Mark

By Joyce Webb 2023

Chapter 15 Verse 1-20

Verse 1 As morning arrived, the Jewish leaders talked about what to do with Jesus. They decided to take him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

The Jewish leaders were not allowed to put someone to death. They would have to ask Pilate to do it,– or ask permission for them to do it.

Verse 2 Pilate ask Jesus—”Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus answered– “It is as you say.”

Verse 3 The Jewish leaders blamed Jesus for many things. But Jesus did not say anything in answer.

Verse 4 Pilate asked Jesus again—”What? You have nothing to say to them? They are accusing (blaming) you of many things !”

Verse 5 Jesus did not answer.    Pilate was amazed.

Verse 6 There was a custom that at Passover time, the Romans allowed the Jewish leaders to free one prisoner—whoever they wanted.

Verse 7 There was a man, named Barabbas, who had tried to get people to riot and rise up against the Roman government.     He had also murdered someone.

Verse 8 The crowd of people began to ask Pilate to release this man.

Verse 9 Pilate said—”Would you want me to release this King of the Jews?”

Verse 10 Pilate knew that the reason the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to him was because they were jealous of Jesus’ —they were jealous so many people followed after him and thought so much of him.

Verse 11 The Jewish leaders encouraged the people to ask for Barabbas to be set free.

Verse 12 Pilate said—“What should I do with this man who is called the King of the Jews?”

Verse 13 The crowd began to shout–”Crucify him !”

Verse 14 Pilate said–”Why? What evil has he done?

The crowd shouted even more–”Crucify him !”

Verse 15 Pilate wanted to keep the Jewish leaders and the crowd happy. (He would not want them to send complaints about him to the Roman rulers over him.)

Pilate sent for Barabbas to be set free. And he had Jesus led away to be beaten with a whip that had metal pieces tied to it—-then to be crucified.

Verse 16 The soldiers led Jesus into a building called the Pratorium.—the headquarters for the soldiers. They called together all the soldiers to see Jesus.

Verse 17 They decided to mock Jesus. (Since it was said that he was the King of the Jews). They put a purple robe on him. For a crown–they put a circle of thorns. (The thorns would have hurt and made him bleed.)

Verse 18 The soldiers gave him a salute and said “Hail ! King of the Jews !”

Verse 19 They hit him on the head with a reed (branch–or stick).

They spit on him. They bowed and kneeled pretending to worship him.

Verse 20 After they had mocked him, they took of the purple robe and put his own back on him.

Then they led him away to crucify him.
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Why did Jesus allow them to say he was the King of the Jews?
He was not a king to them– then.

But in the future, Jesus would reign as the King of the Jews.

Not over just the Jews, but over all the earth. A King over all kings.

The Jewish people —at that time—did not realized who Jesus really was. Only a few of them believed that he was God’s Son.

Most of them saw him as a regular man—who was a teacher who spoke with great authority, and someone who did miracles. How he could do these miracles —they did not seem to know.

The Jewish people were looking for a Messiah—The Promised One—-The One who would save them from foreign kings who would rule over them.

Jesus did not come as that kind of “savior”.

Jesus came to pay the death punishment that belong to men because of their sin.

Jesus was like the “lamb” that was offered in their sacrifices.

Jesus was to be killed and take the place of all those who sinned.