The gospel of Mark

61 – Jesus predicts Peter’s denial

14:27-31

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ 28 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” 31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.

(NASB)

1. The Lord’s declaration (14:27,28)

We left our last section with the betrayal of Judas being exposed by the Lord and the establishing of the Lord’s Supper. It was a bitter-sweet Passover meal for his disciples. They are now heading for the Mount of Olives where yet another scene of great importance will take place.

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ 28 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 

It was one thing to learn about Judas falling away and betraying the Lord but quite another to hear what the Lord now had to say. You must remember that when Jesus spoke about a betrayer all were asking ‘Is it me? How relieved they must have felt when the culprit was exposed! They might have even felt that they were the strong ones – the faithful ones.

Jesus tells them ‘You will all fall away’. It wasn’t only Judas that would betray but each and every one of them. The words ‘fall away’ (SKANDALIZO) means: to trip up, stumble or to entrap. The event that will happen on the Mount of Olives, will become a stumbling block for them for they will all deny Christ, not in the same manner as Judas but deny just the same.

Jesus explains the circumstances of their falling away: ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered’. This is taken from Zachariah 13:7. We all know that the shepherd is the Lord Jesus and the sheep are his disciples. The word ‘strike’ (PATASSO) means: to knock, to smite.

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The shepherd will be struck down. Notice that the ‘I’ in ‘I will strike down’ is God speaking! It is God – the Father who will strike down God – the Son at the cross for it is written:

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

(RSV)

In verse twenty eight the Lord prophesises that not only will he be raised from the dead but also that they will also meet together.

 28 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.

After telling his disciples that he will be smitten Jesus brings joy to his disciples’ hearts, first by expressing once more that he will be raised from the grave. The resurrection is so important because it manifests that the Father has accepted his Son’s sacrifice for sinners (Rom. 4:25; 6:4; 7:4). Secondly he declares that they will meet again in Galilee. This came to be true in John 21:1-23 (The Sea of Tiberius is another name for the Sea of Galilee for Tiberius was the capitol of the region of Galilee). May our hearts also be encouraged with the thought that we willalso be with Christ one day.

2. Peter’s declaration (14:29)

 29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” 

Once more we see the impetuous character of Peter. Instead of accepting the words of the Lord and humbling himself – he raises his heels against him! Peter should have felt crushed and ashamed under the thought that he will ‘fall away’ from his Master – but no! Peter makes a statement that must have surprised everyone but Christ! ‘Even though all may fall away, yet I will not’. What Peter is doing is that he places himself above all the others. They are weak but I am strong. They will fail but I will succeed. Peter was tearing everybody down and placing himself on a pedestal. Are we not also sometimes like Peter putting others down or thinking that we are better or more capable than others?

3. The Lord’s response (14:30)

30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.”

This is one of Jesus’ famous sayings. The truth is different than the words spoken by Peter. Jesus is saying ‘Yes you will deny me, not only once but three times’! It was the pride of Peter’s heart that was speaking. But the Lord can see his true intention. Let’s not be mistaken here – Peter truly loves the Lord and believes that he will never betray him. The reality however is far different. As we commonly say today ‘Talk is cheap’. May our lips always weigh our words. May our emotions not control our thinking. May we see ourselves as we truly are.

4. Peter’s insistence (14:31a)

31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

I don’t understand why Peter is reacting this way especially after Jesus tells him that he surely will deny him and that three times. The facts are there and the Lord has spoken but Peter refuses to accept what the Lord tells him. We see a streak of pride rising in him. How many times do we systematically refuse to consent to what the Lord says? How many times do we think we are so much better than we really are? How many times do we argue with the Lord? Notice that this time Peter goes further than his first statement. The first time he says ‘Even though all fall away, yet I will not’ (v.29). The second time Peter says ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You’. He is now saying that he is ready to die with Jesus. It seems that Peter has lost touch with reality, his emotions have completely blinded him. He is going deeper and deeper into his denial.

5. The others join in (14:31b)

And they all were saying the same thing also.

This is an often forgotten phrase for we tend to think only of Peter and what he has said. Let us not forget that ‘they all were saying the same thing also’. It seems that the other disciples joined in Peter’s folly. This manifests the fact that we need to be very careful with our thoughts. Here we have a leader who stands up and voices his thoughts and intentions. The reaction of his fellow disciples is simple to join in with what Peter is saying – without taking the time to think it through. Am I really willing to go to death with Jesus? May this be a warning for all of us.

Let us not be too swift to in bark on another person’s desires and direction. In reality it is not only Peter that said that he would be ready to die with Christ and failed – ALL did.

CONCLUSION:

1. May we humbly receive the words of the Lord.

2. May we have a balanced view of where we stand before the Lord.

3. If the Lord rebukes us it is not time to try to prove him wrong.

4. Do not be carried away by someone else’s emotions or speech.

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The gospel of Mark

62 – The Garden of Gethsemane

14:32-42

32 They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words.40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

(NASB)

1. Jesus’ request to his disciples (14:32-34)

They have now arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane. This garden was a short distance from Jerusalem just east over the bridge of the Kidron. It was a peaceful place where olive trees thrived. This would be the last setting where Jesus would freely share with his disciples.

32 They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 

As we will see the Lord will divide his disciples into two groups. He asks the first group to ‘Sit here until I have prayed’. They were to stay still and sit down until the Lord had finished praying. What a great lesson for all believers! We are too often very active in our life simply thinking that the Lord is automatically with us in our endeavours. Here we see the opposite. Disciples sometimes need to do NOTHING until they hear from the Lord. Business is not automatically a sign of holiness. Jonah had to stay still in the belly of a fish to hear from the Lord. Elijah had to stay still in the mountains to hear the voice of God. Jacob laid still and slept when the Lord spoke to him in a dream. Let us not move forward for the Lord until we have the certainty that he is leading us ahead.

33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”

We know that Jesus had an ‘inner circle’ of disciples, people who were closer to Christ and into which he poured himself in a different manner. Peter, James and John were the three disciples who were closer to Christ and sometimes he brought them alone with him. One may wonder ‘Why does Jesus do this’? In Gal. 2:9 Paul tells us that Peter, John and James were the pillars of the church in Jerusalem. Jesus was simply training these three men for the ministry waiting ahead.

