A Blossom Bible Podcast
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A Blossom Bible Podcast
Mark 15:1-15
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Jesus stands before Pilate in a dramatic confrontation between worldly power and divine truth, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice that offers grace to all who will receive it.
• Archaeological evidence confirms these were real historical figures—Caiaphas's ossuary (bone box) and Pilate's stone inscription are both displayed in Israel Museum
• Jewish leaders took Jesus to Pilate because they lacked official authority to execute Him, yet God used this to fulfill prophecies about crucifixion
• When Jesus mentioned truth, Pilate asked "What is truth?" but walked away before hearing the answer
• Pilate attempted to release Jesus by offering to free either Him or Barabbas, a notorious rebel and murderer
• The crowd chose to release Barabbas instead of Jesus, creating a powerful picture of substitutionary atonement
• Like Barabbas, we all deserve death but Jesus takes our place, offering freedom we don't deserve
Let's not take God's grace lightly this week. Remember what Jesus has done for us, how good and gracious He's been to offer us freedom and life in Him—a gift we could never earn or deserve.
Well, mark 15, verse 1. Time is going by in the account that we're reading here, mark's account, but it's going by slowly. But it's going by slowly. We have seen Jesus the night before celebrating the Passover feast with his disciples. We've seen him go to the garden to pray with his disciples and we've seen him taken by a mob to the chief priest's house where a trial of sorts has gone through and Jesus has been tried. He's been beaten by this point, he's been mocked. So, as the story goes on, as the account goes on, we know that he's already bloodied by this, we know that he's already bloodied by this, and chapter 15 opens with him being taken to Pilate. It's the morning now, finally, and he is going to be tried by the Roman governor, pilate. We're going to read this in chapter 15.
Speaker 1:But a couple of things I just want to point out is something that we don't often think about, but I think it's important Is this we often call it the gospel story. Right, it's the gospel account. A lot of times we see the people in this story, in this account, as characters, characters like in a book. It's kind of dangerous to see people in that light, the people that we read about today Pilate, caiaphas, jesus. They're not just characters in a story, they are actual flesh and blood. It's important every so often to remind ourselves of that as we look at it, and this is a historical account Just as real as our very own, george Washington, abraham Lincoln, just as real as you right, go ahead, pinch yourself. You're real, real.
Speaker 1:We read of Caiaphas the high priest, and I just want to point out that when I went to Israel oh, 25 years ago, maybe it's something like that we went to the Israel Museum and if you go to the archaeology wing of the Israel Museum, you'll come around the corner and there's this box, 15 inches by 30 inches. It's known as an ossuary. A bone box is what it would be. The bones of people were put in that box, and this box that you'll find in the Israel Museum, it has the word on there Joseph, son of Caiaphas. On there, joseph, son of Caiaphas. We believe that it is this Caiaphas that's being mentioned on that box family name and so, in reality, perhaps this Caiaphas, his bones in that box that they found, a real person.
Speaker 1:We're going to consider Pilate for most of our time today, pontius Pilate, in that same museum, the Israel Museum. You come around another corner and you'll see a stone, and on that stone is written in Latin these words, in English English to the divine Augustus the Tiberius, pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, made and dedicated and likely. This was set in front of a building that Pontius Pilate had built in honor of Caesar Tiberius, and so I want you to see that was found in 1961, by the way. I want you to see that these are real people, real people that lived, and it's not just a story, this is the truth. It's important, I think, to remember that and sometimes bring that up.
Speaker 1:Now, as we look at this, let's dive into chapter 15, new chapter, verse 1. Immediately in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked him are you the king of the Jews? He answered and said to him it is as you say. And the chief priests accused him of many things, but he answered nothing. Then Pilate asked him again saying do you answer nothing? Again saying do you answer nothing? See how many things they testify against you. But Jesus still answered nothing. So Pilate marveled. So here we are in Mark, chapter 15. It's just a short little account of Jesus here standing in front of Pilate. Now, if you look at the other three gospels Matthew, mark, luke and John all four of them you'll get a little more complete story, a little more complete account. Let's turn over to John, chapter 18. John, chapter 18, verse 28. We get the same idea here.
