MARK

Mark Chapter 15

• 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.

This first verse in Mark 15 reminds me of Psalm 2.

• 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
• 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
• 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
• 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
• 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
• 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
• 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

These scribes taking counsel is a direct fulfillment of those Old Testament scriptures. Yet they thought they were in control and had power. Little did they know who this man was and what they were doing. It is vain to exalt oneself against God. Hitler, Stalin, and others before and after them have tried to do so only to fail. Judgment soon falls and they come to a quick end. He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. Kings, judges, Congress, Presidents need to take heed and fear God in all that they do and decree.

• Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
• 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
• 4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
• 5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Pilate was warned by his wife who had a dream that troubled her. She said to be careful how to deal with this man called Jesus. He really tried to deliver Jesus out of their hands but he feared the people more than God. He didn't know the words of Jesus,

• And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Much better to fear God than man who passes away like a flower. Jesus could have answered with words of might and wisdom but recognizing that this is the reason He came to fulfill all things, He kept silent.

• Mark 15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
• 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.
• 8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
• 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
• 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
• 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

How this tradition to release a prisoner on a feast day got started, I don't know. I don't find it in the Law of Moses. It was probably added later by someone who wanted an excuse to get a friend or relative out of jail. The people, who were probably a handful picked out by the scribes and Pharisees stirred up others forming a crowd who then preferred a murderer to be released than Jesus. Yet this custom was a picture of what was really about to happen. The just, pure and perfect one was going to die instead of the guilty murderer.

I doubt if every Jew in the city was there. I imagine they stirred up certain ones and encouraged them to be present to make it look like they had the majority and convince Pilate that the majority was against Christ. The reason I suspect this is because our modern press does the same things.

All they have to do is interview the right people and photograph a small group but make it look like a large crowd and a majority. The majority though are usually the many who stay home and do not get involved with riots and protests. Whether it was the whole city or a small group hand-picked by the scribes to convince Pilate that they were in the majority, is only my speculation but they did convince Pilate to allow Jesus to be crucified.

• 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?
• 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
• 14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
• 15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
• 16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

These things had to be to fulfill the scriptures yet; Jesus always made sure that those involved were warned and had a chance to escape.

• Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
• 18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
• 19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
• 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.

This again shows the fulfillment of scripture and the silence of Jesus to allow the scripture to be fulfilled. Who knows whether the wisdom of Jesus could have convinced Pilate of His innocence had He chosen to speak? Here the people mocked and scorned Him. Oh if only they know they were mocking God Himself. Jesus was God's Son but both the Father and the Son was God. Isaiah 53 describes much of what Jesus went through. 

• Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Someone else came to bear the cross of Jesus. Jesus was probably weak from the beatings and torment at this time.

• Mark 15:22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
• 23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
• 24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
• 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
• 26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Tradition states that the place of the skull is where the skull of Adam resides. Whether this is true or not I don't know but it would make sense for God to pick such a place. The first Adam brought sin upon the whole creation. The last Adam brings deliverance and everlasting life to God's creation.

• 1 Corinthians 15: 45 The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
• 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
• 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

In verse 26 Pilate had placed a placard over Him calling Him the King of the Jews. Pilate may have done this to ease his own conscience and speak a word in behalf of Jesus. This saying did not please the Pharisees and scribes, they tried to get him to change it but his reply was, "What I have written I have written." John 19:22

That King will return and rule over the very ones that hate His name and His coming. He will rid the earth of those that hold onto sin and defy His authority.

Note: Jesus is going to do this at His literal coming with the armies from heaven. We as a church are not authorized to build an army ourselves and go forth destroying, killing and forcing the gospel on anyone.

We are not capable of choosing who is worthy or who is not. We can't see into the hearts of men. We are to go forth in the power of the Holy Ghost and preach the gospel to every creature. Some  are to heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead but we are not to physically harm anyone. Judgment will come but not by our hands, but by the literal Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This coming is literal, real and physical. It is not ushered in by the acts of man.

Man has failed to rule himself. Man has killed and destroyed for centuries. We can't do it. We can't bring peace. We need the literal, physical return of Jesus Christ before the world can have any true lasting peace. We can't have peace without the Prince of Peace. We need Jesus. The minute we lay aside our own plans, sins, desires and recognize our dependency upon our Lord, we can get something accomplished. In our own strength, even with all the high education, money, schemes, and creativity, we can do nothing without the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing.

