Mark 15:1-15
Tried by Gentiles
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Sermon Summary
Title: The Silent Lamb and Divine Sovereignty in the Midst of Human Politics
Life often presents mysteries and challenges that seem beyond our understanding, much like the experiences of biblical figures such as Joseph and Esther.
Proposition: The King of kings, Christ, was the silent lamb unjustly condemned to death.
Main Point: Your King died for you.
1) Politics and Power
Historical context: The refusal of Caesars to recognize Herod’s sons as "King of the Jews" and the appointment of Pilate as the Prefect of Judea.
The trial of Jesus: Pilate's interrogation highlighted by Jesus' silence, seen as an admission of guilt, amidst political manipulation by both Pilate and the Jewish leaders.
2) Miscarriage of Justice
The trial and crucifixion of Jesus serve as a prime example of justice being subverted for political and personal gain.
Despite the appearance of injustice, God's sovereign plan was unfolding.
3) Trust God’s Plan
Despite human actions, God's wisdom and plan were perfectly executed through Jesus' betrayal, trial, and crucifixion.
Jesus, fully aware of His fate, willingly submitted to God’s plan, understanding the greater purpose of His suffering and death.
Conclusion:
The events leading to Jesus' crucifixion were marked by human failings and political intrigue, yet they were underpinned by God's sovereign plan for salvation.
Jesus, the King of kings, willingly endured injustice to fulfill God’s redemptive plan, reminding us to trust in God’s sovereignty amidst life's mysteries and challenges.
Sample Bible Study
1. Scriptural References:
Mark 15:1-15: Jesus’s trial by Pilate
Isaiah 53:7: Prophecy of Jesus as the silent lamb led to slaughter.
Romans 13:1-7: Discusses the authority of governing bodies and how Jesus submitted to such authorities as part of God's plan.
1 Peter 2:23-24: Reflects on Jesus's response to suffering and injustice, pointing to His example for us.
2. Historical Context:
Understand the role of Pilate as a Roman governor and the political pressures he faced from both Roman authorities and Jewish leaders.
The significance of Barabbas' release over Jesus, highlighting the corrupt nature of human justice compared to divine justice.
3. Practical Applications:
Trust in God's Plan: Even in unjust situations, trust that God has a greater plan at work for His glory and our good. We live in the horizontal where there is often ambiguity, confusion, and questioning. However, we can trust that vertically the Lord know the ends He is accomplishing.
Responding to Injustice: How should we, as followers of Christ, respond to injustice and suffering in our lives and the world?
Cultivate a Heart of Thankfulness: God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus humbled himself in the likeness of man to be the unblemished lamb slain for our sins. What did your salvation cost?
4. References to Confessions and Catechisms:
Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. VIII: Discusses Christ the Mediator, who willingly submitted to death for our redemption, fulfilling God's eternal plan.
Westminster Larger Catechism, Q&A 50: Explores Christ's humiliation, including His trial under Pontius Pilate, suffering, and death.
Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q&A 27: Briefly outlines Christ's humiliation and its purpose for our salvation.
Conclusion:
Mark 15:1-15 not only tells the story of Jesus's trial and condemnation but also teaches us profound lessons about God's sovereignty, the nature of true justice, and how we are to live in a world filled with injustice. Through study and reflection, we can deepen our faith in God's plan and learn to navigate our lives with grace and truth.
Weekday Devotionals
Monday: The Silent King
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-5
Reflection: As we meditate on the trial of Jesus before Pilate, we are struck by the silent dignity with which our Savior faces false accusations. His silence before Pilate is not a sign of defeat but a profound declaration of His sovereignty and submission to the Father's will. In His quietness, Jesus embodies the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7, where the Messiah is described as a lamb led to the slaughter, who opens not His mouth.
Prayer Prompt: Let’s pray for the grace to trust God's sovereignty in our trials. May we learn from Jesus' example to face unjust accusations or misunderstandings with a spirit of humility and trust in God's ultimate justice. May we be those who face trials with the same resolution and dignity. Pray God gives us hearts to know the injustice and difficulties and yet be comforted by His Spirit that He has a plan.
Tuesday: The Mockery of Justice
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:6-15
Reflection: The release of Barabbas in place of Jesus is a stark portrayal of the world's flawed understanding of justice. Political maneuvering was on full display. The guilty is set free, while The Innocent One is condemned. This exchange highlights the depth of Christ's sacrifice for us. Jesus took our place, bears our sins, and faced the punishment we deserved.
Prayer Prompt: Reflect on the substitutionary death of Jesus for your sins. Pray for a heart of gratitude that recognizes the profound magnitude of His sacrifice. Pray that the Spirit empowers and compels you to live a life worthy of the price Jesus paid.
