Sermons From Mark - Jesus Condemned And Mocked (15:2-20)

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                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                  Jesus Condemned And Mocked (15:2-20)

INTRODUCTION

1. As mentioned previously, Jesus faced two trials prior to His
   execution...
   a. The ecclesiastical trial, in three stages
      1) The preliminary hearing before Annas - cf. Jn 18:12-14,19-24
      2) The midnight trial before Caiaphas and the council - Mk
         14:53-65
      3) The morning consultation of the council - Mk 15:1
   b. The civil trial, also in three stages
      1) Before Pilate, the Roman governor - Mk 15:2-5
      2) Before Herod, the tetrarch over Galilee - cf. Lk 23:6-12
      3) Before Pilate again - Mk 15:6-15

2. We turn our attention to events related to the civil trial as found
   in Mark’s gospel...
   a. Jesus before Pilate - Mk 15:2-15
   b. Jesus mocked by Roman soldiers - Mk 15:16-20

[Beginning with Mk 15:2, let’s direct our attention to the details of
the trial, starting with...]

I. THE PARTICIPANTS

   A. PILATE THE ROMAN GOVERNOR...
      1. Pontius Pilate, the 5th Roman governor of Judea (26-36 A.D.)
         - Mk 15:2
      2. Often harsh, Jewish sources charge him with greed and cruelty
         - cf. Lk 13:1

   B. CHIEF PRIESTS...
      1. Who had plotted to kill Jesus, and sent to arrest Him - Mk
         14:1,43
      2. Who had tried Jesus at the home of Caiaphas - Mk 14:53
      3. Who had delivered Jesus to Pilate - Mk 15:1-3

   C. BARABBAS...
      1. The prisoner released in Jesus’ stead - Mk 15:6-15
      2. A rebel guilty of murder, and a robber - Mk 15:7; cf. Jn 18:40

   D. THE MULTITUDE...
      1. A crowd who had gathered to ask for the release of a prisoner
         - Mk 15:8
      2. Prompted by the chief priests to clamor for Barabbas instead of
         Jesus - Mk 15:11
      3. Eventually crying out, "Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!" - Mk
         15:13-14

   E. THE SOLDIERS...
      1. Who mocked Jesus (see below) - Mk 15:16-20
      2. Who ultimately crucified Him - Mk 15:20

[With such a review of those present during the civil trial before
Pilate, let’s now consider...]

II. THE CHARGES

   A. MADE BY CHIEF PRIESTS...
      1. He perverts the nation - Lk 23:2
      2. He forbids to pay taxes to Caesar - Lk 23:2; yet cf. Lk
         20:22-25
      3. He claims to be Christ, a King - Lk 23:2
      4. He stirs up the people, teaching throughout Judea and Galilee
         - Lk 23:5

   B. CONSIDERED BY PILATE...
      1. Who asked Jesus, "Are You the King of the Jews?" - Mk 15:2
         a. To which Jesus admitted - Mk 15:2
         b. Though His kingdom was spiritual - cf. Jn 18:36-38
      2. Who marveled at Jesus’ silence regarding the other charges - Mk
         15:3-5
      3. Who ascertained that it was envy that motivated the chief
         priests - Mk 15:10
      4. Who did not think Jesus was guilty of death - Mk 15:14; cf. Lk
         23:13-15
      5. Whose wife wanted him to release Jesus - cf. Mt 27:19
      6. Who finally sought to gratify the crowd, to avoid a tumult - Mk
         15:15; Mt 27:24

[Though Pilate considered Jesus innocent, pressured by the crowd he
initiated actions that would lead to the crucifixion.  Such actions
included terrible abuse, which we will now survey...]

III. THE ABUSE

   A. JESUS WAS SCOURGED...
      1. By the instructions of Pilate - Mk 15:15; Jn 19:1
      2. This involved being "tied to a post and beaten with a leather
         whip that was interwoven with pieces of bone and metal, which
         tore through skin and tissue, often exposing bones and
         intestines. In many cases, the flogging itself was fatal."
         - ESVSB

   B. JESUS WAS MOCKED...
      1. By soldiers who led Jesus to the hall called Praetorium - Mk
         15:16
      2. Who clothed Him with purple and a twisted crown of thorns on
         His head - Mk 15:17
      3. Who saluted Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" - Mk 15:18
      4. Who struck Him on the head with a reed - Mk 15:19
      5. Who spat on Him - Mk 15:19
      6. Who mockingly worshiped Him - Mk 15:19
      7. Who stripped Him and put back on Him His clothes - Mk 15:20

CONCLUSION

1. Again, the barbarous injustice at Jesus’ trials is evident...
   a. The false charges and physical abuse
   b. A cowardly governor acquiescing to a manipulated crowd

2. But lest we forget, this was in keeping with God’s Divine
   Providence...
   a. Which Jesus acknowledged in His predictions and prayers - Mk
      8:31-33; 14:36
   b. Which Peter proclaimed in his first sermon on Pentecost - Ac
      2:22-24

All in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa 53:4-12).  Shall we not
respond accordingly...? - Ac 8:30-38
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