It is written that Jesus ‘began to be very distressed and troubled’. The word ‘distressed’ (EKTHAMBEO) means: utterly affright, greatly sore. The word ‘troubled’ (ADEMONEO) means: to be full of heaviness. Jesus is allowing Peter, John and James to see the state of his heart. Jesus knows what lies ahead and is profoundly shaken by what he knows. Then he says: ‘‘My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death’. The word ‘soul’ (PSUCHE) meaning: spirit, breath, this distinguishes man from the rest of creation. God did not breathe into them to make them a living soul. This manifests that Christ was perfectly man just as he was perfectly God – the Son. Now his soul (his very being) was ‘deeply grieved’ (PERILUPOS) meaning: intensely sad, exceedingly sorrowful. His sadness was so intense that he felt as though it introduced him to death itself! Jesus was already bearing the weight of our sins – his heart was tearing (figure of speech) under the pressure in the Garden of Gethsemane. He asks his three disciples to ‘remain here and keep watch’. To ‘keep watch’ (GREGOREUO) means: to keep awake, be vigilant. He was going a little further on and asked them to keep awake. It is very rare that Christ had ever asked them to do something for him personally. Has Christ asked you to do something personal for him – are you keeping watch?

2. Jesus speaks to his Father (14:35,36)

35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 

We are witnessing the battle of the flesh in Christ. We often say that Christ is fully man, and it is true, but we do not often see the battle of the flesh in him. The devil had tried just before Jesus began his ministry (Mat. 4 and Luke 4) offering him things that would please his flesh and Satan failed. Now at the very end of his ministry we again see Christ battling against his flesh and he is agonizing over it. If fighting against the flesh was difficult for Christ imagine how it is for all of his followers! The flesh has always been a forceful enemy of the children of God because it hates everything that has to do with true spirituality (Gal. 5:19-21).

His prayer was ‘if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by’. He knew of the cross and the judgment he would have to bear. He knew that the Father would turn His face away. He knew that he would taste the cup of his Father’s wrath. So he pleaded if there was another way, if this could just ‘pass by’. He knew that the Father had the capacity to take this cup away for he said ‘All things are possible for you’. There is no limit to what God the Father can do and taking this cup away was one of them. But even though Christ knew that the Father was capable of doing so and his profound wish was not to taste the fury to come, he quickly added: ‘yet not what I will, but what you will’. The will of the flesh was conquered through prayer and submission to the Father. Amen, that Christ won this first victory! May I add that the only way followers of Christ can ever conquer over the flesh is by readily submitting to the will of God through prayer.

3. Jesus speaks to Simon (14:37,38)

37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

Remember that Jesus had asked his disciples to remain watchful, to keep awake while he prayed a short distance from them. Also remember that Christ had shared the deepest troubles his heart possessed. He expected that their love and consideration for him would keep them from falling asleep. He expected that they also would pray along with him through this trial – but they didn’t! When he came back he ‘found them asleep’. How disappointing this must have been for Christ. At the time of his greatest need of encouragement they failed him. He said ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?’ Just one hour – that’s all I was asking. I gave you three and a half years of my full attention could you not watch for just one hour? How many times have we fallen asleep instead of being awake and remaining strong for the Lord? Jesus adds:

38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

He tells his three disciples how to battle against (spiritual) sleepiness. They were supposed to keep watch but they fell asleep. What was missing was ‘and pray that you may not come into temptation’. I believe that the temptation spoken of above is to stop being watchful and fall asleep while they were supposed to be brave and rise above the situation. Prayer will always be an instrument against failing as a disciple. Jesus recognises the power of the flesh when he says: ‘the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’. The flesh has no power and will never have power over sin because sin finds its power in the flesh (Romans 7 & 8).

4. Again Jesus speaks to his Father (14:39)

39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words.

The faults or weakness of his disciples do not deter Christ from his mission. He goes back and begins once more to pray to his Father. This is another lessons that should be noticed for believers who are active in the mission of the church and are often touched by what others do. Many are not as zealous as you may be and this has a ‘dragging down’ effect. We lose our enthusiasm because we are disappointed in others who have ‘fallen asleep’. If this is the case may Christ be our model – may we persevere!

5. Jesus speaks to his disciples (14:40)

40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 

So Jesus comes back for a second time. I can only believe that he hoped that this time they would be watchful and would follow his advice and pray. But Jesus ‘found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy’. It was late in the evening if not in the early hours of the new day and they were physically tired. They may have tried to keep awake but they were also limited by their humanity – so they fell asleep once more. We see that Jesus spoke to them because it is written: ‘and they did not know what to answer Him’. Please notice in both occasions how Jesus reacted. They failed him but he did not retaliate. He simply spoke with them and encouraged them. May we have the same attitude with those who fail us!

6. Jesus speaks to his disciples a third time (14:41,42)

41 And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

We understand by verse forty one that Christ went back and prayed to his Father for ‘He came back the third time’. He presented himself before his Father on three occasions and the Father’s answer was the same, His plan was not going to change, the cross laid ahead and he must drink of the Father’s cup.

We also see that even with two warnings concerning being watchful, they still failed a third time. This time his speech was quite different:

(v.41)…It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

Jesus fully accepts the will of the Father, he submits to His authority. He knows his time has come to be ‘betrayed into the hands of sinners’. He tells his disciples to get up knowing that Judas and his band are at hand.

CONCLUSION:

1. There are times when it is better to stop and wait until the Lord leads us forward.

2. There are times that prayer is needed to fight the flesh.

3. At all times our prayers should end with ‘not my will but thine’.

4. There are times to move forward with our Lord even when it is troublesome.

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The gospel of Mark

63 – Jesus is arrested

14:43-52

43 Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” 45 After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” 50 And they all left Him and fled.

51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

(NASB)

1. Judas betrays Jesus (14:43-46)

We have seen that Judas left the Passover meal after he was declared the traitor, the one who would betray the Lord. Jesus took Peter, John and James to be with him while he prayed but on three occasions they fell asleep. Finally Judas returns and delivers Christ for the silver coins he was promised.

43 Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” 45 After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 

As Jesus finishes speaking to his disciples ‘Judas, one of the twelve came up’. The description of Judas as ‘one of the twelve’ is striking. He is ‘one of the twelve’ which describes all the spiritual benefits that this man received: being with Christ, hearing him speak, witnessing all the miracles, seeing his compassion and caring for all who came to him.

