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11. Jesus Before the Civil Court (Mark 15:1-15)
MARK 15:1-15
1 Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered, “So you say.” 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled. 6 Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. 7 There was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. 8 The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They cried out again, “Crucify him!” 14 Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!” 15 Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.
After an exhausting night in prison, Jesus was led to the proud, murderous Roman governor, for the Jews were not permitted at that time to sentence anyone to death. So, the seventy elders of the people, including the chief priests, skilful judges, and notable scholars decided to kill Jesus by the hands of foreign unbelievers, that through this shame, word might spread among the whole nation, that Jesus appeared weak, rejected by God, and driven away by the rulers of the people.
The cunning Jews did not tell Pilate that they sought Jesus’ death because of his testimony that he is the Son of the living God, and the promised Messiah, but they emphasized before the political court that he had made himself a king and ruler to deliver the nation from Roman occupation.
Pilate asked him directly and briefly: “Are you a king?” Jesus did not deny this title, but proved and declared his royal, spiritual office on earth. He could have easily saved himself, if he had restricted his answer within the religious realm, but he did not deny God’s faithfulness to the whole people, for the Most High did not only seek their hearts but also their lives, money, times, and systems. Faith in Christ includes the thought that the Son of God is the Ruler, and that the plan of the divine kingdom is to renew the world by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pilate did not understand the meaning of this confession of Jesus. However, he did not see him as a bloody rebel seeking violence with sword, but a harmless, pious, upright man. Pilate smiled, and wished to release him and declare him innocent, in revenge of the rulers against the Jewish nation, but political situations were disturbed throughout the Roman state. The Jews pressed on him cunningly until Pilate preferred in the end to settle the matter quickly without dispute.
Jesus remained silent before the complaints of the Jews, for he had faced the governor with the whole truth once and for all, declaring to him the mystery of himself and his kingdom. Jesus knew that his end was near, but he was not afraid of death, nor did he beg men for mercy, but condemned their lies with his royal silence.
Woe to the man and the people who do not hear the word of God! For it is the only way to grace. Blessed is the nation to whom God speaks in his kindness or his severity, for after he speaks to it, he favors it, cares for those who hear, and seeks their salvation.
Finally, as a compromise, Pilate offered the people the choice to release either a rebellious murderer, or the meek Lamb of God, seeking a lawful way to rescue Jesus. In fact, he played with the truth. However, multitudes at all times do not prefer a humble man who calls them to repentance and self-denial, but a masterful hero who brings them freedom, money, and greatness by force. Accordingly, the religious leaders of the Jews stirred up individuals, and bribed some of them to claim Jesus by a decisive, popular demand for death.
Pilate was willing to appease the disobedient crowd, to satisfy their demands that he might keep them quiet, in order to please Caesar, who used to execute governors who were unable to manage their states regularly and peacefully. Pilate was afraid, and he preferred to remain in favor with Caesar, rather than to judge rightly. He broke with the truth, and sentenced the innocent Jesus to death on the cross, to save himself, to please the Jewish agitators, and to ensure the security of the state.
Imagine, dear brother, how men condemned Jesus. The pious sought his crucifixion, and the crowd cried out to put him to death. This is the spirit of disobedience from the father of disobedience, who sought to take away God, that he might reign with violence, hatred, and injustice over every living being.
Whom would you choose, if you lived at that time, and came to this court, Barabbas, the adventurer who promised his people freedom, independence, and welfare, or Jesus, the kind, despised, meek Lamb of God who appeared weak, forgiving the sin of the world?
Consider your choice ´Carefully, decide your fate, and bear witness to the Son of God today, for he is the Savior of the world, and he builds his kingdom in the hearts of his followers.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, you are the true King. I confess before you that I love honor, money, and power more than meekness, humility, and contentment. Forgive me for preferring ease and welfare to truth and sacrifice. Forgive me if I fail to help the innocent who are chained in prisons, and defend them faithfully. Teach me how to walk in the truth, and learn boldness from you for the sake of uprightness, and truthfulness. Amen.
QUESTION:
- What is the significance of Jesus’ confession that he is a King?