most people will try to defend themselves when accusations are brought before them. Pilate claimed that Jesus life was in his hands. Once again Jesus corrects Pilate in John 19:10-11

John 19:10–11 NASB95

So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Jesus is so devoted to the truth that when Pilate’s thinking that he is the determiner of Jesus life Jesus corrects him. He tells him that the only authority that he has is that which has been given to him by Jesus kingdom. In essence Jesus was saying, I am laying my life down. You are not taking it from me. John 10:18

John 10:18 NASB95

“No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Jesus uses Pilate’s authority to fulfill His mission.

Pilate’s Solution

Pilate came up with a solution that he believed would get him out of the predicament he was in with Jesus. He would customarily release a prisoner of the subject choosing during the feast of the Passover. He thought Jesus would be the obvious choice since the people hailed him as a prophet and king when He entered Jerusalem. As a matter of fact Pilate offered Jesus up as the obvious choice.

He did not offer Barabbas, but the people knew that he was a true criminal that had led a riot and was a murderer. It didn’t make sense that the people would ask for him to be released. He proposed a greater threat to the peace that Israel had with Rome than Jesus did. Barabbas was an insurrectionest that stirred up riots. Pilate believed that they would certainly pick Jesus over him.

However, the chief priests stirred up the crowed to call for Jesus execution. The people were fearful of the chief priests and would do whatever they told them. They called for Jesus execution.

This shows the hardness of the heart of Israel. Their chief priests were envious of Jesus and could not stop Him. Their envy led them to commit murder. The people of Israel were so fearful of the chief priest that they were willing to do what was wrong rather than stand up to the chief priests. As a result Jesus was sentenced to crucifixion.

Pilate’s Failure

Pilate gave into the crowds demands and did not do what was just or legal.

He handed Jesus over to be scourged. This was a common practice of someone who was going to be crucified. The purpose was to humiliate the convicted and weaken them so that the death on the cross would be expedited.

After Jesus was scourged, Pilate asked the people again if the scourging was enough John 19:4-6.

John 19:4–6 NASB95

Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”

Pilate confessed to killing an innocent man.

Everyone that contributed to the death of Jesus was guilty. However the only innocent one was sentenced to death. It appears as though evil has won. However we know that all of this is part of the plan of God.

Jesus dying on the cross would save not only those who put Him there on that day but us as well. We contributed to His death by our sinfulness. Jesus had to die for our sins.

God demonstrates His power in that He can use evil to bring about good!