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He had learned so many spiritual lessons concerning the kingdom of God as he walked with the one who was the true light of the world. Yet, this man called Judas was as blind and deaf as a rock! He delivered unto the religious elite the one who had never sinned and all of that for 30 pieces of silver. Remember the rich young ruler who asked ‘What shall I do to have eternal life’? He also turned from Christ because he loved money more than anything else. May this be a warning for all readers! You may outwardly know Christ and follow him as you were taught. You may even have ministries (as Judas did) but do you really love Christ and have repented unto him?

(v.43)…came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 

This crowd is described as people with ‘swords and clubs’. So a good number of men (I presume no women took place in this mob) came armed with swords and clubs. Now who were these men? In Luke 22:52 some were called ‘captains of the Temple’. They had superintendence over the Levites and priests who guarded the temple. They were also known as the temple police. In John 18:2 we see that they were a ‘detachment of troops’ and ‘officers from the chief priests and Pharisees’. It seems that by the term ‘detachment of troops’ the Roman soldiers were part of the arresting party. There was an exceeding amount of force used to capture the Lord! I can only imagine that the religious elite did not want to fail in their twisted plan.

44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” 45 After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 

To be certain that they would seize the right person Judas had given a signal to those who had come to arrest Jesus – a kiss. It would be the person whom he kissed who they needed to arrest. Imagine being betrayed with a kiss! One of the most personal signs of affection was to become the instrument of a death sentence. His kiss would be remembered and used as an adage for centuries to come – it is still used today as the greatest sign of betrayal! Judas comes to Christ and said ‘Rabbi’. This was a term of respect which in Hebrew meant: ‘my great one’. Be warned, it is not everyone who respects you who is attached to you. This was the signal, Judas had given his kiss now the time had come to arrest Jesus.

2. A disciple’s defense (14:47)

 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 

One of the disciples ‘drew his sword’. This is the only place where a weapon is ever used, for Jesus was the ‘Prince of peace’. In reality it was not a sword as we see in a more contemporary setting but rather a dagger-like knife that was used for many different practices. They were of customary use and possession in Jesus’ time. We know that it was Peter that drew his sword (John 18:10) and that the name of the servant was Malchus (John 18:10). Notice how bad a fighter Peter was – he couldn’t even use his sword right! He only cut of the ear instead of causing more damage. By this we see that the apostles were not men of violence. But Peter wanting to protect his Master did what he thought was right – but he was terribly wrong! How many times do we do things for Christ thinking that this is the right thing to do and it is not! Notice that in Luke 22:51 Jesus took time to heal the ear of poor Malchus. Even when violence reigns Christ takes time to do good – and so should all of his disciples.

3. The response of Christ (14:48,49)

48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” 

Jesus speaks out and confronts the mob not with violence but with his words. He asks them if they think he is a robber ‘as you would against a robber’. If not why come ‘with swords and clubs’? The image that they had of Christ had been warped! They had the opportunity day after day to see what type of man he was. They knew that he was a man of God for he was ‘in the temple teaching’. So why come with violence in your hearts? And why, still today, is there so much violence against the name of Jesus? Why are there still Disciples of Christ who are martyred in so many countries? It is the hatred that people have for Christ. The following verse explains it very plainly:

John 15:18

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

(RSV)

Jesus also says:

John 15:25

It is to fulfil the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

(RSV)

All of this was to ‘fulfill the Scriptures’. We can see in Isaiah 53 some of the Scriptures that were being fulfilled:

Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (RSV)

Isaiah 53:7-9

(7)He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

(8)By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

(9)And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (RSV)

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

(RSV)

And also a verse found in Zechariah:

Zechariah 13:7

"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

(RSV)

4. The disciples’ reaction (14:50-52)

50 And they all left Him and fled.

51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

Seeing what was happening and fearing the Roman troops and the Temple guards ‘they all left Him and fled’. The shepherd had been struck and now the sheep were being scattered (Zec. 13:7). Just a few hours ago they all had said that they were ready to die with Christ (Mark 14:31). How fickle was their promise! Have you also made promises to the Lord and abandoned them at your first trial? We are no better than they were – are we not!

It seems that at a certain point in time ‘a young man’ it is believed that this could have been John since he was the youngest by far than all the others. We later see that John was also not afraid to follow Jesus into the High Priest’s court. If this is John we understand that he had a change of heart and wanted to follow his beloved Christ. This is a good lesson for all who fail Christ – there is always the possibility of turning back to him. It could also have been someone who had heard the soldiers leave with the Temple guards at night in Jerusalem and followed them afar to see what the commotion was about. If this is the case he left in a hurry in his ‘linen sheet’ (his pyjamas) and followed everyone. When the soldiers began to seize Jesus and his disciples (John 18:8) and the fight broke out between Peter and Malchus this young man could have been easily caught in all of this.

 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

The young man was able to free himself but at a great cost he ‘escaped naked’. He would rather run away naked than to be in the hands of the soldiers!

CONCLUSION:

1. May we never betray Jesus!

2. Before doing something impulsively be certain that it is the will of God.

3. The Scriptures will always be fulfilled.

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The gospel of Mark

64 – Jesus is before the Sanhedrin

14:53-72

53 They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. 54 Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. 57 Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. 60 The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face. 66 As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch.69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” 71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.

(NASB)

1. Jesus is lead away (14:53,54)

53 They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. 54 Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. 

We have seen that the Roman soldiers and the Temple guards arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Now in our present scene we come to understand that they brought Jesus to stand before the high priest, the chief priests, the elders and the scribes.

Before we begin I must explain that Jesus passed through two trials which were made up of three parts each. Not all of them are mentioned in Mark. Actually not all of them are mentioned in a single Gospel. So here is the sequence of all six settings.

The Jewish trial

• Before Annas (John 18:12-14; 19-24

• Before Caiaphas (Mat. 26:57-68; Luke 22:54; 63-65)

• Before the Sanhedrin (Mat. 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71)

The civil trial

• Before Pilate (Mat. 27:2,11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38)

• Before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6-12)

• Before Pilate again (Mat. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39- 19:16)

As we can see the ones who plotted against Jesus have convened an assembly. The goal is simple it is to officially find any type of fault that will lead to his condemnation. They are acting as both judges and jury. In many ways the Jewish trial of Jesus was illegal and there are books that explain all of this.