Speaker 1:Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the praetorium, lest they should be defiled but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said what accusation do you bring against this man? They answered and said to him if he were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him up to you, doer, we would not have delivered him up to you. And Pilate said to them you take him and judge him according to your law. Therefore, the Jews said to him it's not lawful for us to put anyone to death that the saying might be fulfilled, what she spoke, signifying what death he would die.
Speaker 1:So here we see Jesus taken in front of Pilate. Pilate says what has he done? The chief priests and the religious leaders say well, we didn't bring him to you for nothing. He obviously did something. Luke 23, you don't have to turn there, but they spell it out at this point to Pilate and they let him know that this Jesus has been perverting the nation, he's corrupting our people, he's forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar. We know that's not true and he claims to be a king. So Pilate then does his own interrogation and realizes that it's a setup. Mark 15, verse 10, we remember he said he realized it was for envy that they brought.
Speaker 1:Now we come to Luke 23, where Pilate finds out that Jesus is from Galilee. He sends him to Herod and only Luke tells us about this account as Jesus stands in front of Herod. Herod's excited to see him Maybe he'll do some trick in front of me. And Jesus doesn't open his mouth. Herod rather quickly beats him, mocks him, puts a robe on his back and sends him back to Pilate.
Speaker 1:Back at Pilate's place, pilate is desiring to release him and Matthew says tells us that Pilate's wife comes to him and she's had a dream about Jesus and she tells her husband have nothing to do with this. Just, man, I've been tormented in the night. You need to release him. So this is what's on Pilate's mind and Pilate, as the story goes on, scourges Jesus we read in the Gospels he takes him and he whips him with this whip. You know the scourge, the Roman scourger, the cat of nine tails. It had metal, glass bone on the ends of it and they would whip the accused up to 40 times. 40 times he'd stop at 39, really, because 40 times was known to basically kill just about anyone and they would whip them to try to get answers from him. To try to get answers from him. Pilate does this, wanting to release him.
Speaker 1:John 19, verse five. We see, as this has already gone down, jesus is bloodied and beaten. He's scourged. Pilate brings him out In 19, verse five, and he says behold the man. So we can picture this as it's gone on, a lot more information than what Mark has given us. But Jesus has really been through it. He's bloody, to the point where Isaiah tells us that he didn't even look like a man anymore. We couldn't even see that he was human. So beat up and bloody, and so this is the process that goes down. A little more details, try to pick it out there. But let's turn back to Mark 15 and play the ball where it lies, so to speak.
Speaker 1:Jesus before Pilate. The chief priests want him dead. So why did the chief priests even bring Jesus to Pilate? It's an important question to ask. Because the chief priests had the ability to kill people, right. Mob violence was in their reach.
Speaker 1:John chapter 8. John, chapter 8, they bring a woman caught in the act of adultery and they all start picking up stones Do you remember the story? And they're ready to throw them at this woman and kill her, execute her. The Jews could do that. Jesus saved her, by the way but the Jews could do that. In Acts, chapter eight, we see Stephen the first is actually Acts seven. We see Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Speaker 1:And the Jews didn't have any problem picking up stones and throwing them at people until they were dead. That's the way they did it. But they come to Pilate and he says you take care of it. And they say, no, we don't have the right to execute people. And that was true. They officially didn't have the right to execute people. Rome had said you know what? The Jews are unpredictable. They like to kill people for no reason. Here they mob and all these things. We're going to take away your ability to execute people, capital punishment, and they did a few years before this. So Rome, officially, was the only one to have the power to execute people. And yet, well, look at John, 18, verse 32. I know I'm having you flip back and forth, I just want to hit these things. 18, verse 32. This is where verse 31, where Pilate says you take them and do according to your law. Therefore, the Jews said to him it's not lawful for us to put anyone to death, that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what kind of death he should die. So Jesus had said that the Son of man would be lifted up. And so, picturing the cross lifted up, not thrown to the ground as the Jews would, as they would stone people. But even more than that, and come back even more than that, psalm 22 is an amazing psalm of this very time in human history.
Speaker 1:Psalm 22,. Go back and read it. It starts with the words my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And Jesus spoke those words on the cross, as if to point to Psalm 22. Well, what else is in Psalm 22 is really fascinating. It shows there that his clothes would be divided. They would cast lots for his clothing. It says that people would surround him and say he believed in God. Let God save him.
