Mark 15:16-21 The Mocking Of Jesus; Entertainment & Ease vs. Conviction & Character

Today we begin the sermons on the crucifixion. These next few sermons will conclude on Easter with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. But today we begin with his mocking.

During this time of year, and particularly around these verses in the gospels, it is easy to get caught up on the physical suffering of Jesus, but Mark gives little detail to his physical torture.

Mark knew that there was greater suffering at a deeper level to be endured on the cross.

This was the suffering that led Jesus to sweat drops of blood when praying in the garden.

THE MOCKERY of JESUS

I. LOOKING BACK

v.15 - Looking back you will remember that Pilate had delivered Jesus over to the soldiers to be scourged.

This horrible experience would have left Jesus beaten, bruised, and bloody, but Mark doesn’t give us the details of this horrific event.

He would have been assaulted at the skilled hands of the Roman soldiers.

These men inflicted this punishment on many people throughout the year.

Most would have been scourged just before their crucifixion, and often times it would have led to their death - even before they made it to a cross.

But Jesus’ scourging took place as an act of pity at the command of Pilate.

Luke explains that Pilate said, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.””

As we know, Pilate’s plan did not work.

The guilty man, Barabbas was released and innocent Jesus would be taken so that the final judgement could be made about his guilt.

II. LOOKING AROUND

v.16 - Jesus is led by the soldiers into the palace, Pilate’s headquarters.

This is an interesting move by Pilate and the Roman soldiers. Normally prisoners would have been held in a secure military like location.

But they kept Jesus in the palace, the place for which the Praetorian guard is named.

As they go they invite more Roman guards to come and observe this ridiculous man.

Until it was the “whole battalion” - These men would have been on special assignment in Jerusalem for the Passover festivities.

Working alternating shifts there could have been up to 300 men who came together like bullies picking on the new kid at school to mock Jesus.

v.17- Looking to be entertained until the final verdict was announced, “they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisted together a crown of thorns, [and] they put it on him.”

These men had set the stage for what was to them a comedy and missed that this was a drama of divine proportions.

“purple” - Is known throughout the bible as the color of royalty. So with mocking and entertaining on their minds, the soldiers take a piece of their uniform, a cloak like piece and used it as a costume.

“crown” - They take their mockery further with the crown of thorns made to look like Caesar’s.

This is the only time Jesus is crowned during his earthly ministry, and here he is crowned with the symbol of the curse of sin.

Much like a priest would place his hand on the head of a spotless lamb as a symbol of the sins of the people being transferred to the sacrificial lamb, here Jesus has the symbol (thorns and thistles- Gen. 3:8) of the sin of mankind placed on his head as he prepares to be sacrificed for sinners.

v.18 - “And they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!’”

With approximately 30K crucifixions a year, one preacher points out that, “what makes Jesus’ different is the disrespect and mockery from everyone involved.”

Everyone involved in Jesus’ crucifixion were looking for entertainment and ease rather than to be embraced by the love of God in Jesus.

Pilate wanted to protect his political position by keeping the crowd satisfied.

And Herod, You may remember, like the soldiers, wanted Jesus to entertain him too.

v.19 - But Jesus’ Humiliation wasn’t enough!

“[T]hey were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.”

This was not the first time Jesus had endured such torture.

Mk 14:65 Just hours before Ciaphas’ soldiers blinded and beat him.

But here they beat him (kept on beating him) with reeds/sticks.

One of these stick, Matthews gospel tells us, was placed in his hand like a scepter used by a king. But rather than a display of Jesus power they mocked his position as a prisoner in the Praetorian.

At this point we need to look to John’s gospel to get an understanding to the events that take place between Mk. 15:19&20.

John 19:4-16

John 19:4 “Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.””

Jesus is then brought back before Pilate.

I am sure that Pilate would have been a bit shocked at beaten, bruised, and bloody Jesus wearing such theatrical attire.

Nonetheless, he brings him out to the people to state again that he has found no fault in Jesus. He is innocent, righteous, he does not deserve death!

v. 5 - Dramatically Pilate exclaims “Behold the man!”

Who in no way poses a threat to him, to Rome, to Caesar, or to anyone else for that matter - he is helpless.

But the people are not satisfied. It seems they are more and more insistent. Like sharks in a feeding frenzy they were blood thirsty for the death of Jesus.

v.6 - Jn 19:6 [But] “When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.””

Pilate one last time shows that he wants nothing to do with this mockery.

John 19:7 But again the Jews appeal to Pilate.

“The Jews answered him, “We have a law, [and he must] die because he has made himself the Son of God.””

Now you all should be saying, “wait a second, I thought he was an insurrectionist, a threat to Rome, and to Caesar! What happened to those charges?”

