King or Crucify

Open your Bibles with me to Mark 15:

In 1917, during the chaos of the Russian Revolution, a famous political philosopher observed a curious phenomenon in the streets of Moscow. As the monarchy crumbled and the Tsar was removed, crowds tore down statues, celebrating that they were finally free—that no one ruled over them anymore.

Yet within weeks, the very people who chanted for total independence began dividing into radical factions, willingly surrendering their lives, homes, and obedience to new, ruthless party leaders. They hadn't destroyed the idea of a king; they had simply swapped who sat on the throne.

We often imagine our hearts like a quiet room where we are the sole decision-makers, believing we can live completely neutral, autonomous lives. But the human heart is not a quiet room—it is a crowded throne room.

Bob Dylan famously put it into music: "You're gonna have to serve somebody. It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody."

Every single day, we are bowing to something. When we refuse to bow to Jesus, we don't actually become our own sovereign king—we just declare allegiance to our self-interest, our comfort, or the approval of the crowd around us.

With that in mind, let us turn our attention to Mark 15, starting in verse 1:

Mark 15:1–15 CSB

As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed. At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?” For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Again they shouted, “Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Pray, invite people to be seated.

To me, this scene is one of the most troubling scenes in all of Scripture.

Everyone involved knows Jesus is innocent, and yet He stands condemned.

The chief priests reject Him out of envy

The crowd is persuaded by sinful leaders

Pilate rejects justice to satisfy the crowd

Barabbas is preferred because he represents what the people desire.

A city, that a week before that day had laid down their coats in worship now scream CRUCIFY!

The crowd rejected their innocent King, choosing a guilty rebel instead.

Jesus was innocent, but is convicted anyway.

That means that this passage isn’t about whether Jesus should be chosen, but rather, why do we reject Him.

You see, you and I reject Jesus as king all the time.

We reject Jesus as King EVERY TIME we choose our will over His.

The human heart is a throne room.

You are going to serve someone with your life.

The rightful King of your heart is Jesus.

SO, why do we reject our rightful king?

I believe our passage points us to three wrong motivations that drive us to rejecting Jesus. Let’s look at them together.

Mark 15:1–5 CSB

As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.

Our first wrong motivation is self-interest:

We reject Jesus when self-interest outweighs truth.

It’s incredible to me that the chief priests have made it all the way to the Roman governor and yet they still can’t get their story straight.

It reminds me of the story I get from my kids when they’re covering something up

The story changes with every question I ask.

We saw the same thing last week just a couple of verses back, when Jesus was being questioned and accused and no two people could agree because they kept confusing their stories.

And what that points us to is this:

These religious leaders aren’t seeking truth or justice. They are protecting power and influence.

Because, as it turns out, the truth only matters until it is inconvenient.

We see glimpses that they understand the truth throughout Mark.

We see it at the conversation with the rich young ruler.

We see it at the healing of Jairius’ daughter.

We see it at the insight of the scribe who asked of the greatest commandment.

Their problem with Jesus was that He was The Son of God per say, but that the truth His character and purposes didn’t fit their self-interest.

In other ways, admitting the truth meant it would cost them.

And the myth of false religion is that this isn’t always the case.

Because you can’t follow Jesus without dying to self.

As John the Baptist said in John 3:30

John 3:30 CSB

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Friends, learn to hold everything that isn’t Jesus with loose hands.

If your job, or your house, or your career, or your bank account, or what you’re known for is more important to you than surrender to Jesus, you are right there with the religious leaders.

Because you can’t pursue your self-interest And follow Jesus simultaneously.

We reject Jesus when self-interest outweighs truth.

Let’s continue together:

Mark 15:6–14 CSB

At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?” For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Again they shouted, “Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”

Our second wrong motive is desire:

We reject Jesus when worldly desires outweigh our devotion.

There is an incredible irony in these verses.

Barabbas would fit well into man’s idea of a king.

This was a man pursuing open rebellion against Rome, which is what the religious leaders wanted Pilate to believe about Jesus.

