"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 - Mk14:53-65
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
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016
