Easter Sunrise Service

Easter Sunrise Service

Death by subtitles

April 5, 2026

Text: Mark 15 and 16

Chris taught us the importance of the Passover and what it points to. As the Passover Lamb in the flesh, Jesus Christ, is the fulfillment of everything that the Passover points to.

I am going to the gospel of Mark chapter 15 and 16 to show you how.

1. Jesus is delivered to Pilate:

Mark 15:1-5 Jesus is delivered to Pontus Pilate (Roman’s governor). He had already been “tried” by the elders, scribes and council”. I use that word “tried” loosely. These trials were in direct violation to Jewish Law yet proceeded anyway. Then, in the morning, He was delivered over to Pilate (the Roman Governor) for His 3 civil trials. In total, six trials, all reaching no viable verdict were conducted.

He does not protest trials before Pilate. He says nothing. Jesus does not protest or resist, rather, in humility continues to suffer humiliation

2. Pilate delivers Jesus to die

Mark 15: 6-15 Pilate was amazed at Christ’s silence. The only one (Jesus) in this story who was in 100% control remained completely silent. It was Pilate who was scrambling. If he kills Jesus, his is killing an innocent man. If he does not, the frenzied crowd will get him fire or worse. It was Jesus Christ who was allowing this to play out as planned before creation every happened.

Drawing us back to the image of the Passover, something amazing happens.

Vs 6, 7 6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas

When we hear stories or historical events, we naturally place ourselves in these stories and wonder, who am I in this story. In this story, you and I are definitely NOT Jesus! We are not the hero and not Pilate, rather, we fit the category of the murder, thief, insurrectionist Barabas. Instead of us going to our cross, a substitute steps in, the Lamb of God.

Barabbas is released, and Christ is takes the cross intended for him and Christ is delivered to die.

2. Jesus is mocked

Vs 16-20 He was taken into the palace and an entire Roman Cohort (500-600) men were called into the court to beat Him, mock Him and prepare Him for death.

Mark records a crown of thorns are constructed. These thrones are more than two inches long and are cruelly pressed into His head.

They beat Him with a wooden rod and He was lashed with the Roman Fragomen to the point no one, not even His own mother would be able to recognize Him.

They spit on Him, beat Him, tortured Him. This is the humiliation of the King of Kings, LORD of LORDs for the payment of such a great price of our sin. To die like this, was a demonstration that no one could possibly argue that God is not loving.

No one can stand on their self-righteousness and say, God is not a God of Love. He did this out of the greatest demonstration of Love for those who hate Him!

3. Jesus is crucified

Mark 15:21-32 tells of the horror of the crucifixion.

With Him, there hung two criminals all of these details fulfilling every OT prophecy to exact detailed. Not a single one being missed. Everything that the Passover Lamb in the OT, everything foretold of Christ in the OT is now hanging on another doorway, but this doorway is to heaven. This doorway is the Door of life. Jesus said that He is the gate, the door, the means of salvation. He is now on that cross providing you and I a door to forgiveness. He is the Great Passover Lamb.

4. The death of Jesus

Mark 15:33-41: For six hours he hung. At the halfway point, it drew dark. At 12 noon, the sun goes dark. The earth is covered in darkness in Divine Judgement Jesus cries out “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani” - God the Father turns His back on the Man of Christ, The Son.

At that moment, Jesus takes every sin, from Adam to the last baby born on earth. Every act of rebellion and every idle thought and deed ever committed in sin. This number and weight could not be understood by us. Think of just the amount of sins you and I have committed in one week. Imagine every person ever born. Now place that evil on One man. The weight is beyond understanding.

5. Jesus is buried

Mark 15:42:47 Christ is laid in to rest. But there is a tone shift in this story! In His death, humiliation is exchanged for exultation. In His burial, He is buried in the best tomb that money could buy. You can hear a giant shift in tone of this story. Exultation of the Son of God was to start. Heaven is standing by in excited anticipation!

Christ moves from humiliation on the cross to exultation in burial. His body never sees corruption as He is laid in the borrowed tomb of a rich man. No ordinary grave or burial will do. Only the very best. Carved out of stone, the Son of the Most High is laid for only a short time. You can feel the anticipation in Heaven! As those on Earth groaned, Heaven was just getting started. Soon, EVERYTHING foretold about from Adam in a garden to today would change! Everything was going to be made new! Nothing was going to stay the same.

6. Jesus lives!

Mark 16:1-8 16 vWhen the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. [1]

Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus conquers death. Paul notes that He did not just overcome death but was seen by over 500 hundred people (1 Cor 15:5-8) Paul and others proclaimed His physical resurrection. There is more proof in His resurrection than me standing before you now.

That is why Paul can write: 2 Cor 5:21 “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a reason to celebrate!

[1]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2025. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.