THE REJECTION OF THE SON OF GOD

Mark 15:1-15

Intro: This passage brings us one step closer to the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary. He has been arrested by His enemies. He has been tried by the religious authorities and condemned. His condemnation was based on the testimony of false witnesses and erroneous accusations. The Jews have sentenced Jesus to death, and that is where we are headed as this narrative unfolds.

In this passage, we will see Jesus rejected by the religious authorities in Israel. We will see Him rejected by the civil authority of Rome. Ultimately, we will see Him rejected by the common man as well.

This text reveals the very heart of human nature. This text proves that man, in his natural state, is a totally depraved sinner, capable of intense hatred and evil. This text proves that man, in his natural state, is God’s enemy, just as Romans 8:7 “7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” says he is. This text is a mirror for the human heart, fully revealing its character and condition.

Once an African chief happened to visit a mission station. Hanging outside the missionary’s hut on a tree was a little mirror. The chief happened to look into the mirror and saw his reflection, complete with terrifying paint and threatening features. He gazed at his own frightening countenance and started back in horror, exclaiming, “Who is that horrible-looking person inside that tree?”

“Oh,” the missionary said, “it is not in the tree. The glass is reflecting your own face.”

The African would not believe it until he held the mirror in his hand. He said, “ I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?”

“Oh,” said the missionary, “I don’t want to sell it.”

But the chief begged until he capitulated, thinking it might be best to sell it to avoid trouble.

So he named a price and he took the mirror. Exclaiming, “ I will never have it making faces at me again,” he threw it down and broke it to pieces.

This is precisely what the religious establishment did to Jesus. They would dash this mirror of their souls! So they nailed him to a cross, only to find that this magnified the reflection. [i]

This text is a mirror of our own souls. When we look at Jesus and what the people did to Him that day, we can see ourselves. We either see that we are walking with our faith in Jesus. Or, we see that we are guilty of rejecting the King.

I. THE SON OF GOD REJECTED BY THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY-VS. 1

· The language of verse 1 suggests that these events occurred very early in the morning, just as the sun was rising. The word “morning” translates a word that refers to the time between 3 AM and 6 AM, or the fourth watch of the night.

So, as soon as dawn begins to break, the chief priests convene all the rulers of Israel together to legitimize the decisions they reached during the night.

After Jesus was arrested, He was subjected to an illegal trial before the chief priest. During this trial, Jesus was accused of blasphemy and condemned to death. He was then beaten and mistreated by the religious leaders and the temple police. This early morning meeting was held for just one purpose; these men wanted to add a sense of legitimacy to the illegal decision they had made during the night.

During this phase of the trial, the Jews asked Jesus the same question they had asked Him during the night. Luke 22:66-71 tells us that they once again asked Jesus if He was the Son of God. Once again, Jesus answered that indeed He was the Son of God. To the Jews, this confirmed Him as a blasphemer, and they reaffirmed the sentence of death.

· The actions of these religious men teach us a very important truth. That truth is this: religion has no place for Jesus Christ. The Jewish religious rulers had a good thing going. As far as daily life in Israel was concerned, they held all the power over the people. They were making vast amounts of money through the buying and selling that went on at the Temple. They were rich. They were powerful. They believed that they were right with God. These men thought they were justified in all their actions. They believed their religion was enough!

The Jews rejected Jesus because religion has no room for Jesus Christ.

· The fact is, no religious system has room for Jesus. Religion is all about human involvement and human activity. Religion is always based in external works.

Biblical Christianity, on the other hand, is always based in faith. Religion seeks to approach God on the basis of what man can do. Biblical Christianity seeks to approach God on the basis of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between the two!

The Bible is crystal clear on this issue: no one is saved by works, even religious works, Eph. 2:8-9 Rom. 3:20 Titus 3:3-5

Romans 3:20 KJV 1900

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Titus 3:3–5 KJV 1900

3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It is also crystal clear that salvation is based on faith in Christ alone, John 1:12; 3:15-16, 36; 6:40, 47; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9; Mark 16:16; Rom. 5:1-5; 1 John 5:10-13.

Salvation is never about what man can do; it is always about what Jesus has already done.

The Gospel is a very clear and straight forward message. It can be summed up in these verses: Rom. 4:25 and 1 Cor. 15:1-4.

What really matters are these simple questions: Have you believed the Gospel message of Christ’s death and resurrection? Are you trusting Jesus and Jesus alone for your soul’s salvation?

· Things like giving, praying, good works, baptism, church attendance, etc., are all good things, but none of them has the power to save the soul. Religion has the power to make people respectable and decent, but it does not have the power to make anyone right with God.

On the other hand, biblical redemption has the power to make people holy. It has the power to save the soul, secure the soul and alter one’s eternal destiny. Seeking God man’s way will always result in eternal damnation in Hell. Coming to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will always result the soul’s salvation and eternal glory in Heaven!

· So, are you saved? Or, are you lost?

I. REJECTED BY THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

II. THE SON OF GOD REJECTED BY THE RULING CLASS-VS. 2-5

· When Jesus arrives before Pilate, the governor asks Jesus about the accusation that He is the King of the Jews. The answer Jesus gives Pilate is somewhat different from the answer He gave the Jews. When the Jews asked Jesus about His identity as the Son of God and the Messiah, Jesus simply said, “I Am”! When Pilate asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus responds by saying “Thou sayest it.”

Jesus is saying, “I am the King of the Jews, but I am not a king in any way you would understand. My kingdom is not of this world. My authority comes from above and not from you or the men who have accused Me.”