Our eyes must also fall on Peter, who has ‘followed him at a distance’. We understand from the gospel of John that Peter followed John and that John went inside the court because he knew people there (John 18:15-17). The ‘other disciple’ is understood to be John because John never names himself in his gospel but speaks of ‘another disciple’. Peter follows Jesus but we understand that it was John who probably led the way because he was known to the high priest and was not afraid to be there. Now once he was inside the courtyard this is what he did:

(v.54)…he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. 

He stayed at a distance and did not want to be recognized as a follower of Jesus. How many of us also ‘stay at a distance’ being afraid to openly identify with our Savior? How many desire to be warm by the fire with unbelievers rather than to stand with Christ?

2. False testimonies (14:55-59)

55 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. 57 Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. 

While Peter kept warm by the fire Jesus was facing the High Priest and the entire Council. The high priest was Caiaphas his full name was Joseph Caiaphas. He was the high priest under Tiberius and it was Velerius Gratus who has appointed him high priest for the time period of 18-36 AD. The ‘whole Council’ was made up of the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Their aim was simple ‘trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death’. You can imagine how this was a mock trial especially when the judges had already condemned Jesus in their minds BEFORE the trial!

Even when the trial was ‘rigged’ they could not find a false testimony that stood up!

56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. 57 Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. 

False testimonies, inconsistencies, things that were taken out of context - they tried everything but nothing was substantial enough to get Jesus arrested. How foolish can you be when the people you hire to bear false witness can’t even do a ‘good job’! So far their plan is not working, they have nothing to accuse Jesus of. If our story would stop there, they would not have a case against Christ.

3. Jesus and the high priest (14:60-65)

60 The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

Seeing that the trial is going nowhere Caiaphas takes a stand and interrogates Jesus himself.

60 The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 

So far Jesus has kept silent like a lamb ready to be sacrificed. This silence infuriated Caiaphas who was waiting to catch Jesus by his words. He needed Jesus to say something. He was also amazed that Christ did not defend himself saying ‘Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?’ Again Caiaphas is bewildered.

61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 

Because of Jesus’ silence before the false accusations Caiaphas speaks up and interrogates Christ by asking a direct question: ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’. The time had come, no more fooling around are you or are you not the Christ? This was a trick question. If Jesus says ‘NO’ then his ministry would fall apart because people thought he might be. If Jesus says ‘YES’ then he would be accused of blasphemy because they did not want to believe him.

 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 

The answer Jesus gave was a reference to the Messianic prophecies such as:

Psalms 110:1

A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool."

(RSV)

Daniel 7:13

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

(RSV)

Notice that as long as the accusations brought against him were false Jesus did not speak a word. But when he was asked a true question: ‘Are you the Christ’ Jesus answer readily with a resounding ‘YES’!

63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 

This was the moment that the entire Council was waiting for. Declaring oneself the Son of God was blasphemous (unless you truly are). They had finally got the proof that they needed. Making a ‘scene’ the high priest acts as if he was outraged and insulted at Christ’s response and tears his clothes! No further proof is needed – all heard the statement Jesus had made. He called himself the ‘Son of God’! Caiaphas calls upon his fellow Council members to come to a decision which was the following: ‘And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death’. Not a single man had any restraint in condemning Jesus – not one! How do we stand when we are in a crowd? Do we act like them or are we strong enough to stand for Christ?

 65 Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

Instantly they began to ‘spit at Him’ and to ‘blindfold Him’ and also ‘to beat Him’. They also gave him ‘slaps in the face’ and mocked him by saying ‘Prophecy’! In other words they literally disdained him which reminds me of the words of Christ:

John 15:23-25

(23)He who hates me hates my Father also.

(24)If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

(25)It is to fulfil the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

(RSV)

4. Peter’s denial of Jesus (14:66-72)

While this was going on we have another scene that is brought to us – Peter and his denial of Christ.

66 As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch.69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” 71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.

Peter has kept himself away from Christ and probably thought that he was safe near the fire surrounded by people. But a little ‘servant-girl’ will forever change his life. Quite innocently a young girl comes near the fire and says the following:

(v.67)…“You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” 

She accuses Peter of being a follower of Christ. Up to now there had been many benefits of following Jesus which Peter had enjoyed. But this was another story. If Peter says ‘YES’ then there are chances that he also may land up before the tribunal beside Jesus and Peter did not want that. Notice that John had no difficulty being there and was even known by the high priest and others to have followed Jesus. If Peter says ‘NO’ then he thought everything would be alright. So what will he do?

68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.”

His answer was categorical ‘he denied it’ the word ‘denied’ (ARNEOMAI) means: to contradict, disavow and reject. He rejected her question ‘I neither know nor understand what you are talking about’. He’s telling the young girl that she doesn’t know what she is talking about. This was his first denial of Christ. Notice what Peter does next:

(v.68)….and he went out onto the porch.

Peter is getting out of there. He has been recognized and is moving away from the fire, away from his accuser of being a follower of Christ. The porch was an entryway unto the court where Jesus was being tried. We see that Peter is slowly trying to leave the premises.

69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 70 But again he denied it.

The servant-girl is not accepting Peter’s reply. She knows that she had seen him before along-side of Jesus. Peter might have thought that his answer would suffice, was she not just a servant-girl and he a man! But she persists and this shows me one thing. When God says that something will happen whatever you may do, it will not stop the Lord God from accomplishing his prophecies. This time the servant-girl brings a more assured accusation: ‘This is one of them’. You truly are a follower of Jesus I’m certain of it. For the second time Peter denies knowing Christ.

(v.70)… And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.”

But the accusation continues, this time by a simple bystander who said: ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too’. Since Jesus was popularly known as a Galilean it was natural that Peter was his follower since we are told in Matthew that ‘your speech betrays you’. Peter could not hide any longer his accent betrayed him!

71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 

This was the third time that he betrayed Jesus. Now there is something very interesting in this same story that is found in the gospel of Matthew. When Peter first denied Christ it is written that he ‘denied’ Jesus (26:70). Then at the second time it is written that he ‘denied it with an oath’ (26:72). Finally at the third denial (as we see in Mark also) he ‘began to curse and swear saying: I do not know the man’ (26:74). The more Peter denied Christ the deeper into sin he fell, from denying him to cursing and swearing against knowing him.