This man wanted to tear down Rome and make himself king.

This man believed murder was okay because the ends justify the means.

The Romans had already arrested this man for genuine crimes

In other words, in some ways Barabbas represented everything the Jews wanted the Messiah to be.

And so, for their desires, they gave up the real Messiah.

Now, I want to take a moment and clarify the difference between self-interest and desire.

Make no mistake-both are rooted in self.

Self-interest aims at improving or maintaining your situation.

Desire is an unregulated longing and pursuit of what you deeply want.

Why make that distinction?

On that day, I believe that the Jews would have chosen to release anyone else than Jesus.

But it is all the more profound because it was Barabbas.

Barabbas was known in the region.

Barabbas had tried to start a rebellion against Rome.

Barabbas was what they wanted.

And it is easy for you and I to stand back and cast judgment.

How could they choose a criminal over the Son of God?!?

And the answer is desire over devotion.

You see, it’s one thing to say I choose Jesus who welcomes the stranger.

It’s another thing to welcome the masses of muslim refugees.

It’s one thing to say I choose Jesus who calls me to die to myself.

It’s another to give up my dreams of prosperity and comfort.

It’s one thing to say I choose Jesus who loves my enemies.

It’s another thing to bless those who spit and curse at you.

It’s one thing to say I surrender to the God of forgiveness.

It’s another thing to extend forgiveness to the murderer of my spouse.

The drunk who killed my child.

The snake that got me fired so he could take my job.

In Season 2 of Beast Games, the internet personality, Mr. Beast, was giving away 5 million dollars to one lucky winner.

And the contestants were divided into teams at one point.

each team had to pick a captain. “Someone they could trust.”

And the captains were asked to watch a ticker with an exponentially growing number representing dollars.

And if they wanted that amount, all they had to do was hit the button in front of them.

They would stay in the game towards the grand prize.

They would get all of the money on the screen.

BUT, their entire team would lose the game and go home.

And when the dial hit 1,000,000 dollars, everyone was shocked that someone hit the button and betrayed their whole team.

See, It’s one thing to say I follow Jesus when it doesn’t cost me anything.

It’s another thing to actually do it when it costs you what you want.

Our only hope is to make Jesus be our desire. Let Jesus be what you want.

Until Jesus is the only thing you want, he doesn’t truly have your devotion.

WE reject Jesus when worldly desires outweigh our devotion.

Look at verse 15 with me:

Mark 15:15 CSB

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

We reject Jesus when pleasing people outweighs obedience.

Some of the most revealing videos on the internet are videos of politicians.

Ten years ago, they adamantly stood for one thing.

Now, ten years later, they adamantly oppose that very thing.

Did the truth change? No.

Popular opinion did.

Pilate knows what is right.

He himself said that Jesus was innocent.

But the people screamed crucify!

Pilate sacrificed justice for approval ratings.

Not much has changed.

In our world today, it is less important to be right than it is to be popular.

It reminds me of a moment in a star wars movie, when the majority is excited to vote to create a galactic empire.

And one voice says “this is how liberty dies…to thunderous applause.”

It is interesting to note that everyone in this passage chooses someone to please…

The priests choose to please themselves.

They reject Jesus for the self-interest of preserving power

The crowd chooses to please the priests.

They reject Jesus for misplaced desires

Pilate chooses to please the crowds.

He rejects Jesus for fear of the people.

And Jesus chooses to please God the Father.

He accepts their rejection to offer them freedom from all of these things.

Freedom is here this morning for anyone

tired of seeking their own self-interests

ready to lay down their desires

and let go of the fear of what other people think.

Pilate asked the question, “what shall I do with the king?”

I wonder, my friend, what is your answer?

The simple truth in this passage is that we reject Jesus as King every time we choose our will over His.

The truth is that there are really only two options for Kingship in your life:

Jesus, the One True King

And self, the you of your desire.

As we prepare our hearts this morning to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, the Altar is open.

It is open to everyone who this morning is ready to lay down what they want and let Jesus be King.

This morning, how will you answer?

Pray.