Speaker 1:But in Psalm 22, verse 16, now listen. Psalm 22, verse 16 says for dogs have surrounded me, the congregation of the wicked has enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet. Now, david had no idea what this meant when he wrote it. He was just having a rough day. But he says very specifically there they pierced my hands and my feet. Jesus mentioning at the cross my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Points to this they pierced my hands and my feet, a reference to crucifixion.
Speaker 1:150 years before it was even invented. It was known, god knew and he predicted that Jesus would have his hands and his feet pierced. So the only ones to do that was Rome. Now we look at the motivation of the chief priests and their thing is they don't want the people to think that it was them that did it. They don't want the people to revolt because a lot of people revered Jesus. So they want to push it off early morning to the Romans. But here we see it was all part of the plan, right, that his hands and his feet were pierced, and these things he did to fulfill what was spoken. So Jesus stands in front of Pilate. But the other thing you really see as we look at this is that Pilate is standing before Jesus. Pilate needed to stand before Jesus. When you look at history, josephus and some of the histories there references a little bit about Pilate.
Speaker 1:Pilate was ruthless and brutal, but he was not a very good leader. Early in his career, about 10 years, he served here in Israel. Early in his, he came into the temple with big banners with Caesar's face on it. Why, I don't know, but it started a riot and the people came and said you've got to get these idols out of here. Pilate said you know what? I'm going to keep these idols and if you don't leave right now, I'm going to kill all y'all. Big threat from Pilate. Well, the people said I guess you're going to have to kill us. And Pilate said all right, I'll take the banners down. And so he was not well liked. Sometimes he was threatening, sometimes he was a pushover. Another time he needed money to build an aqueduct in the city of Jerusalem and he took it from the temple tithes and offerings. They didn't like that. Luke tells us that Pilate mingled some Galileans' blood with their sacrifices, and he did that From time to time he would slaughter people and other times he was a pushover.
Speaker 1:Pilate was not well liked and eventually ended up being replaced by Caesar. In fact, caesar was so mad at him that he said I want to take every reference of Pilate's name and get rid of it. And so signs that had Pilate's name on it, plaques that had Pilate's name on it, plaques that had Pilate's name on it, torn down, every reference to Pilate was torn down, and one of them was actually placed in that amphitheater that was found in 1961, for our sake, that mentioned Pilate. It was used as a stair in that amphitheater because Caesar hated Pilate. So this guy had some issues right.
Speaker 1:And here he stands in front of Jesus and Jesus is going to speak to him. This is, god's grace, right. Let's turn to John 18 again. Back and forth, back and forth, john 18, verse 33. Then Pilate entered the praetorium again, called Jesus and said to him Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered him. Are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell this? Concerning me? Pilate answered and said Am I a Jew? Your own nation and chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done? Jesus answered my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here. Pilate therefore said to him are you a king? Then Jesus answered you say, rightly, that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate said to him what is truth? So here's just a little snippet of this encounter. And Jesus has close contact with Pilate and Jesus has close contact with Pilate.
Speaker 1:Verse 38, though I think was really the question of Pilate's life, as he looked around at the world around him and where he was and what he was doing. Verse 38, pilate asked the question to Jesus what is truth? And couldn't you just kind of hear it in his voice? He's a little cynical. I think you know what is truth, but imagine this Pilate had the opportunity to hear from Jesus about this. What would Jesus tell him? I am the way, the truth and the life. God's word is truth. You know all sorts of things. You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free. And there Pilate throws it out. What is truth? But look at the sad result here. Notice verse 38.
Speaker 1:When he had said this, he went out again. I really picture this. He's asking a question, it's a good question, but he's not sticking around for the answer. Does he really want the answer? I don't know. Did he want to hear what Jesus had to say about truth? It's just kind of a rhetorical question here. And yet we look at Pilate's life and it's just unfortunate. It's a waste. And yet God gave him this chance here.