​

The idea behind this cursing and swearing is that he made imprecations against himself if this was true. For us it would be something like: ‘May God strike me right now if what I said was not true’.

​

Friend may this be a lesson for all of us – denying Christ over and over again sinks us deeper into the stronghold of darkness.

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.

Right away the ‘rooster crowed a second time’. The time of truth had finally come. Peter may have tried three times to hide his identity of knowing Christ. He had told everyone around him that it was not so. He even called a curse upon him if this was to be found true. But on the inside of Peter we see a different story. Peter’s conscience was troubling him – he could not run away from the truth. The rooster had crowed and Peter had denied Jesus. He could not run away from God. No one can! See what Peter reaped from his denial ‘he began to weep’. This strong, brave and tempestuous man broke into tears – he was so ashamed of himself. Luke adds a piercing detail when this happened.

Luke 22:61

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.

(RSV)

Can you imagine Jesus staring down at Peter for he had heard everything that he had said? We know that all of Christ’s disciples will pass before the ‘judgment seat of Christ’. This is where all of our actions will pass through the judgment of fire”

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

(12)Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--

(13)each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

(14)If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

(15)If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

(RSV)

How will we feel as we stand before the Lord? Will our actions bring shame unto us? Will we be received with open arms? Or like Peter will we sometimes feel like crying because of our denial of Christ. What we have done in the past can not be changed but what we will do today and everyday after can be for the glory of our Savior.

CONCLUSION:

1. May we never be ashamed of Christ.

2. If asked, may our response be truthful.

3. May we not prefer being warmed by a fire with unbelievers rather than standing alongside our Savior.

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The gospel of Mark

65 – Jesus and Pilate

15:1-15

Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” 3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. 4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” 5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

​

6 Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

(NASB)

1. The council is convened (15:1)

Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 

Once the three sessions of the Jewish mock trial has been finished and Jesus found guilty of blasphemy because he called himself the Son of God he is taken before the Roman authorities. One must remember that the Jewish authorities had civil power also but were not allowed to put someone to death. Only the Roman authorities could condemn someone to be executed (John 18:31). The religious elite held a ‘consultation’ (SUMBOULOS) meaning: a deliberate body, lay court. After hearing Jesus declare that he was the Son of God they talked together to see what should be done.

​

They had succeeded in their plan to condemn Jesus. What should they now do with him? So this is what they did ‘they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate’. Now Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roma Procurator of Judea. His first great mistake was to move his Roman headquarters from Caesarea to Jerusalem – no Procurator had ever done this before. Because of the soldiers who naturally brought with them the emblem of Caesar into Jerusalem, this caused quite an outrage. The Jews took offense of the emperor’s image on their emblems. Although Pilate recanted and brought the emperor’s images back to Caesarea this caused quite an uprising. His reign caused more than once an insurrection among the people. Jesus refers to Pilate’s oppression in Luke 13:1. Pilate was greatly despised by both the Jews and the Roman authorities.

2. Pilate questions Jesus (15:2-5)

2 Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” 3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. 4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” 5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

Knowing the accusations brought before him by the Jews Pilate directly gets to the point and asks him the following question: ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’. We can understand that Pilate did not simply make this question up by himself – he had been ‘briefed’ by the Jewish Council. Notice that when Christ is asked a question concerning his true identity he answers readily both with the Jewish religious establishment and the Roman Procurator ‘It is as you say’.

Once Jesus had given his declaration the ‘Chief priests began to accuse Him harshly’. It seems that the word ‘harshly’ is not in the Greek but rather that they accused him of ‘many things’. What we do see is that the Council took every chance they had to relentlessly accuse Jesus.

Pilate once more questions Jesus because he is astounded by his attitude ‘Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!’. The words of Pilate concur with the idea that ‘many things’ (accusations) were brought against him. Jesus is silent before his accusers, after all was he not the Son of God and to say the opposite would be lying. He stood there as a lamb ready to be sacrificed.

5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

Pilate ‘was amazed’. The word ‘amazed’ (THAUMAZO) means: to wonder, to admire, to marvel. Pilate just could not understand why Jesus stood before him in complete silence. Normally a man would bring a defense against an accusation but not Christ. There was no defense – he was the Son of God.

3. Jesus or Barabbas? (15:6-14)

6 Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 

The ‘feast’ is Passover and it seems that there was a tradition that was held between the Roma Procurator and the Jews ‘he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested’. In his commentary on Mark, Dr. Thomas Constable gives us better insight into what is going on:

"Two forms of amnesty existed in Roman law, the abolitio or acquittal of a prisoner not yet condemned, and the indulgentia, or pardoning of one already condemned. What Pilate intended in the case of Jesus, who at this stage of the proceedings had not yet been sentenced by the court, was clearly the first form."

It seems that Pilate had a scene to allow Jesus to live by bringing him to the crowd. After all if he was the King of the Jews people would naturally want him to be released.

 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 

Two men were brought to the crowd-the first being Jesus and then another man named Barabbas. We know little concerning this man except what this verse tells us. He had participated in an insurrection against Rome.

​

A group of Jews revolted and desired to cause an uprising against the Romans. During this revolt Barabbas had committed murder. We can understand that it was against a Roman soldier(s). Barabbas was one way or another going to be executed because of his deeds. Surely the crowd would choose Jesus.

​

It is understandable that Pilate had heard of Jesus and the love that people had for him.. Just a few days ago he was cheered by all as he made his way into Jerusalem. Certainly this was brought to the ears of Pilate.

8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 

As the custom dictated the people asked for someone to be released and Pilate offered to release Jesus ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’. We can see the political game Pilate was playing against the religious elite. They wanted Jesus dead and Pilate offered the people to release him. In his mind Pilate was certain to win. Notice that ‘the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy’. He knew that the chief priests had no case, it was not truth that lead this inquiry but rather envy.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 

But the chief priests had another ‘card up their sleeve’ or a plan ‘B’ if you prefer. Seeing that they might lose they ‘stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead’. The word ‘stirred’ (ANASEIO) means: to excite, to stir up. It may have been by shouting the name of Barabbas louder and louder but one thing we know is that the crowd joined in. Once more we see how people are easily enticed to do what we wish. The same thing may be in churches today. People listen to eloquent preachers and are moved and follow them instead of studying the Scriptures as the Bereans did:

Acts 17:10,11

(10)The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

 (11)Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

(RSV)

Pilate seeing their trickery once more appealed to the crowd ‘Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?’. In the other gospels we see that Pilate pleads with the people telling that he does not find any fault in Jesus.

