MARK LESSON 33

     We will begin this lesson in Mark 15:1.

     Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a
consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and
bound Jesus, and carried [him] away, and delivered [him] to Pilate."

     We will bring this up to date. Jesus was first taken to Annas, then
Caiphas (the high priest), and then to the Roman in charge, Pilate.  We
see a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy, here, (they shall deliver him to
the Gentiles).  Rome had power in Jerusalem in those days and only the
Romans could order Jesus' death.

     Mark 15:2 "And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest [it]."

     Pilate really was not in favor of killing Jesus.  He asked Jesus,
Are you the king of the Jews?  Jesus answered Pilate in a way that
left no argument. This was as if He was saying, "Yes, but you said
it".

     Mark 15:3 "And the chief priests accused him of many things: but
he answered nothing."

     Sometimes, the best answer is no answer at all, and we see that was
what the Lord did there.  The chief priests were accusing Jesus of
everything they could think of to try to stir Pilate up.  They
mentioned Jesus being King of the Jews, thinking Pilate would think
that Jesus would lead the Jews against Rome.

     Mark 15:4 "And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou
nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee."

     As we said before, Pilate was truly trying to get to the bottom
of this.  He was not on anyone's side at that moment.  He marvelled
that Jesus was not defending Himself by answering back all these
accusations, as we see in verse 5.

     Mark 15:5 "But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate
marvelled."  Mark 15:6 "Now at [that] feast he released unto them one
prisoner, whomsoever they desired."

     This was like a governor pardoning a criminal.  It was the custom
to pardon one prisoner during the Passover feast.  Pilate somewhere
along here sent Jesus to Herod to be judged, because Pilate could find
no fault in Him.  We, also, see in St. Luke 23: 12, "And the same day
Pilate and Herod were made friends together:  for before they were at
enmity between themselves."  Pilate and Herod, even though they were
involved in sentencing Jesus, were not as guilty as these high priests,
priests, scribes, and Pharisees.

     Mark 15:7 "And there was [one] named Barabbas, [which lay] bound
with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed
murder in the insurrection."

     This Barabbas was not only a murderer but had tried to overthrow
the government, as well.  Barabbas was not just a regular criminal,
but a vicious murderer.

     Mark 15:8 "And the multitude crying aloud began to desire [him to
do] as he had ever done unto them."  Mark 15:9 "But Pilate answered
them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"

     You see, from the very beginning Pilate could find no fault in
Jesus.  In this question Pilate was asking them to ask for the release
of Jesus.  Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of any wrong doing.  He
could see right through these accusations of the high priests.  He knew
that their jealousy of His powerful ministry had caused them to try to
get Jesus killed.  He knew that Jesus was not guilty of any crime
punishable by death.

     Mark 15:10 "For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him
for envy."

     We see priests who were supposed to be upholding the things of
God, who were so puffed up with pride that they were about to destroy
the Saviour of the World.  High priests were supposed to know the
Scriptures, and yet they would not believe that Jesus was Messiah.

     Mark 15:11 "But the chief priests moved the people, that he
should rather release Barabbas unto them."

     The Chief priests had a hold on the people.  They used their
great influence here, and caused the people to cry out for this
murderer Barabbas over Jesus.

     Mark 15:12 "And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What
will ye then that I shall do [unto him] whom ye call the King of the
Jews?"

     I believe Pilate was seeking every way he could to not kill
Jesus.  Pilate actually believed Jesus was who He said He was, I
believe. Pilate told them, you will have to judge your King
yourselves.

     Mark 15:13 "And they cried out again, Crucify him."

     This cry will ring through all the ages.  These two words
"crucify him" changed all of history.  It brought death and hell to
those who do not believe, and life everlasting for those who do
believe.

     Mark 15:14 "Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he
done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him."

     Pilate, through these verses, tried to make the people understand
that they were crucifying an innocent man.  The people would not listen
to Pilate, but listened to these evil priests.  What a terrible thing
to know that you asked for Jesus to be crucified.  They were crying
out, but we had our part in this, as well.  Every person who ever
lived (except Jesus) had sin in his life at one time.  Our sins
helped cause Jesus to be crucified.  He was crucified for our sins, so
that we might go free.

     Mark 15:15  "And [so] Pilate, willing to content the people,
released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged
[him], to be crucified."

     In Matthew 27:24 we read about Pilate's attitude, Matthew 27:24
"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that] rather a
tumult was made, he took water, and washed [his] hands before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see
ye [to it]." This was all against the wishes of Pilate.  The people
spoke, and Pilate allowed this, because it was the will of the people.

     Mark 15:16 "And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called
Praetorium; and they call together the whole band."

     "Praetorium" means governor's courtroom, or hall of judgement.  This
"whole band", here, meant large number of soldiers.

     Mark 15:17 "And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown
of thorns, and put it about his [head]," Mark 15:18 "And began to
salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!"

     Little did they know that He should be robed in purple (purple is
one of the godly colors).  Purple showed Jesus as the King of not only
the Jews, but was looking forward to when He will come in the clouds as
King of kings and Lord of lords when he will be King of all the earth.
Thorns were a very hated plant on the earth.  This "crown of thorns"
showed just how little regard these soldiers had for our Lord.  Of
course, it was painful, also, with the thorns sticking in His head.
This salute was a sarcastic salute.  They were saying, "You say you are
King, but look at you now."

     Mark 15:19 "And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did
spit upon him, and bowing [their] knees worshipped him."

     All of this was mocking Jesus.  Had they only known who He really
was, they would never have done this.  This spitting and striking
Jesus went on and on.  Bowing to worship Him was laughing at Him and
making fun, as well.

     Mark 15:20 "And when they had mocked him, they took off the
purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to
crucify him."

     We know from other Scriptures that they took Him outside the city
wall to be crucified.


                         Mark 33 Questions


1.  After the council of priests, elders, and scribes met, they bound
    Jesus and took Him to whom?
2.  Who was the only one who could order the death penalty in those
    days?
3.  What did Pilate ask Jesus?
4.  How did Jesus answer?
5.  When the chief priests accused Jesus of many things, what did
    Jesus answer?
6.  Why did the chief priest tell Pilate that Jesus said He was King
    of the Jews?
7.  Why did Pilate marvel at Jesus?
8.  This release of a prisoner at the feast was like what?
9.  Why did Pilate send Jesus to Herod?
10. What good thing for Pilate came of all this?
11. Who was truly to blame for the crucifixion?
12. Who was the murderer who was bound for trial?
13. Who did Pilate want to release?
14. Who did the people want released?
15. Who had swayed the people's opinion?
16. What did Pilate know was the real reason the priests wanted Jesus
    killed?
17. Pilate asked the people what, to do with Jesus, what did they
    answer?
18. What did Pilate try to convince them of to no avail?
19. What part did we have in Jesus being crucified?
20. What physical thing did Pilate do to show that he had no part in
    this?
21. Who took Jesus away?
22. What does Praetorium mean?
23. What color robe did they put on Jesus?
24. What did this purple robe really show Jesus as?
25. What was His crown made of?
26. What other terrible things did the soldiers do to Jesus?
27. What did they put on Him to take Him to crucify Him?


                                 Notes