Wednesday: The Power of Silence
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-5
Reflection: In a world that often equates power with loudness and force, Jesus' silence before His accusers speaks volumes. His quiet strength demonstrates a deep trust in God's plan and timing, even in the face of suffering and death. Jesus had wrestled with God in the garden. But, once He submitted to the Father’s will He went with resolve, purpose, and dignity. Jesus' silence is not passive; it is a powerful act of obedience and trust. Jesus’s passive obedience was his willingness to submit. But meditate on what the King of kings, the commander of legions of angels, could have done in that moment.
Prayer Prompt: Ask God to help you find strength in silence, especially in moments of misunderstanding or conflict. Pray for the wisdom to know when to speak and when to embrace silence as a form of trust in God's control over every situation.
Thursday: The King's Identity
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:2
Reflection: When Pilate asks Jesus if He is the king of the Jews, Jesus affirms, "It is as you say." This declaration, though met with skepticism and mockery, is a clear truth about Jesus' identity as the Messiah and King. Despite the rejection and suffering He faces, Jesus' kingship is not diminished; it is displayed in His path to the cross. Jesus was willing to have the title King of the Jews pronounced by the lips of a Roman prefect. Why? Because Jesus knew the crown was on the other side of the cross.
Prayer Prompt: Contemplate the kingship of Jesus in your life. Pray for the grace to acknowledge and submit to His rule over your heart and life. Pray for his help to do this even when His sovereignty leads you through paths of suffering or sacrifice. Pray for the strength and assurance to know that even in your darkest days, your redeemer lives. Your King is reigning.
Friday: The Plan of Redemption
Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-15
Reflection: The events leading to Jesus' crucifixion are not accidental but are part of God's sovereign plan for redemption. Through what appears to be a miscarriage of justice, God's justice and mercy are perfectly fulfilled in Jesus' death on the cross. How often do we miss the vertical workings of God because of the horizontal problems? Everything about Jesus’s trial screams injustice. Yet, this divine plan reveals God's deep love for us. God spared nothing, not even His own Son, to bring about our salvation!
Prayer Prompt: Reflect on the depth of God's love for you, demonstrated in the cross of Christ. Pray for a deeper understanding and appreciation of this love. Ask the Lord for the courage to live in response to this great love by bearing witness to the gospel in your daily life.
Reflective Article
In the heart of Mark chapter 15, we find a narrative that is as timeless as it is profound. Here, in the shadow of the Roman power and religious authority, stands Jesus—silent, accused, yet resolute. This passage not only unveils the political and spiritual drama of its time but also invites us into a deeper reflection on the nature of justice, power, and divine purpose.
The Unjust Trial of the King of Kings
In the early morning hours, as Jesus stands before Pilate, we witness a pivotal moment in history. Charged with being the King of the Jews, Jesus' affirmative response, "It is as you say," (Mark 15:2, NKJV) echoes through the annals of time. Pilate the prefect it questioning the King of kings and Lord of lords. This encounter is more than a historical footnote. Unbeknownst to Pilate, it is a cosmic clash between earthly authority and divine sovereignty. Pilate, representing Roman law and order, finds himself at a loss, marveling at Jesus' silence in the face of baseless accusations. Jesus’ silence is not weakness. No, this is a sign of a profound strength. Jesus had submitted himself to the Father’s will. He was bound and determined to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy of a lamb being led to slaughter, silent before its shearers (Isaiah 53:7).
The Choice Between Barabbas and Jesus
There is a dramatic turn in the narrative as Pilate offers the crowd a choice between Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, and Jesus, the silent lamb. This is shrewd political maneuvering. Pilate wanted nothing to do with this Jesus. By giving this choice Pilate shows the human heart's capacity for injustice. The crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus, spurred by the chief priests' manipulation, is a chilling reminder of the depths of envy and the power of mob mentality. This moment is not merely a historical injustice but a reflection of every moment we choose our desires over God's will. This was human depravity on full display.
The Silent Lamb and the Plan of Salvation
Amidst the shouts for crucifixion, the scourging, and the mockery, Jesus remains the embodiment of divine love and submission. Jesus was no stoic here. Jesus was not passive in the sense that he was letting things just happen to him. Jesus was willful in his determination to be subjected to injustice. His journey to the cross is not a defeat but a mission. As Pilate washes his hands, and Jesus is led away, we are reminded that this path was chosen. Jesus' submission an active fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for humanity. The lamb that was slain is, in fact, the lion of Judah, conquering sin and death.