There is a laundry list of charges that have been brought against Jesus.

Each was false but one - he was claiming to be the Son of God.

The crowd was appealing to the an ancient OT law which required that, “Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.

By claiming to be the Son of God the people had found him guilty blaspheme and deserving of death.

v. 8-9 - The story takes an interesting turn here.

When Pilate hears their claim he agrees with them. There is something supernatural about this man.

Remember, Pilate had already been impressed with Jesus silence in the face of his accusers. He had also heard the warning from his wife about the dreams she had, and how he was a righteous man.

He believed he could be dealing with a god. Not the God, but a god who has taken on human form.

This terrified him, so he takes Jesus aside and asked him “Where are you from?”

But Jesus remains silent.

v. 10-11 - Pilate, feeling threatened and unsure, like a wounded animal, becomes aggressive toward Jesus.

He asked Jesus, do you not know what power I have? Jesus responds by reminding Pilate of the sovereignty of God - “Jn 19:11 “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.””

All authority in heaven and earth belongs to God, therefore any authority Pilate or any other governmental leader has is only given to them in the measure that God sees fit.

It is important to remember this truth when we are watching/reading about what is going on between Ukraine and Russia.

When we are not pleased with the authority or leadership over us.

Rom 13 - “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Jesus also gives a bit of comfort to Pilate by explaining to him that he is not the one who has sinned the greatest. He could be referencing Judas, Ciaphas, the crowd - anyone one who had handed him over after hearing and seeing that he is the Messiah, the Son of God.

Do not miss what Jesus indirectly claims here, there are sins that are greater than others. There are sins that will be punished more severely than others, but do not be fooled any sin, even the smallest sin, separate us from God - apart from the perfect work of Jesus (Heb. 10:29).

V.12 -15 - Pilate didn’t understand everything that Jesus was saying, but he was further convinced he wanted nothing to do with this trial.

But the crowd was determined to see Jesus die, so they appeal to Pilate again in the name of Caeser.

Pilate wanting peace more than to release Jesus, brings Jesus out and he sat down on the judgement seat and said to the Jews, “Behold your king” (v.14).

This was Pilate’s way of ultimately avoiding pronouncing a verdict on a man he believed was a god.

The crowd cries out “Away with him! Crucify him!”

Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your King?”

It was at this time that the chief priest, and in effect the Jews as a whole, deny Jesus entirely, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Turn back to Mark 15:20 “And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.”

The trial of Jesus was over, but the persecution had not yet reached its climax.

Remember, Mark is writing to the Roman church who is, like the church throughout history, suffering cruel rejection and persecution.

Hughes - “Mark is encouraging those in the beleaguered church in Rome by letting them see Jesus’ rejection in full view. “

Persecution comes and goes in the church of God. In the western world, specifically in the USA, we have experienced a season of unheard of blessing. Decade after decade of overall cultural acceptance, but that could change at any moment.

When the tide changes will we be able to trust in the sovereign plans of God?

III. LOOKING AHEAD

Mark 15:21 “And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.”

This man Simon had just made his way in to Jerusalem from the country to participate in the Passover festivities. His path brought him into a crowd who were shouting and mocking a beaten man carrying a cross. There were also woman following close by who were weeping and mourning what was happening.

Simon would have been familiar with crucifixions, but he did not yet know the role he would play in this divine moment.

Suddenly a guard, realizing that Jesus was crumbling under the weight of the cross , looks over and sees a man fit for the task.

Simon, minding his own business was forced to carry the cross of Jesus. He did not volunteer, he did not desire this task, he was just standing by, but God had a role for him to play in the death of Christ. There was an hour appointed for Christ to die, and Simon would carry the instrument of death.

Simon was used by God to comfort Jesus in his darkest moment.

But Simon had another role to play. He would be an encouragement to the Roman church.

Mark mentions Simon’s sons: Alexander and Rufus. Why?

Under the weight of the cross, Simon had a life changing encounter with the Son of God, I believe he later trusted in Jesus as his Savior, he returns back home to Cyrene (N. Africa) and helped establish the church there, and he later comes to Rome with his family.

And presently Simon’s sons Alexander and Rufus are part of the Roman church. (Rom.16:13)

The people receiving this gospel would have personally known Rufus and Alexander. They would have made the connection, and they would have been encouraged by God caring for his Son’s needs through the strength of Simon.

In times of persecution and hardship we can look to our Saviors conviction and character rather than pursuing lives of ease that lead to compromise.

Remembering that he bore the eternal consequence of our sin, the mockery of the world, all within the comforting care of the Father, so that we can be eternally comforted in him too.