In The Word
Read: Mark 15:1-21
Jesus before Pilate
15 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders, scribes, and the entire Council immediately held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led Him away, and turned Him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned Him: “So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” 3 And the chief priests started accusing Him of many things. 4 But Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You offer nothing in answer? See how many charges they are bringing against You!” 5 But Jesus said nothing further in answer, so Pilate was amazed.
6 Now at the Passover Feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7 And the one named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the revolt. 8 And the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12 And responding again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15 Intent on satisfying the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
16 Now the soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they *called together the whole Roman cohort. 17 And they *dressed Him in purple, and after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; 18 and they began saluting Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they repeatedlybeat His head with a reed and spit on Him, and kneeling, they bowed down before Him. 20 And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple cloak off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they *led Him out to crucify Him.
21 And they *compelled a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Fulfilling what Jesus had plainly told the disciples (Mark 10:32-34), He was handed from the chief priests to the Gentiles to be mocked, spit on, and scourged. The Jews did not have the authority to put anyone to death, so they needed to convince Pilate to do it for them. (John 18:31) Pilate, the Governor of Judea, was a soldier first, and then a politician. He represented the authority of Rome.
Pilate found no evil in Jesus, and he knew the chief priests were trying to manipulate the situation. In Matthew 27:19, Pilate received confirmation that Jesus was righteous when his wife tells him of a dream, and warns him to have nothing to do with that righteous man. God can speak to us through people and through dreams, even ones who are unbelievers. We should listen.
Ultimately, Pilate chose to please the crowd. He was more concerned with what people thought than he was with doing the right thing. (James 4:17) Deciding to follow Christ, to walk in His ways, to follow His teachings, to do the right thing, is not easy. (Luke 14:27) It requires us to take a stand knowing that it may not be popular. But we can take assurance knowing that the world hated Jesus, and will hate us when we follow Him. (John 15:18-25)
“Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)