Practical Reflections for Today
The story of Jesus' trial and crucifixion challenges us to consider our own responses to injustice, power, and divine calling. In a world where power often corrupts and justice seems a distant ideal, we are called to remember that our King chose the cross to demonstrate the depth of God's love and the possibility of redemption.
In the Face of Injustice: When we witness or experience injustice, let us be guided not by bitterness or despair but by the example of Christ, who trusted in God's greater plan.
In the Pursuit of Power: In our ambitions and desires for influence, we must remember that true power is found in service and sacrifice, not domination or coercion.
In Response to Divine Calling: Just as Jesus embraced His mission with humility and love, we need to be open to God's calling in our lives, even when it leads us through suffering or sacrifice.
Conclusion
Mark chapter 15 is more than a historical account. God calls us to reflection, faith, and action. As we ponder the silent lamb led to the cross, let us also embrace the hope of the resurrection. In the darkest moments, when justice seems defeated, remember that God's plans are unfolding. Our King, who died for us, invites us to live for Him. We carry our crosses with the assurance of His presence and the promise of eternal life.
Automated Transcript
We turn in your Bibles with me
to the book of Mark, chapter 15, Mark chapter 15. Mark chapter 15, and this morning
we'll be looking at verses 1 through 15. Mark chapter 15, if you're using
the Pew Bibles, you'll find that on page 900. Mark chapter 15,
before we start, I'm just going to say, last Sunday I lost my
voice and I've been struggling to get it back all week, so if
there's more pauses and water breaks, or just sounding like
I'm a teenager again, be patient with me. So, Mark chapter 15,
beginning at verse 1. Immediately in the morning, the
chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and
the whole church, and they bound Jesus, led him away, and delivered
him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked him, Are you
the king of the Jews? He answered and said to them,
It is as you say. And the chief priests accused
him of many things, but he answered nothing. Then Pilate asked him
again, saying, Do you answer nothing? See how many things
they testify against you. But Jesus still answered nothing.
So that Pilate marveled. Now at the feast, he was accustomed
to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
But there was one named Barsabbas, who was chained with his fellow
rebels, They had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude,
crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done
for them. But Pilate answered them, saying,
Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? For
he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of
envy. But the chief priests stirred
up the crowd so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them
again, What then do you want me to do with him whom you call
king of the Jews? So they cried out again, Crucify
him! And Pilate said to them, Why? What evil has he done? But they
cried out all the more, Crucify him! The pilot, wanting to gratify
the crowd, released Barabbas to them. And he delivered Jesus
after he had scourged him to be crucified. Let's pray. Father,
we thank you that you have preserved for us a historical truth. That
you have given us insight into what was going on in this time
and in this historical story. Father, we pray now that your
Holy Spirit would please help us, 2,000 years removed, to understand
what's going on in this story, but that also you would take
the truths of this story and the implications of this story
and that you would apply it to our hearts. Please, Lord, give
us eyes to see, minds to understand, hearts to believe, and spirits
to live it out. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Sometimes life throws out us
politics and events that we just don't understand. I mean, there's
time and time again in the stories when we read through the stories
of the Bible that we're like, you know, this must have been
how Joseph felt. As he was sold into slavery by
his brothers, as he's thrown into the prison by Potiphar,
I don't think that as he was sitting there he thought, I know
exactly what's going to happen. I know that God's going to use
me to redeem all the people of Israel. I think he's probably
scratching his head. I think this is what Esther was
doing too, right? As she's brought into the king's
harem and as the decree goes out from wicked Haman that all
the Jews are supposed to be killed, I don't think she's sitting there
going, oh man, I don't have any stress about this. I know exactly
why all these politics are in play. I know what's going on
here. No, I think the Bible gives us realistic events in people's
lives to show us that we don't know the end of the story, but
God does. How many times in your life have
you gone through something that's tremendously difficult for you,
and you didn't understand when you were going through that hardship
or that trial in your life, and you might have even cried out,
God, why is this happening to me? And you don't get an answer.
But then years and years later, you look back on that event and
you realize, the Lord had a plan for why that happened in my life.
The Lord had a purpose for why these things were occurring to
me. We don't always know the end of that story, but what we
find out here in Mark chapter 15 is this was no accidental
story happening to Jesus. God had a plan, and Jesus knew
what he was doing. So there's a proposition I have
for you from this historical narrative, and that is the king
of kings is the silent lamb who was unjustly condemned to death.