Why was Jesus so clear with the Jews and why was He not so clear with Pilate?

The Jews had every reason to believe that Jesus was Who He claimed to be. They had the Old Testament with its laws and prophecies that predicted the coming of the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled every one of them to the letter. He proved He was their Messiah. In fact, he even exceeded the ancient prophecies, Ill. Isa. 35:4-6; Matt. 11:4-6.

Pilate did not have this information. He was a Gentile and he did not know Who Jesus was. He had not seen the miracles, nor had he heard His words. On that morning, Pilate was brought face to face with Jesus, and when he was, he had a decision to make. Pilate was given the opportunity to meet Jesus in a personal, faith relationship, and he failed!

Verse 3 tells us that the Jews made all manner of accusations against Jesus, but the Lord stood there in absolute silence. He refused to defend Himself against their lies. He was just as Isaiah said He would be, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth,” Isa. 53:7.

Verses 4 and 5 Pilate attempted to get Jesus to defend Himself. Again, Jesus simply stood there in regal silence. His refusal to answer left Pilate amazed. Pilate was amazed, but he was convinced that Jesus was innocent of the charges being leveled against Him.

Pilate was a weak, cowardly man who was more concerned with maintaining his position and his power than he was with knowing the truth. He was more concerned with keeping the Jews happy than he was in protecting an innocent man. Pilate was a coward who placed his position, his prosperity, his pride and his person before his soul. Pilate could have been saved, but he was too much of a coward to bow before Jesus and believe in Him for salvation.

Pilate rejected Jesus because cowardice has no room for Christ.

There are plenty of folk who claim to love Jesus, but they really are just like Pilate, they live to please themselves. They live by their own rules; they do as they please; they serve God when it fits within their schedule. For the most part, they are no different than the world around them. Church, the Bible, prayer, witnessing, giving, are all things other people do. They are spiritual takers and they give little to nothing back to the Lord they claim to serve. They are the cowards. They are the empty pretenders.

They are the people who, like Pilate, will walk away from the truth and drop off into a Christless eternity. (Ill. Matt. 7:21-23; John 6:40 - Believing on Jesus takes real courage!

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV 1900

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I. Rejected By The RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

II. Rejected By RULING CLASS

III. THE SON OF GOD REJECTED BY THE REGULAR CROWD- VS. 6-15

· Pilate has examined Jesus and is convinced that He is innocent. So, Pilate takes a gamble to try and free Jesus without any political backlash.

Verse 6-7

It was Pilate’s custom to release to the crowds a prisoner of their own choosing. He has, in his custody, a prisoner named Barabbas, v. 7.

· Barabbas was a political prisoner. He had been arrested for “insurrection” and “murder”. Barabbas was a revolutionary. He was trying to over throw the Roman government. He has been caught and now he was headed for death on a Roman cross.

Verses 8-15

Pilate offers the crowd a choice between Jesus Christ and Barabbas, vv. 8-10. He thinks the people will choose the peace-loving Jesus over the violent Barabbas. He believes the people will choose the One Who had ever done good and right over the one who had only done evil.

Pilate was wrong!

Verse 11-The Jewish leaders stirred up the crowds and caused them to choose Barabbas over Jesus, v. 11.

Verse 12- When they made their choice Pilate asks them what he should do with Jesus, v. 12.

Verse 13-They cry out that He should be crucified, v. 13.

Verse 14-Pilate again states his belief in Christ’s innocence and asks the crowds why, v. 14.

The people have been whipped into a state of near frenzy and they call for the death of Jesus by crucifixion, v. 14.

Verse 15-Pilate gives in to the will of the people allows them to have their way with Jesus, v. 15.

A lot of preaching has been done about this crowd and their choice of Barabbas. I have heard it said, and have even said it myself, that some of these same people were the ones crying “Hosanna” just a week earlier. That probably isn’t true.

This crowd was there because they knew that Barabbas was about to die. As a revolutionary, who was trying to defeat Rome, Barabbas was probably a popular figure with the common man. He was like a folk hero to these people. The supporters of Jesus did not know that He had been arrested yet, so they had no time to assemble themselves in His defense.

The crowd that day did not care about Jesus; they wanted Barabbas. They did not believe in Jesus. He did not seem like the kind of Messiah they were looking for. Barabbas, on the other hand, was more of what they thought a Messiah should be. So, they rejected Jesus and chose Barabbas out of sheer unbelief.

The crowds rejected Jesus because unbelief has no room for Jesus Christ.

· Just as it was the day Jesus was crucified, the majority refuses to believe in Him. This refusal is what condemns the lost sinner, John 8:24. This refusal to believe in Jesus is what sends people to Hell, John 3:18, 36.

Just because the multitude refuses to come to Jesus, does not mean that you have to follow them. You can go against the grain. You can receive Jesus, you can be saved and miss Hell. You do not have to follow the crowd over the cliff. You can be saved, if you have the courage to be different!

CONCLUSION:

THE SON OF GOD CAME TO THEM AND THEY REJECTED HIM.

The King came to Israel just like the prophets said He would. He fulfilled every prophecy. He accomplished everything God said the Messiah would accomplish. Jesus was exactly Who He claimed to be.

This King came to His people and He was rejected by them. John 1:11. Because they rejected Him, they were condemned by God. Their nation was destroyed. Their souls were sentenced to Hell.

Don’t reject Jesus! If He is reaching out to you, calling you to come to Him, please don’t deny His call. Come while He calls; come and be saved!

[i]Adapted from Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark : Jesus, servant and savior. Preaching the Word (190). Westchester, Ill.: Crossway Books.