13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 

The crowd rejected Jesus – the prophet of God they had welcomed as King a few days ago was now to be crucified. No wonder the Lord God says through the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?

(RSV)

Does our heart waver from loving Christ to turning our backs on him? Do we also hesitate and follow the crowd instead of remaining faithful to our Savior? Are we easily enticed by others to walk on the ‘broad road’? Is Jesus our King only when we congregate with other Christians? Nothing could stop the crowd, it had been determined before the foundation of the world that Christ would be sacrificed and the time had finally come.

4. The final decision (15:15)

15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

It was not justice that Pilate was looking for but ‘to satisfy the crowd’. As mentioned before Pilate was not liked in Rome as Procurator of Judea for he had politically fumbled many times and his status as Roman Governor had been on the line. Pilate did not want to deal with another insurrection because it would probably be the end of his mandate and all the benefits that came with it. So he went the easy way ‘Pilate released Barabbas for them’.

After Barabbas was released and the crowd was appeased the following happened:

(v.15)…, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The word ‘scourged’ means: to whip. This was used as a public punishment. The Roman whips had either small iron balls or pieces of prickly substance attached at the end of every strand of leather. These would tear into the flesh and break even the bones.

It is said that often a criminal would die of the whipping before he was crucified. The one who created us was in the hands of his creatures!

CONCLUSION:

1. The hearts of men are truly twisted.

2. Envy, if not overcome, may bring you to do terrible things.

3. Beware not to be persuaded by the crowd or a fine orator – keep your mind on Christ.

4. Don’t try to be a crowd pleaser.

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The gospel of Mark

66 – The soldiers mock Jesus

15:16-20

16 The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. 17 They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; 18 and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. 20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

(NASB)

1 Jesus in the hands of the soldiers.

As we have seen, it was not allowed for a Jewish tribunal to condemn a person to death. That was why the Council went to see Pilate with their cause against Jesus. He has now been trialed and condemned to death. In Mark 15:15 we also have seen that Christ was first flogged by the Roman soldiers. This was not an obligation, flogging before crucifixion was not an automatic sentence. It was rarely expected that a person could stand the flogging. Roman soldiers were exceptionally cruel and were very good at causing pain and death.

16 The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. 

Jesus was taken to the Praetorium. This was where the Roman Magistrate would hear cases and decide the outcome. Mark writes that ‘the whole Roman Court’ had gathered together. One may assume that this was a ‘big’ event for Jesus was to be executed. Remember that Pilate had tried to get Jesus liberated but the crowd had shouted the name of Barabbas instead. All of Jerusalem must have been in turmoil.

17 They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; 

The soldiers ‘dressed Him up in purple’. The color purple was symbolic, it represented Royalty. Since Jesus called himself the Son of God the soldiers gave him a royal robe to better mock him. The color purple is only used of Christ in the four gospels. After dressing Jesus with a Royal colored robe, the Roman soldiers offered King Jesus a crown: ‘and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him’. Palestine was abundantly covered with a wide variety of thorns from the ‘Rhamnus’ which was strong and hard and had long thorns. This plant, although abundant near Jerusalem, could not have been used for Jesus’ crown because it was very difficult to bend into shape. It is believed that the ‘Capparesspinosae’ was used because of its smaller sized thorns and flexibility to be shaped into a crown. The Roman soldiers were not delicate with the Lord when they placed this crown on him. They made certain that it would not fall off as he would be taken to Calvary. Great pressure would have been used to secure the crown on his head.

18 and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 

The mocking of Jesus continues. First the purple robe, then the crown of thorns and now they verbally insulted Christ. One needs to read the other gospels to understand all the other aspects of this scene. The word ‘acclaim’ (ASPAZOMAI) means: to enfold in the arms, to salute, to welcome. As it was accustomed for the soldiers to salute and hail a high ranking person, here we see that they ridiculed Jesus by both saluting him and praising him. One needs to remember what Christ had once said:

Matthew 12:37

for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

(RSV)

What terrible judgment awaits these soldiers who enjoyed torturing the Prince of Peace!

19 They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. 

The soldiers are not satisfied with their mocking Christ and they continued. First ‘They kept beating His head with a reed’. The word ‘beating’ (TUPTO) means: to thump, a blow with the hand or an instrument. The soldiers were using a ‘reed’, which is the stem of a plant, to hit Jesus in the face. Reeds of certain plants can become very dry and hard and cause great damage when used against a human body, let alone the face of a person. Then the soldiers were ‘spitting on Him’. This was a great sign of disdain and humiliation. Even today being spat on is a great insult, imagine being spat on the face! Finally they were ‘kneeling and bowing before Him’. Again this is because he called himself the ‘Son of God’. They bowed before him and taunted the Lord of life.

20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

The soldiers actually took pleasure in hurting Jesus like they would with any common criminal. There was no pity, mercy or sympathy in the hearts of these men. Time had come to continue their task with Jesus. Once they tired with ‘playing’ with Jesus, they took off his purple robe and placed his old garments back. The time had come and they led him away to Mount Golgotha to crucify him.

CONCLUSION:

1. May we remember that it was because of our transgressions that Jesus suffered.

2. May our hearts be torn as we witness what Christ endured so we could be forgiven by the Father.

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The gospel of Mark

67 – The crucifixion

15:21-32

21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.

22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.28 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.” 29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32 Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

(NASB)

1. Simon of Cyrene (15:21)

Now as the soldiers were taking Jesus to the Skull to be crucified he had to pass through Jerusalem from the Praetorium of the Roman Magistrate to a small hill just outside the gates. Many of the streets were very narrow and there seemed to be a crowd of people following this event. Let us not forget that this is the Passover feast and the normal population of Jerusalem grew tenfold!

21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.

As Jesus passed through the crowd and pushed along by the soldiers there stood a by-stander named Simon of Cyrene. He was a Hellenistic Jew born in Cyrene which is located on the north coast of Africa. Nothing is known of this man except what this verse tells us. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Both of these brothers are named in one verse. Alexander is found in Acts 19:33 and Rufus in Rom. 16:13. We are not certain that they are the same ones but chances are they might be. Simon was forced ‘to bear His cross’. This may be because of the feeble state of Jesus. Normally a person did not live through the whipping of the Roman soldiers. Jesus’ back must have been torn apart and his flesh hanging! With the loss of blood Jesus may have been too weak to carry the cross. Seeing that he could no longer bring the instrument of death on which he would be nailed, a soldier forced Simon to carry his cross for him.

2. The crucifixion (15:22-26)

22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Jesus arrived at his destination which was called Golgotha in Greek (GOLGOTHA) meaning; the skull. There are two reasons why this small hill may have been called Golgotha. The first is that this was the normal place of execution and there may have been many skulls (as well as other bones) that remained there. The second may have been that the small hill looked like a skull from afar. The Romans gave public executions to instill fear in the local population. This kept them quiet and docile not wanting to be the next on the list!

23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.

When a person was crucified it happened that a Roman soldier would give a mixture of wine and myrrh. It was given to ‘numb’ the person so that his execution might be slightly easier. But here we see that the Lord ‘did not take it’. Was this not why he had come and lived on earth? Was he not willing to drink of the Father’s cup? Jesus willingly received the punishment of the unjust and was not going to by-pass any part by taking this mixture. He bravely and fully became the Lamb of God which takes away our sins (John 1:29,36). Let us rejoice that the Lamb has been sacrificed on our behalf.

24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. 

The following description can be found in Farrar’s book entitled ‘Life of Christ’.

The Assyrians, Scythains, Indians, Germans, and from the earliest times among the Greeks and Romans. Whether this mode of execution was known to the ancient Jews is a matter of dispute. Probably the Jews borrowed it from the Romans. It was unanimously considered the most horrible form of death. Among the Romans the degradation was also a part of the infliction, and the punishment if applied to freemen was only used in the case of the vilest criminals. The one to be crucified was stripped naked of all his clothes, and then followed the most awful moment of all. He was laid down upon the implement of torture. His arms were stretched along the cross-beams, and at the centre of the open palms the point of a huge iron nail was placed, which, by the blow of a mallet, was driven home into the wood. Then through either foot separately, or possibly through both together, as they were placed one over the other, another huge nail tore its way through the quivering flesh. Whether the sufferer was also bound to the cross we do not know; but, to prevent the hands and feet being torn away by the weight of the body, which could not "rest upon nothing but four great wounds," there was, about the centre of the cross, a wooden projection strong enough to support, at least in part, a human body, which soon became a weight of agony. Then the "accursed tree" with its living human burden was slowly heaved up and the end fixed firmly in a hole in the ground. The feet were but a little raised above the earth. The victim was in full reach of every hand that might choose to strike. A death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of the horrible and ghastly, --dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds, all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the sufferer the relief of unconsciousness. The unnatural position made every movement painful; the lacerated veins and crushed tendons throbbed with incessant anguish; the wounds, inflamed by exposure, gradually gangrened; the arteries, especially of the head and stomach, became swollen and oppressed with surcharged blood; and, while each variety of misery went on gradually increasing, there was added to them the intolerable pang of a burning and raging thirst. Such was the death to which Christ was doomed. --Farrar's "Life of Christ." The crucified was watched, according to custom, by a party of four soldiers.

Any man was cursed if he was hung on a tree (Deut. 21:22,23) and Paul (speaking of Christ) refers to this when he wrote to the Galatians (Gal. 3:10-14). Once he was hanging on the tree (cross) the soldiers ‘divided His garments among themselves’. This was also a prophecy that is found in Ps. 22:18. If Jesus was not naked on the cross (which was the custom) he barely had anything on him. This was to add to the shame to be brought on the crucified.

 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

The ‘third hour’ based on the Jewish way of reckoning time is now known as nine in the morning. You will notice that John writes that it was about the sixth hour (John 19:14) – is this an error? Not at all, for Marc was using the Jewish timeframe and John was using the Roman way of telling time. They both point to the same time. So at nine in the morning Jesus was nailed on the cross and the judgment of the Father began. It was a custom to write the crime of the person who was hung on a cross so that passersby understood why this was done. For Jesus his charge (or crime) was ‘THE KING OF THE JEWS’. In his dealings with Jesus, Pilate had asked the following question:

Luke 23:3

And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so."

(RSV)

Jesus was condemned not because he called himself the Son of God like the Jewish religious Council desired but rather as the King of the Jews because that was an offense before the Roman authorities.

3. The two robbers (15:27,28)

27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.28 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.” 

Another prophecy unfolds before us – Jesus was crucified between two thieves which is found in Isaiah:

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

(RSV)

4. The mockers (15:29-32)

29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 

32 Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

As we have seen, this was a public execution and at the feet of Jesus a crowd stood by. In John 19:25,26 we see that as Christ was dying there are four women and the apostle John standing there. There was also the crowd divided into different types of people. The first group is made up of local people who were there to see the execution.

29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 

Just a few days before the people of Jerusalem were claiming Jesus in a triumphant entrance to the Holy City. They cheered, laid down their tunics and cut branches in his honor. Now they were ‘hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads’. They insulted him and mocked him ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!’ How empty and vile are the hearts of man. How easily are they deterred from the truth! James speaks of our language and how it must be like a pool of fresh water.

James 3:10,11

(10)From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.

(11)Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?

(RSV)

But there was another group also standing there – the Jewish Council. They were savoring this moment. It had been a long time that they wanted to take hold of Jesus and do away with him.

31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32 Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

They gladly joined the crowd and they were ‘mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself”. Have you noticed that both groups (which easily represents the non-religious and the religious) say the same thing: ‘save Yourself’. Can you see Satan at work until the very last moment? If Jesus would have come down from the cross at that very moment salvation would have been forfeited! Jesus would have failed and never would have been the perfect and holy sacrifice needed for the cleansing of our sins.