But when you walk out of here today, and you go home, and the
sermon's long gone, and it's Wednesday, what I hope you'll
take home and remember is that God's plan was for Jesus, your
King, to die for you. God's plan was for Jesus, your
King, to die for you. And so as we get into this passage
and we look at chapter 15, we're going to just be hit right dead
in the face with politics and power. There's nothing new under
the sun. So we come into a situation that's
really foreign to us in some ways because we're dealing with
people we don't really know in an empire that apparently men
think of a whole bunch, but we don't know much about the Roman
system and what's going on here. So who is this pilot guy and
what's going on? Herod the Great had been king
of the Jews, right? This is why he wanted to kill
all the little boys, right? Because he didn't want anybody
to take that title from him. But that title, king of the Jews,
was given to Herod by the Caesar himself in Rome. But when Herod
died, Caesar said, I'm not giving his boys that title. That's why
you have all sorts of different mini-Herods throughout the New
Testament. You have to go, OK, is this Herod
Antipas, or is this Herod the Agrippa? What Herod is this?
We don't know, right? Because there's all sorts of
Herods, because the guy was really humbled and named all of his
kids Herod. And so you got all these different Herods. And they're
kind of kings, but they're more like, you can rule over Galilee. but you're not allowed to rule
over Jerusalem. You're allowed to rule over Perea on the other
side of the Jordan River, but you're not allowed to rule over
Judea, you know, the heart of Israel. Because Rome, after Herod,
decided that they were going to put in their guy, their prefect. They were going to put in their
governor, who is going to rule the capital city. They were going
to make sure that Rome was represented and Roman law was going down
in the city. And so we know from historical
records from Josephus that around year 26 AD, Pilate is put in
power. Pilate is put in power. He doesn't actually live in Jerusalem.
His main residence is further north up in Caesarea. But every
time that there's a big feast in Jerusalem, people would start
making their annual pilgrimage. And they would come from thousands
of miles away. The people from where is now
today Turkey would come all the way down to Jerusalem. The people
living in North Africa who were Jewish, maybe down in Alexandria
in Egypt, they would travel all the way to Jerusalem. The city
would swell in size. And whenever there's a mass gathering
of people for a government, that means there's possible danger.
And so guess who shows up in Jerusalem every feast time? Pilate shows up in Jerusalem
just to make sure that everything is going to stay on an even keel.
These Jewish people who are so prone to rebellion and sedition
aren't going to start acting up. So he shows up with his five
to six hundred, seven hundred guards. And he's there, and there's
a Jewish guy down in Alexandria in Egypt, his name is Philo,
and he describes Pilate this way, he says, how would you like
these adjectives for you? He's inflexible, stubborn, and
cruel. Pilate is so bad to the Jewish
people, so poorly treating them, that in AD 37, when he actually
gets removed from his post, Caesar himself pulls him out of being
governor and exiles him from the empire for how poorly he
treated the Jewish people. That's the type of governor who's
in Jerusalem at this time. So we come into our story with
that new character walking in. We've examined the chief priests,
the scribes, and the elders before. And Mark just gives us a summary
of this, right? If you want a longer version
of this trial, you can go especially read the book of John and Luke. But they deliver Jesus in verse
1. Immediately in the morning, the
chief priests held a consultation with the elders and the scribes
and the whole council, and they bound Jesus, led him away, and
delivered him to Pilate. I'm going to lean in real quick
and just give you a Greek word that becomes very important as
we go on. That word at the very end of
the verse there, and delivered him to Pilate. This is the Greek
word, paradidomi. to deliver or betray. This is the same word that was
used for Judas in the previous chapter, when he delivered Jesus
over to the high priests, when he betrayed Jesus. And notice
what Pilate immediately asked Jesus in verse 2. Then Pilate
asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? Now, how did Pilate
know that this was the charge against him? Well, Luke is actually
helpful here. Luke tells us in his expanded
version of this, in Luke 23, verse 2. And they began to accuse
him, saying, 1. We found this fellow perverting
the nation. 2. He's forbidding to pay taxes
to Caesar. And 3. Saying that he himself
is Christ, a king. Right? So these are the charges they
bring about Jesus to Pilate. These are political charges.
This is not just stuff dealing with the Jewish people. This
is dealing with Roman law. And so they got to bring Roman
charges. And Pilate just asks him, are you the king of the
Jews? And interestingly, if you notice
in the New King James, there's kind of italics here. It is as
you say, the it is as isn't in the Greek. He just says, you
said it. It's from the horse's mouth.
You're the one who said it. You know the truth here. You
are saying the truth. And Pilate's frustrated. The
chief priests keep piling on accusations, they're throwing
spaghetti at the wall, trying to see what's going to stick.