Speaker 1:Now we won't go back to John, let's head back to Mark and finish up our time here. Pilate's ready to release Jesus and, as you put it all together, he's scheming to try to get this to work. Verse six we read, though at the feast he was accustomed to releasing a prisoner to them, whomever they requested. So Pilate here, I think, has an idea. Oh, it's Passover, independence Day for the Jews. He had a tradition of releasing one prisoner to them as a you know, good faith here, releasing a prisoner, someone who's captive, and Pilate has this idea, I know. Let's release Barabbas. His name means son of the father, interesting name, but as you put it all together, you find out that he's one bad hombre, right To use some terminology, some Spanish, there In Mark it says that he led a rebellion in verse seven there and that he was a murderer.
Speaker 1:John tells us that he was a robber. Certainly Pilate thought if I try to release a murderer and a robber to them, they'll common sense, a human being will say we don't want a murderer and robber released, they'll choose Jesus. Well, never underestimate the twisted values of people. That's exactly who they wanted the murderer and the robber released to them. And Pilate presents these two, jesus or Barabbas and the people are influenced by the priest to ask for Barabbas. That's what we read Now. We're shocked as the people choose Barabbas, but we see how it all goes down. I want to switch point of view. One more time here today. What about Barabbas? Right? More time here today. What about Barabbas? He's jailed there nearby he's being held, and Rome didn't waste time on executing people. He was likely going to be executed that day with other people that had been in the rebellion, who had robbed. Perhaps he was meant to be that center person on the cross between two thieves, and there he is waiting for his time to come.
Speaker 1:Now picture this as we go out, as we go on here, the multitude crying aloud verse eight began to ask him to do as he had always done. Pilate answered do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? For he knew the chief priest had handed him over because of envy. The chief priest stirred up the crowd. They should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again what do you want me to do Now? Listen to this in verse 13. So they cried out again crucify him. And Pilate said to him why? What evil has he done? They cried out all the more crucify him. So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them and he delivered Jesus after he had scourged him to be crucified.
Speaker 1:Picture it this crowd, crazy crowd. Who do you want me to release to you? Give us Barabbas. What do you want me to do with this Jesus? Crucify him. Crucify him. Insane.
Speaker 1:But picture from Barabbas's point of view, locked up nearby there in the prison. He can't hear Pilate, probably, but he can hear the crazy crowd. Give us Barabbas. Barabbas, crucify him. Crucify him and he's. You know he's having issues at this point.
Speaker 1:There's a panic attack, I'm imagining, as Barabbas knows it's coming, it's coming, they're going to tear me apart. Knows it's coming, it's coming, they're going to tear me apart. And then the door opens oh, this is it, this is it. And they take him and they lead him out and they let him go. What in the world just happened? I was dead, I was so dead, and yet now I'm free. Why am I free? Well, they chose Jesus instead. Now I don't know. Lots of movies have been made. What happened with Barabbas? I don't know. Did he go outside the city, there and see those men being crucified? Did he see his fellow rebels there, the fellow robbers, perhaps on the crosses next to Jesus? Did he go? That's where I belong. I don't know. Was his life changed? No idea, no idea what happened to him. Only stories can tell right.
Speaker 1:But we've got to look at just the grace of God, because it is a good picture for us. That was each one of us. All have sinned. We come back to it. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6.23,. The wages of sin is death for every one of us. It's what we deserve, no matter if we think we're good people or not good people. We all deserve death and it was calling out for us. And yet Jesus took our place and I don't understand how he could not be changed. But we all have a choice what to do with that forgiveness, what to do with that grace. But here we see all along the way God's grace in this situation. God's grace talking to a hardened guy like Pilate what is truth and then walks away. God's grace freeing Barabbas, giving him a second chance, really dying for him in his place on that cross. Grace that he has for us that he died in his place on that cross. Grace that he has for us that he died in our place on that cross.
Speaker 1:God, we don't want to just read it and go off to the rest of our week, god, we really want to understand what you've done for us. God, I love my friends and but yet I look at us and I know we're all lost without you. What we would have been without you? Where we would have been? It would have been hell without you. And yet, god, you loved us and you took the time to converse with each one of us. You've given us and offered us this wonderful gift of salvation. Nothing that we can earn, nothing we can do to deserve it. But, god, you offer us our freedom and a life in you. God, I pray that we wouldn't take that lightly this week. It would be on our heart all week long what you've done for us, how good you've been to us, how gracious you've been. God, I just pray you would work these things into our heart by your spirit. We would know your just amazing love, your amazing grace. God, thank you again for this time. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen.