A Look Back at Sunday’s Sermon: Jesus before Pilate (Mark 15:1-15)

Mark 15:1-15
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2015:1-15&version=NIV

Last week Peter went down in flames as he denied Jesus three times, just
like Jesus had said. Jesus is God, when he says something, you better listen.
The abuse that Jesus is starting to receive is not easy to take in. If there was
anyone who didn’t deserve this kind of treatment, it was Jesus and yet he
submitted himself to human authority. He continued to speak truth which led to
his crucifixion.
Luke’s account of Jesus before Pilate tells of a powerful experience. Luke
22:61 says, “And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.” Think about that for
a minute, Peter had just denied him and now Jesus looked at him. Jesus needed
Peter, but he wasn’t there. How many times have you let the Lord down? If you
think about it, it is probably a lot. If you could see the Lord’s face when that
happens, I am sure he would devastated. There is nothing wrong with falling
down but it is a sin when you don’t have enough faith to get back up and get on
the right track to a closer relationship with God. Jesus’ look wasn’t a how dare
you look or an angry one. His look was filled with love and compassion. It
pierced Peter’s soul and changed him forever. Your prayer should be that the
Lord never looks upon you like that.
Jesus was taken to the high authority in Jerusalem, the mayor of Judea,
Punches Pilate. During this time Pilate was struggling to keep peace with the
religious leaders. Caesar had warned him that if he lost control again of the
people he would be gone. The chief priest and the teachers of the law, the
elders and the whole Sanhedrin knew this so they wanted to take advantage of
this. They knew if they could rile up the crowd, he would have to make a quick
decision and once that decision was made it was final and punishment followed
immediately after. In another gospel, Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus
showing her that he was innocent so she had told her husband which was odd
because women did not get involved in politics.
Before the Sanhedrin Jesus was accused of blasphemy under Jewish Law
but this was not enough under Roman law to convict because they did not care
about Jewish law. They had to bring another charge that would make sense to
the Roman authorities. Pastor Danny says, “That is why the chose Treason.
They could not ignore that. Remember what they hello was: Cesar is god! This
guy did not mess around with people that wanted to overthrow his godhood and
government. So, Pilate had to get involved whether he liked it or not.” Treasons
is defined as, “the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm
or kill its sovereign.” Did Jesus ever call himself the king of the Jews? NO.
However, ironically, Messiah means “King of the Jews” but the kingdom Jesus
talks about is not the same one that they are talking about. Jesus had no
political agenda. He came to give hope to people dying in sin, that whoever
believed and followed him shall have life.
Pilate begins to interrogate Jesus, although he knew who Jesus was. He
asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus’ response was “it is what you
say”; the Greek translation meant it is because you say so. “His response
provided no solid basis for a death conviction under Roman law Pilate returned
to His accusers to gain more information. The chief priests seized the
opportunity to bolster their case by pressing multiple charges against Jesus”-
Pastor Danny Martinez.
There are two important points to take from this scripture. The first is that
no matter how many times Pilate tried, Jesus did not respond to his accusers.
This was not a common thing. When someone was on trial, they had the
opportunity to speak freely to plead their case without being interrupted. This
was Jesus’ chance to defend himself, but he was submitted wholly to God’s will.
What better example of complete submission to God then Jesus! When charges
come against you in gossip or directly, the first response is to speak up and
defend yourself. It is important to live your life transparently, without anything
to hide so you may never have to defend yourself. The fruits of the spirit need
to be apparent in your life. If there is anything in your life that is causing you to
be secretive, you need to rethink it. Jesus’ silence shows that he suffered and
died in God’s holy plan. Jesus knew who he was. Sometimes people make poor
or dumb decisions because they don’t know who they are. Do you know who
you are in Christ?
The second is that Pilate tried to get Jesus free and acquitted “Each year
during the Passover festival it was the governor’s tradition as a sign of goodwill
to release a prisoner selected by the people. Instead of granting Jesus an
acquittal, Pilate chose to grant the customary Passover amnesty, thinking the
people would request Jesus’ release. Pilate had heard about Jesus, I am sure. He
thought that the people that welcomed him last week, because it was last week
that he came into Jerusalem, when they sang, Hosanna, Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord! Surely, these people who had been healed and
touched by Jesus' words and parables, they would be grateful enough to ask for
his release”-Pastor Danny Martinez. How quickly people forget the things God
has done for them. People receive all these wonderful things from God but they
don’t say thank you. Whenever you have the chance to be grateful you need to
be.
Psalms 103: 1-14 Sums up Jesus Love:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103%3A1-
14&version=NIV
Instead of choosing Jesus who had healed them, who supplied their needs, they
chose Barabbas, a thief. You must not forget though, Jesus died for Barabbas,
he also died for you. Pilate followed political protocol and sentenced Jesus to be
flogged and crucified, the death of a thief or murder.
Pastor Danny’s prayer is that the Church will continue to get broken as
they hear about what Jesus endured. Allow the spirit to move through you and
break your heart. Remember that Jesus chose to go through this so that you
can be saved. Be confident that if people that don't have a relationship with
God would hear that Jesus cared so much for them that he gave his life willingly,
no matter the cost or pain, he really loved you, just the way you are they would
come. Take some time this week and reflect on this passage and remember
what Jesus went through so that you could have hope.

In His Love,
Nicole