And Pilate's just amazed at him. Verse 4, then, Pilate asked him,
saying, Do you answer nothing? They're hurling all these accusations
at you and you're not saying anything. It's different than
in our day when you can plead the fifth and you're going to
not self-incriminate. If you're not answering your
objectors in Roman law, you're saying what they're saying is
true. And so Pilate gets kind of frustrated
with Jesus. And notice verse five, but Jesus
still answered nothing. We don't like double negatives
in English. I love double negatives in every other language, right?
In English, double negatives means it's a positive. It's like
weird algebra in English. I don't understand it, right?
But in the Greek, it's, he didn't answer him nothing. He just kept
his mouth shut entirely and Pilate's jaw is on the ground. What in
the world? Why won't he say anything to
me? And then he's got this weird custom. I did a whole bunch of
research to try to figure out and there's nothing I can find
and nothing that I can read elsewhere that this is practiced anywhere
else in Roman society where they would just annually pardon one
person. It's almost like a blank check.
Whoever you want, that person is going to get off scot-free.
And so this is where Pilate starts doing a little bit of political
maneuvering, right? He's going to put Barabbas here and Jesus
here, and he's going to make the Jewish people decide who
they want. Who is this Barabbas guy? Well, Mark is actually the
most helpful here of all the Gospels, and he tells us Barabbas
is an insurrectionist. He's been part of a rebellion.
He's probably one of the zealots, and they've even murdered people.
So do you want the insurrectionist, the murderer? Or do you want
Jesus? He knows he's a shrewd politician. He can see through their jealousy
and their envy, and he knows why they brought him there. The priests won't move. Actually, the priests stir up
the crowd more and more. You have to understand. The priests have a lot of power.
If you go against the priest, you could be the high priest.
You could be removed from your synagogue. You could be taken
out of the community. You could be worse than excommunicated. You're totally shunned. People
will treat you like a Gentile. They won't eat with you. They'll
turn their backs on you. They want nothing to do with
you. And so to go against the priest when he says, Jesus, we
want Barabbas, kill Jesus, right? If they go against him, there's
a lot at stake here. There's manipulation and there's
power and there's politics going on. And there's an increasing
tone. The multitude began crying aloud
and began to do justice he had always done for them. Pilate
answered them, right? Which one of these two do you want? He
knows it's just out of their envy in verse 11, but the chief
priests stirred up the crowd so that they shouted, rather,
release Barabbas to them. But in verse 13, they cried out
again, crucified him. This is an intensive. They cried
out. You can imagine their brows furrowing. Their voices getting louder,
spittle coming out of their mouth as they're screaming at the top
of their lungs that they want Jesus dead. John tells us that they even
tried to back Pilate into a corner. Pilate tried to seek to release
Jesus. That's what John 19.12 says.
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews kept
crying out, saying, if you let this man go, you are not Caesar's
friend. Imagine how that would have sounded
in a Roman governor's ears. And then they say in John 19.15, when he asked, shall I crucify
your king? The chief priests answered, we have no king but
Caesar. Whoa. the Jewish high priest's mouth. Who's supposed to be the only
king of the Jews? It's God himself. And here, for
the sake of what they want to get done, they put Pilate in
a corner, because if he does go against what they're demanding,
what does it mean for Pilate's political career? His loyalty
to the Caesar is questioned. His efficacy or his ability to
manage the Jewish people is moot and gone. And he's going to either
be killed or he's going to be exiled. Pilate wants to stay
in power. The priests want to stay in power.
And each of them are playing political games and they're playing
political games with Jesus's life. We know what it's like today,
don't we? This idea of politics and power isn't foreign to you.
I was just talking to a lady a couple weeks ago. She wanted
to talk to me about the Tucker Carlson interview with Vladimir
Putin. And she's like, I don't know
what to believe. You got this guy over here who's a KJB former
thug, who's a former communist, supposedly, and he wants to say
what's going on in the truth. And then I don't believe the
Western media because half of what they say, I don't know what
the truth is. I don't know what the truth is.
And why don't we know what the truth is? Because people want
their power. And they're willing to twist stories and manipulate
and do whatever they want to try to get you to believe their
narrative. That's what's going on in this scene with Jesus. Neither of them are actually
about the truth. Neither Pilate nor the high priest are trying
to do what's right and what's good and what's just. But they're
just trying to stay in power. People's lives are on the line,
though, when we think about power plays. There are political hit pieces
in the news, and there are political hit jobs on the battlefield.