They also pushed Jesus to come down from the cross as proof that he truly was the Son of God. They said: ‘Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!’ Do you think that even if he did so they would have believed- absolutely not! If after all the miracles Jesus had done in their midst they did not believe, their hearts would still have been closed at the cross. There is a warning given to us in Heb. 3:8,15; 4:7 concerning hardening our hearts. One can harden his heart and block salvation from becoming a reality in one’s life. Dear reader has your heart opened to the truth found in Christ? Or are you like the crowd mocking Jesus who died on the cross for you?

The last group of people are the two thieves who ‘were also insulting Him’. Can you imagine dying yourself and still laughing at Christ and mocking who he said he was! But for one thief the story does not end here. In Luke 23:42,43 one of the thieves repents and asks Jesus to remember him and Christ answered:

Luke 23:43

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

(RSV)

CONCLUSION:

1. Simon carried the cross of Jesus and Jesus carried ours.

2. Even at the last moment of your life forgiveness can be found at the cross.

3. The world is divided in two: the mockers and the believers.

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The gospel of Mark

68 – The death of Jesus

15:33-41

33 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

(NASB)

1. Jesus’ first shout (15:33,34)

We left Jesus crucified on the cross and it was the third hour which in our modern time is nine in the morning.

33 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 

We are now at the ‘sixth hour’ which is noon for us. This is the half way point since verse thirty four tells us that Jesus died at the ninth hour. It is written that ‘darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour’. The synoptic Gospels all declare that ‘darkness fell’ but no one describes what it is. We can only imagine that this is the precise time when the Father poured his judgment upon the Son (Isaiah 5:25-30; 59:9,10; Joel 3:14,15, Amos 8:9,10, etc). It is also written that this ‘darkness fell over the whole land’ this might be in reference to the Passover Lamb which brought the forgiveness of sin in all of Israel. Just as the ninth plague in Exodus was darkness just before the lamb was to be sacrificed and the blood applied on the doorposts of the homes so it was with the Lamb of God where darkness appeared before he was also sacrificed!

At the end of the ninth hour ’Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?”. This was to be his first final cry on the cross – the Father had abandoned him and for the first (and last) time in eternity the unity between Father and Son had been broken. The guilt of our sins had been placed on the beloved Son (Isaiah 53:5,6; 2 Cor. 5:21). We know why the Father abandoned the Son – it was so that redemption could be offered, so that the guilty could be justified.

2. The response of the bystanders (15:35,36)

35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” 

This was a gruesome Roman spectacle specially made to frighten anyone who thought of rebelling against the Empire. It was during the Passover festival and an enormous amount of Jews were in Jerusalem. Bystanders or travelers could see Jesus and the two thieves hanging there. The Romans would often let the bodies rot on the cross which made an even more terrifying statement. Scavengers of all types would feast on the rotting bodies

After hearing Jesus cry out ‘the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah”. Remember that Jesus had explained that Elijah was supposed to come just before the Messiah (Mal. 4:5) but people did not recognize that it was John the Baptist (Mat. 11:14). This may also have been a mockery of Jesus crying out on the cross.

 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” 

This ‘Someone’ does not seem to be a Roman soldier but one of the bystanders or spectators of his crucifixion. Someone in the crowd had pity on Jesus and wanted him to drink of the mixture we already have spoken about which might bring some relief. We see that they also wondered if ‘Elijah will come to take Him down’.

3. Jesus’ final cry and last breath (15:37)

 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.

The word ‘uttered’ (APHIEMI) means: to send forth. So Jesus sent forth ‘a loud cry’. The word ‘loud’ (MEGAS) means: exceedingly great, we can imagine that all the bystanders heard his ‘cry’ (PHONE) meaning: noise, sound, voice.

​

One last sound and then ‘he breathed His last’. The word ‘breathed’ (EKPNEO) means: to expire, give up the ghost. In other words and as Jesus said it in Luke:

Luke 23:46

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.

(RSV)

4. The result of Jesus’ sacrifice (15:38)

38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 

Please note that the evening sacrifice was normally at three in the afternoon about (if not) the same time that Jesus died on the cross! What is the ‘veil of the temple’? This is probably the veil that separated the holy place from the courtyard. Notice that the veil was ‘torn in two from top to bottom’. All three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) mention this. The veil separated the holiness of God from the people and only one priest could come in the holy of holies ONCE A YEAR with the blood of the Pascal Lamb that had just been sacrificed. The blood would purify the sins of Israel but had to be constantly repeated over and over again.

The veil was ‘torn in two from top to bottom’. This manifests that God himself destroyed the veil that kept mankind from approaching Him. This symbolized that the entrance unto the presence of God was now open – but why? This is because the Lamb of God (Jesus) had sacrificed himself and this sacrifice had been accepted by the Father. The writer of Hebrews explains this quite clearly (Heb. 6:19,20; 9:1-14; 10:19-22).

5. The centurion’s testimony (15:39)

39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Centurions were no ordinary soldiers. To become a centurion one would need years of faithful service and a proven knowledge of warfare. He would be a man of superior intelligence. It is said that a centurion would be like a captain in our armed forces. Since he was still ‘standing right in front of Him’ it just might be that he had been in charge of the three executions. He remained there to assure the authorities that all would remain calm – since this is Passover and the crowds may become agitated since Jesus was beloved (by some at least!). After seeing all that happened from his whipping to his final cry on the cross this centurion came to only one conclusion ‘Truly this man was the Son of God’. Have you come to the same conclusion? Has the evidence sufficed you? Is Christ really the Son of God and have you called upon him to save you from your sins?

6. Looking from afar (15:40,41)

40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Not everyone was at the feet of Christ some ‘women looking on from a distance’. Three are named. First Mary Magdalene from whom Jesus had driven demons. The second was Mary ‘the mother of James the less and Joses’. James the less is to be distinguished from James the elder also known as James the apostle. Salome seems to be the wife of Zebedee. She was the mother of James and John. Some believe her to be the sister of Mary, mother of Jesus.

41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Notice that besides John there were only women present at the crucifixion of Jesus. All of the remaining ten apostles were hiding somewhere. Even Peter after denying Jesus did not yet have a change of heart and was absent! The love of these women who had followed Jesus and had ministered unto him was stronger than those of the chosen twelve (except for John). What a testimony for all of us.

CONCLUSION

1. Amen that the sacrifice of the Lamb of God was complete and perfect. Amen that the veil was torn from top to bottom by the Father and that we can now come to Him.

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