Have all the peace plans, treaties, agreements ever brought a lasting peace? We have the greatest institutions of higher learning in the world but have they brought us peace? Have they lessened crime? We have the finest health care that has ever existed in human history but has it healed the sick? Without that perfect one, Jesus Christ we will not accomplish nothing except by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to go forth by the Spirit of God. We are to love one another as He loved us. We are to love God with all our heart and soul. We are not to persecute, hate, kill and destroy anyone.

We are to go in the spirit of meekness yet with holy boldness. We are to correct, preach, instruct, and teach but not to physically harm a living human being.

Important:  I'm not saying here that we are not to defend our country against attack or not defend our families against invaders. Remember Jesus in the garden did not allow one disciple to be taken. A force drove those who came to take him to the ground. They could not take Jesus until He let them.

We are to fight for country, families and our homes. As long as we live in the world before the literal coming of Christ we have to have governments, law and order and unfortunately at times even war because evil men and women do not know the Lord and will cause evil.

What I am saying is that as a church as the Lord's called out assembly of believers, we are not to gather armies and physically harm people who do not accept the gospel or do not believe the same as we may believe. True conversion cannot come but by the Holy Spirit and by an inward change of the heart. It cannot come by force. Conversion comes by the hearing of the Word, by repentance and being born again. True religion is not forced upon anyone. Its giving not taking, its healing not destroying, its love not hate, it is truth not lies.

• Mark 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
• 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
• 29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
• 30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
• 31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
• 32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

At this point in the crucifixion; if Jesus had wanted to back out, this would have been the place. While He was upon the cross, they came to mock and scorn Him. He was suffering along with those who were actual criminals.

They just didn't get it. They figured if He was the real Son of God then He was to come down from the cross and prove it. Jesus could have done that but not one person that ever walked upon the face of the earth could have been saved from hell and eternal judgment. Not one. If there had been another way to save the lost, God would have done that instead of letting Jesus go through this. Jesus knew that. That is why Jesus stayed upon that cross in spite of all the nagging, mocking and ridiculing. He stayed there for our sakes, he stayed there to usher in a new covenant. A covenant of the new birth.

Religion was not just outward observance now but an inward conversion. Now by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from God through the death of His Son Jesus; can the receivers of this plan of salvation be saved. No other way. The inner man must be changed. Old thing must pass away and all things become new. A new way, a new life, a new covenant.

Jesus suffering with criminals was also a fulfillment of scripture.

• Isaiah 53 "12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Oh glory to God for bringing such salvation unto us.

• Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
• 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
• 35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
• 36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
• 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
• 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

As soon as Jesus died, the veil of the temple was split. The way was now made perfect. The veil of separation between God and man was broken. Our sins separate us from God, the blood shed by Jesus cleanses from sin and reunites us with God. When we come to God now by way of faith in Jesus Christ, that separation is healed. We are made righteous by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. His righteousness, His perfection, His keeping of the law and not sinning or failing in one point counted on our behalf. We substitute His righteousness in place of our own, since we have no righteousness in ourselves.

The just suffered judgment for the sake of the unjust who deserved punishment. The wall of separation between God and man was now torn down. The price was paid the sacrifice was perfect. Sin could now be purged from all that believe. Now that the perfect sacrifice was made we do not have to pay for our own sins. Jesus paid for sins He did not commit and we are free from sins that we did commit. We just have to receive Jesus into our own individual lives to be free from our past sins.

• Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
• 40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
• 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
• 42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
• 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
• 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
• 45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
• 46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
• 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Jesus was not alone here. Many of those who had followed Him were here at the time of His death. His own mother is said to have been here.

In the book of John it is recorded that Jesus saw to it that His mother was taken care of. He placed her in the household of John.

• John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
• 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Even through His sufferings He did His duty by His mother and provided for her. This would have probably been total agony for Mary had she not realized that this was the way of salvation for all that would receive it. It was bad enough anyway but at least Mary understood why her Son had come.

There were times when she probably did not fully comprehend this but I believe at this point that she fully understood. I'm sure it still grieved her to see Him go through this but I believe God comforted her at this time with understanding. I pray that we too will understand the simplicity of the gospel. Believe, receive and be filled with the Holy Spirit. DC