I'll never forget one of the biggest distrusts of mine that
has ever happened was watching one of my former captains on
the ship having his career literally ruined. Because 10 years after
an incident, the political agenda police moved the goalposts, drug
up evidence from 10 years previous, things that were totally okay
for him to say during that time, and 10 years later, They blasted him on the newspapers,
demoted him, and put him in an office job where he would never
see a ship again, would never command anybody again. Because
he had said things that were politically inappropriate according
to a decades later. Ruined his career, ruined his
reputation. Said that he had diminished the
sailors' ability to follow their leader. And then there rises
up a Facebook page with like 10,000 of the former sailors
saying, what you guys have done is stupid. This is unjust. All of us trusted this guy. He
was the best captain we ever had. And this was a political
hit job, and you know it. So we shouldn't be surprised
when power plays happen in Washington. We should be saddened, but we
shouldn't be shocked when the city council has people trying
to get over on one another. We shouldn't be caught off guard
when politicians in Des Moines spin things towards their own
political goals. You shouldn't be surprised, sadly,
when you see these types of things even happen in the church. Because
people are sinful. People fall in love with their
power. People love playing politics. And that's what we're finding
here in Mark 15. But we also find a truth. Something
we hold near and dear, justice. And justice is twisted here.
Make no doubt about it. What's going on in this story
is evil. We should not whitewash it. This
is injustice being played out. Some people actually have been
so shocked by the injustice of this that there are certain skeptics
who will look at the Gospels and say, this can't actually
be true because this isn't what Roman law prescribed. Well, I
hate to tell you, it is true, and Roman law was broken. What
we find here in Mark 15 completely lines up with what we learn about
Caiaphas by Josephus. What we learn in the ancient
writings by Philo and Josephus, this is exactly how Pilate would
operate. And so we're not actually surprised
by it. But the case was prejudged. In
John 11, verses 49-50, were told, and then one of them,
Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, you know
nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that
one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation
should perish. Caiaphas had made up his mind
months ahead of time. Jesus needed to die. If Jesus
didn't die, the whole nation could end up suffering under
Romans. The chief priest was motivated
by envy and by his power. And Jesus is sentenced to death
without a firm charge. Mark 15, verse 14, what does
Pilate say? When they're demanding that Jesus
be crucified, he says, why? What evil has he done? You've
thrown all sorts of accusations against Jesus, but what evil
have you done? And what is their answer? Do
they kind of calm down, take a drink of water, put their heads
together, come up with a formal? No, they just start screaming
even more, crucify him! The only thing that's going to
satisfy the demands of the mob is for Pilate to capitulate. Verse 15, So Pilate, wanting
to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and he delivered
Jesus after he had scourged him to be crucified. Now we find out that, again,
as we read the different Gospels, that this happened in multiple
stages. Mark has shrunk it down for us.
But even this scourging was an attempt by Pilate to possibly
get Jesus out of being killed. D.A. Carson writing on this,
he says, Since flogging did not necessarily precede crucifixion,
Pilate was still hoping he could dissuade the crowd from their
demands for Jesus' crucifixion. John 19 verses 1 through 7. where
after the flogging Pilate tried to persuade them against crucifixion
by administering a severe flogging instead. He didn't want to crucify
him. Pilate didn't want to crucify
him. He was trying to find a way out. And so what did he do? He
handed him over to the Roman soldiers. And this idea of flogging
him instead, just to make sure you understand, most people didn't
actually live from flogging. In the Jewish custom, you could
only be flogged or whipped 39 times because after 40, the likelihood
of you dying was really high. Flogging under the Romans was
just another form of torture where they would take a leather
whip and at the end of the whip, they would embed either lead
balls or spikes or sharp bones from animals. I'm going to read
to you, and this is gruesome, and I understand, but I think
we need to get this picture in our head. This is from a medical
doctor's description of what was going on in this flogging. The heavy whip is brought down
with full force again and again against Jesus' shoulders, legs,
and back. At first the heavy thongs cut
through the skin only. Then as the blows would have
continued, they cut deeper into the deeper tissues of the flesh,
producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and
veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from
vessels in the underlying muscles. Finally, the skin of the back
is hanging in long ribbons, and the entire area is an unrecognizable
mass of torn, bleeding tissue." That's what Pilate had done to
Jesus, and he said, what do you want me to do with him? He was hoping that that would
satisfy them as they saw Jesus ripped apart. But it didn't. It's a miscarriage of justice. We know miscarriages of justice.
We ought to be able to call them out when we see them. I was just
reading a little bit ago about a man who had been put in prison
for 38 years because he was accused of murdering someone. And for
38 years, he sat in prison praying that someday he would somehow
be exonerated because he knew he had not committed this crime.
And 38 years later, DNA evidence is finally examined and it shows
that he's not the person who had murdered this woman. Instead,
that person had died in prison for another murder 10 years beforehand. And we rejoice when those types
of news come out because a righteous man has gone out of jail who
should have never been put there. But then we also know injustice
when we see it. But I'm just going to read to
you about this other dude that I just can't believe about. We
can. A man who is named Albert Flick. In 1979, when his wife Sandra
divorced him, he killed her. He spent 21 years in prison.
And after that, they let him out for good behavior, even though
he had murdered his ex-wife. Then seven years after his release,
he goes and he starts stabbing his girlfriend. He's put back
in prison. But then three years later, he's
let out. And guess what he does? Goes and attacks another woman.
He's released again in 2016 and then in July of 2018, I'm guessing
you can guess where this story goes. He murders another person
and he's put in prison at the age of 75 for 25 years. And we're
able to look at that and go, what in the world is wrong with
our judicial system? We ought to be able to look at
what's going on in Mark chapter 15 and say, what in the world
is going wrong with Pilate's judicial system? Everything about
this is wrong. This should not be happening.
We are to be those who, when the evidence is clear, we're
able to point out injustice and say, that is wrong, no matter
how unpopular it may be. You have been made in the image
of God, and there is both in you your conscience and natural
theology. When we just look around the
world, we're able to see, no, there is right and there is wrong,
there is injustice and there is justice, and we as Christians
ought to be those about justice. We live in a day of relativism,
where we're told not to judge, and yet we look around and the
goalpost for what is right and what is wrong is constantly being
moved underneath our feet. Cancel culture tells us now what's
right and wrong in the political moment, but we must be able to
stand there and say, no, this is what God has said is evil.
And we're able to look at Mark chapter 15, and we're able to
say what happened by both the Jewish and the Roman leaders
is wrong and evil. What happens to Jesus in this
story is, humanly speaking, a miscarriage of justice. This is not justice. And if you were standing there
as Jesus' mother, as one of His disciples, you might sit there
and scratch your head. God, what are you doing? What
is going on? He was our Messiah. He healed
the blind. He fed those who were hungry.
There were lepers and He touched them and they were clean. How
is this happening to the Messiah? Yet it is exactly at this point
we have to come face to face with God's wisdom. Because there's
far more going on here cosmically than Peter, than Pilate, or any
of the leaders of Israel understand. God is at work here. Remember
I pointed out to you that weird Greek word parodidomy. That's
what Judas was called. in Mark 14, 42. Jesus says, let
us rise up, see my paradidamus, my betrayer is at hand. Judas
had made plans with the high priest that he would deliver
or betray paradidus, Jesus, with a kiss, Mark 14, 44. Now in verse one, the leaders
of Israel deliver or betray paradidomi, Jesus, to Pilate. Pilate knew
the reason they had delivered or betrayed paradidomi, Jesus,
to him. And Pilate, trying to appease
the crowds, released Barabbas and delivered or betrayed paradidomi,
Jesus, to be flogged and crucified. I gotta tell you, as I was working
through this sermon, this is the point at which in my office
I wept. Because in Isaiah 53 verse 6,
what Elder Turner read for us today, all we like sheep have gone astray,
we have turned everyone to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. And the Lord has, parodidomide,
delivered him for our sins. See, we didn't understand as
we were working through Mark chapter 15. that what was going
on here, even though it seemed like it was unjust, even though
it seemed like everything was wrong, even though it seemed
like it was the darkest day in human history, Jesus was holding
all the power. Jesus had all the plans, and
Jesus had you in mind. Jesus was tried, but He knew
that the crown was on the other side of the cross. Jesus endured
the flogging, his flesh being torn apart by flagellation of
the Roman whips, because he knew that he was a lamb who was to
be slain. Jesus, the King of Kings, was
allowing himself to suffer under Pontius Pilate, nothing more
than a backwater governor. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was
going to be slaughtered that we may have peace with God. Jesus,
the eternal High Priest, was being betrayed by the High Priest
Caiaphas because he knew that there was an eternal priesthood
waiting for him. God had raised up Caesar knowing
he would appoint Pilate. God had, in the fullness of time,
put Pilate in Jerusalem at this time for this trial. God had
chosen in His wisdom to allow Caiaphas to chase down his own
power in order that his priesthood might be eclipsed by the better
priesthood of Jesus Christ. Jesus was in control here. Jesus, our King, willingly suffered
for us, which is why He willingly kept His lips shut. Jesus In
this story of Mark chapter 15 is defeating the powers and principalities
of this world. Jesus would rise victorious over
sin and death. And here we find Jesus who is
our Lamb, who is willing to suffer for our sins. The morning sacrifice was about
to happen. The trumpets were about to blow. Jesus would soon walk up to that
hill of the skull, and he would be crucified as our sacrifice. And he had to be found spotless
for what wrong is there, what evil is there that you condemn
him? But there isn't any. He just has to die. So when you're wanting to find
a kingdom on earth here and now, remember that the kingdom of
God comes in his timing and in his way. We so often find ourselves
like the Israelites in 1 Samuel 8. We want a king like all the
other nations. We want a champion. We want somebody
who's our strong man, who's going to fight for our causes now. If we're honest, it's often because
we're impatient with the Lord's plans. We don't like the fact
that he says his kingdom is going to grow by us suffering. We don't like the idea that there's
always going to be a need to send out those to preach the
good news to the ends of the earth, because it's easier to
just elect somebody who's going to champion our causes. And I
got to tell you, brothers and sisters, politicians know this. And they will often use your
religious sensibilities to manipulate and twist you. To take your eyes
off of Jesus and to just put your trust in them. And somehow
they'll make your life perfect. Promise you all sorts of laws
and victories that they could never enact or win. Some politicians
will try to get you to place your trust in them by saying
they will be the champion of your religious causes and render
justice the way you want it. But they will also be those same
leaders who will demand of you a level of commitment and loyalty
that belongs to only God himself. I'm not telling you don't be
engaged in politics. I'm saying you must know who
your king is. And do not place your hope or your trust in earthly
princes or presidents or politicians. Our hope is in God and His plan. Have faith in the Lamb. Trust
in the plan. Have faith in the midst of pain.
Have faith in the midst of the storms of your life. Trust ultimately
in Him, because it's God who's bringing about His kingdom. Remember
that God is in control in the darkest hours of your life. When you hear the bad news that
cancer is there again, your king reigns. He has a plan for
you. When you go in the fall and you
have to put a ballot in for whoever you're gonna vote for, Remember
that's the Lord who raises up and tears down rulers and principalities. When you watch the news and it
seems like the world is just going crazy, remember that God
is in control and does have a plan. When there are troubles in your
family, brothers and sisters fighting against one another,
children dishonoring their parents, discord and division. Remember
that God is in the game of redeeming even families. When you see your
children behaving in ways that make you scratch your head or
want to weep, remember that God is sovereign even in their lives.
When you don't understand why in the world your parents are
making you do things, kids, You might really scratch your heads,
I don't know why mom and dad want me to do X, Y, or Z. Remember
that God is the one who put them in their place. When your car breaks down, again,
maybe the Lord is teaching you something. When finances are tight, it seems
like the bills just multiply. Don't give up hope. When you fail with sin and wonder
why God won't finally allow you victory over this besetting sin
in your life, remember that maybe He's doing it to make you cling
to Him even more. We believe that God is in control
because this means, this is what it means to confess with our
mouths that Jesus is Lord. It is by faith that we believe
and follow Jesus. We look to Jesus by faith. We
trust the historical reality of this event. We trust God's
plan. We believe that God is making
no accident here in Mark 15. That the Lord was in control. And he was willing to offer his
only begotten son for you. We rejoice and the King of Kings
who was the lamb slain to take away the sins of the world, even
though it happened by wicked and unjust means. The religious
leaders of Israel had no clue what God was doing through this
event. They were just playing power games. Pilate didn't understand
what was at stake when he tried Jesus. He was just playing politics. Justice was twisted. And yet
Jesus, the King of Kings, endured it so he might be the lamb slain,
so he might bear our iniquities. God had put this plan together
in his infinite knowledge and brought all of this about for
our salvation. Make no doubt about it, Jesus
was the one in control here. And Jesus died so you might live. So have faith, even in the dark
hours. Let's pray. Father, we pray that you would
please help us to be those filled by your Spirit, that we would
believe. Lord, this has been a long sermon,
maybe a confusing one. No doubt there were errors and
stumbles in it. Father, I pray that where there
is truth, it might grow like a seed planted in fertile ground,
bearing much good fruit. And where there was error, Lord,
I pray that it would be blown away like the chaff in the wind.
Lord, we pray that you would teach us to rejoice in the good
news of Jesus Christ dying for us, but also that we would have
hope in the darkest hours of our lives. In Jesus' name we
pray. Amen. Jesus knew that dark hour. Psalm
22 is the psalm that Jesus had on His mind when He was hanging
on that cross. We know it because Psalm 22,
verse 1, that we will sing right now, is what Jesus said from
the cross. Psalm 22, selection A. Please stand together. We'll
sing together Psalm 22.