SCRIPTURE: MARK 15
JESUS BEFORE PILATE (vs. 1-15)
The chief priests, elders, teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin reached a decision to hand him over to Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus many things but Jesus made no reply. Now, it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists for committing murder in the uprising. Pilate asked the crowd who he should release. The chief priest stirred up the crowd to have Pilate released Barabbas. Then they asked that Jesus be crucified. Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas and had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
THE SOLDIERS MOCK JESUS (vs. 16-20)
The soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus, twisted a crown of thorns and set it on him. They called him “Hail, king of the Jews” and struck his head with a staff and spit on him. They mocked him and took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him.. Then led him out to crucify him.
THE CRUCIFIXION (vs. 21-32)
Simon from Cyrene was passing by on his way and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. After crucifying him, they divided up his clothes and cast lots to see what each would get. The written notice of the charge against was “THE KING OF THE JEWS”. There were two robbers being crucified, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself.” (v. 29-30)
THE DEATH OF JESUS (vs. 33-41)
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (v. 34) One man filled a sponge with wine vinegar put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. Then with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Among the women there were Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
THE BURIAL OF JESUS (vs. 42-47)
The day before the Sabbath was called Preparation Day. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. So Pilate gave the body to Joseph. Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
THOUGHTS:
The chief priests were guilty of envy and Pilate was guilty of compromise. Their sins led to the release of an evil man (Barabbas), burden of an innocent man (Simon from Cyrene) and the death of a good Man (Jesus Christ). Do you look at envy and compromise as terrible sins or not?
Pilate was the governor in the region of Judea. His duty was to keep peace. Pilate wavered when the Jews in the crowd threatened to report him to Caesar. Such a report accompanied by a riot could cost him his position and hopes for advancement. So Pilate caved in to political pressure and abandoned what was right. He gave a decision that would please everyone while keeping himself safe. When we ignore God’s clear statement of right and wrong and make decisions based on the preferences of our audience, we fall into compromise and lawlessness. God promises to honor those who do right, not those who make everyone happy.
James and John wanted to be at the right and left side of Jesus in God’s kingdom. But those who want to be close to Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die for Him. The way to the Kingdom is the way of the cross. If we want the glory of the Kingdom, we must be willing to be united with the crucified Christ.
When Jesus died, the curtain at the Temple Most Holy Place was torn into two. It shows that the death for our sins had opened up the way for us to approach our holy God. And it was torn from top to bottom, showing that God had opened the way.
Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body and sealed it in a new tomb. Joseph risked his reputation to give a proper burial to Jesus. If your Christian witness endangers your reputation, remember Joseph. Until now, he is remembered with admiration in the Christian church.
The women stayed at the cross when the disciples had fled. They followed Jesus’ body to its tomb and prepared spices for his body. Therefore, they were the first to witness the Resurrection because God valued their devotion. We should take advantage of the opportunities we have and do what we can for Christ.