Mark 15:1-201And 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. 2And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. 3And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. 4And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. 5But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. 6Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. 7And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. 9But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12And 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? 13And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. 15And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. 16And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20And 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. (Mark 15:1‑20)
The Lord Jesus was taken by the chief men of Jerusalem to the hall of Pilate, the Roman governor, for trial. He was bound as though a man to be feared, and the priests told Pilate that He claimed to be the king of their nation, which would not he allowed by the Romans, and they expected Pilate would soon punish Him.
Pilate asked Jesus, “Art Thou the king of the Jews?”
The Lord answered, “Thou sayest it.” That meant, “It is true.”
Jesus had ridden into the city a short time before this, to let the people accept Him as King, but these men had refused. They now said many false things of Him. Pilate wondered that Jesus did not try to answer or defend Himself, and knew that the charges were untrue, and wanted to free Jesus.
The Romans were severe rulers, yet it was a custom at each Passover time for them to allow the Jews to choose one prisoner to go free, as a very special privilege, and Pilate asked if he should release Jesus.
There was then a man in prison named Barabbas, who had rebelled against the government, and also had killed someone. He was the man the Jewish leaders wanted to be free, and urged the people to choose him.
Pilate let them have their way to quiet and please them, although he knew Jesus was just and innocent. He next scourged Jesus, which means to whip with leather cords, and gave the soldiers authority to mock and crucify Him. They treated Him with great cruelty, then led Him away.
To choose a man who had done much evil, instead of the Holy One who had done wonderful good, and fully spoken God’s words, shows their hearts were full of hatred. It makes us know God’s love for sinners, and the Lord Jesus’ love to hear such treatment.
The trial of Jesus was before the highest men of the Jewish nation, and the judge, Pilate, representing the Romans, who then ruled all the world. They all refused the Son of God as King and Lord. All who were there must have made a choice in their hearts, and that is what we must each do now when we hear the words of the trial of Jesus and how He suffered, “the Just for the unjust” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). Because it was for us He suffered, as for the people then.
There is to be a time when the Lord Jesus will be the Great Judge,
But He still waits, offering His love and sacrifice for all who will trust Him. These are words said by Peter about’ the trial of Jesus:
“God ... hath glorified His Son Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate ... Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.” Acts 3:13,1413The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; (Acts 3:13‑14).
ML 08/20/1944