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After Pilate had given in to the crowds and ordered Barabbas released, Jesus was flogged (Mark 15:15) and then led to the praetorium where all the soldiers were called together (Mark 15:16). They toyed with Him by putting a purple robe around Him, fashioning a painful crown of thorns and pressing it upon His head. Then they openly mocked Him, calling out, “Hail, King of the Jews”, as they struck Him with poles and spat in His face (Mark 15:17-20). Read more »
Pilate didn’t want to order Jesus’ crucifixion. Why? He didn’t want to give the Jews, whom he despised, the satisfaction (Mark 15:10). But he had other reasons:
- Pilate’s wife had a dream warning him to have nothing to do with that “innocent man” (Matt. 27:19)
- Pilate was afraid that Jesus might actually be the Son of God (John 19:7-8)
But Pilate was also pulled in another direction: Read more »
Two weeks ago we saw Jesus appearing before the High Priest (Mark 14:53-65), and the effort they made to convict Jesus by false testimony. Jesus is now bound and taken to Pontius Pilate, the Procurator representing Judea. The Jews would accept nothing less than Jesus death - not just a traditional stoning, but a public, humiliating death on a cross - which they had no authority to perform (John 18:31-32); they wanted Jesus formally cursed (Deut. 21:23). Read more »
About a month ago we read how Jesus had predicted the scattering of the disciples and, in particular, how Peter would deny Jesus three times. At the time, Peter could not conceive of any reason he would ever deny his Lord. Read more »
All the religious big-wigs gathered together in the chambers of the High Priest: the Chief Priests, Elders and Teachers of the Law (Mark 14:53). All seeking to build a case against Jesus so they could put Him to death (Mark 14:55). It seemed that in all of Jesus’ public speaking, to all the crowds, and over a three-year period, no two people could get their testimonies straight (Mark 14:56-59). Read more »
Mark 14:51-52 is a curious passage of scripture. The gospel writer is describing the arrest of Jesus. It begins the series of events which led to Jesus’ unjust trial, conviction, execution by crucifixion, and ultimate resurrection. Yet these two verses, in the midst of all Jesus’ followers deserting Him, describe a seemingly meaningless, if not almost comical, sidebar. Read more »
Last week we touched on how Jesus struggled with God’s will for Him. Today we read how He is betrayed and arrested - the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s will as described in the Old Testament prophesies. Jesus’ words reveal that His decision was final: “But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” (Mark 14:49). We’ll venture into the details Mark recorded in a few weeks. Jesus’ decision was one of ultimate sacrifice which restored the relationship between God and man after many centuries of separation. Read more »
In less than 24 hours, Jesus was going to suffer immeasurable physical brutality and a long, excruciating death in naked humiliation hanging on a cross. Jesus was fully aware of this, and even told His disciples, “my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Mark 14:34) In the face of all this, Jesus did not run. He prayed: “Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36) Read more »
As Jesus was making His final preparations before His crucifixion, He once again warned them of what would soon happen.
“You will all fall away, for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered’ (Zech. 13:7)
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Mk. 14:27-28) Read more »
Communion - the taking of bread and wine - symbolizes our sharing in Christ’s suffering and the New Covenant established when His body was broken and He shed His blood for our sins. Communion is not something we enter into lightly. The Apostle Paul wrote, “…whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” (1Cor. 11:27). The King James version is more blunt: he “eateth and drinketh damnation to himself.” Read more »
