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Mark 15:1-15
Intro: This passage brings us one step closer to the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary.
He has been arrested by His enemies.
He has been tried by the religious authorities and condemned.
His condemnation was based on the testimony of false witnesses and erroneous accusations.
The Jews have sentenced Jesus to death, and that is where we are headed as this narrative unfolds.
In this passage, we will see Jesus rejected by the religious authorities in Israel.
We will see Him rejected by the civil authority of Rome.
Ultimately, we will see Him rejected by the common man as well.
This text reveals the very heart of human nature.
This text proves that man, in his natural state, is a totally depraved sinner, capable of intense hatred and evil.
This text proves that man, in his natural state, is God’s enemy, just as Romans 8:7 “7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” says he is.
This text is a mirror for the human heart, fully revealing its character and condition.
Once an African chief happened to visit a mission station.
Hanging outside the missionary’s hut on a tree was a little mirror.
The chief happened to look into the mirror and saw his reflection, complete with terrifying paint and threatening features.
He gazed at his own frightening countenance and started back in horror, exclaiming, “Who is that horrible-looking person inside that tree?”
“Oh,” the missionary said, “it is not in the tree.
The glass is reflecting your own face.”
The African would not believe it until he held the mirror in his hand.
He said, “ I must have the glass.
How much will you sell it for?”
“Oh,” said the missionary, “I don’t want to sell it.”
But the chief begged until he capitulated, thinking it might be best to sell it to avoid trouble.
So he named a price and he took the mirror.
Exclaiming, “ I will never have it making faces at me again,” he threw it down and broke it to pieces.
This is precisely what the religious establishment did to Jesus.
They would dash this mirror of their souls!
So they nailed him to a cross, only to find that this magnified the reflection.
[i]
This text is a mirror of our own souls.
When we look at Jesus and what the people did to Him that day, we can see ourselves.
We either see that we are walking with our faith in Jesus.
Or, we see that we are guilty of rejecting the King.
I. THE SON OF GOD REJECTED BY THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY-VS. 1
· The language of verse 1 suggests that these events occurred very early in the morning, just as the sun was rising.
The word “morning” translates a word that refers to the time between 3 AM and 6 AM, or the fourth watch of the night.
So, as soon as dawn begins to break, the chief priests convene all the rulers of Israel together to legitimize the decisions they reached during the night.
After Jesus was arrested, He was subjected to an illegal trial before the chief priest.
During this trial, Jesus was accused of blasphemy and condemned to death.
He was then beaten and mistreated by the religious leaders and the temple police.
This early morning meeting was held for just one purpose; these men wanted to add a sense of legitimacy to the illegal decision they had made during the night.
During this phase of the trial, the Jews asked Jesus the same question they had asked Him during the night.
Luke 22:66-71 tells us that they once again asked Jesus if He was the Son of God.
Once again, Jesus answered that indeed He was the Son of God.
To the Jews, this confirmed Him as a blasphemer, and they reaffirmed the sentence of death.
· The actions of these religious men teach us a very important truth.
That truth is this: religion has no place for Jesus Christ.
The Jewish religious rulers had a good thing going.
As far as daily life in Israel was concerned, they held all the power over the people.
They were making vast amounts of money through the buying and selling that went on at the Temple.
They were rich.
They were powerful.
They believed that they were right with God.
These men thought they were justified in all their actions.
They believed their religion was enough!
The Jews rejected Jesus because religion has no room for Jesus Christ.
· The fact is, no religious system has room for Jesus.
Religion is all about human involvement and human activity.
Religion is always based in external works.
Biblical Christianity, on the other hand, is always based in faith.
Religion seeks to approach God on the basis of what man can do.
Biblical Christianity seeks to approach God on the basis of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.
There is a vast difference between the two!
The Bible is crystal clear on this issue: no one is saved by works, even religious works, Eph.
2:8-9 Rom.
3:20 Titus 3:3-5
It is also crystal clear that salvation is based on faith in Christ alone, John 1:12; 3:15-16, 36; 6:40, 47; Acts 16:31; Rom.
10:9; Mark 16:16; Rom.
5:1-5; 1 John 5:10-13.
Salvation is never about what man can do; it is always about what Jesus has already done.
The Gospel is a very clear and straight forward message.
It can be summed up in these verses: Rom.
4:25 and 1 Cor.
15:1-4.
What really matters are these simple questions: Have you believed the Gospel message of Christ’s death and resurrection?
Are you trusting Jesus and Jesus alone for your soul’s salvation?
· Things like giving, praying, good works, baptism, church attendance, etc., are all good things, but none of them has the power to save the soul.
Religion has the power to make people respectable and decent, but it does not have the power to make anyone right with God.
On the other hand, biblical redemption has the power to make people holy.
It has the power to save the soul, secure the soul and alter one’s eternal destiny.
Seeking God man’s way will always result in eternal damnation in Hell.
Coming to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will always result the soul’s salvation and eternal glory in Heaven!
· So, are you saved?
Or, are you lost?
I. REJECTED BY THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
II.
THE SON OF GOD REJECTED BY THE RULING CLASS-VS.
2-5
· When Jesus arrives before Pilate, the governor asks Jesus about the accusation that He is the King of the Jews.
The answer Jesus gives Pilate is somewhat different from the answer He gave the Jews.
When the Jews asked Jesus about His identity as the Son of God and the Messiah, Jesus simply said, “I Am”!
When Pilate asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus responds by saying “Thou sayest it.”
Jesus is saying, “I am the King of the Jews, but I am not a king in any way you would understand.
My kingdom is not of this world.
My authority comes from above and not from you or the men who have accused Me.”
Why was Jesus so clear with the Jews and why was He not so clear with Pilate?
The Jews had every reason to believe that Jesus was Who He claimed to be.
They had the Old Testament with its laws and prophecies that predicted the coming of the Messiah.
Jesus fulfilled every one of them to the letter.
He proved He was their Messiah.
In fact, he even exceeded the ancient prophecies, Ill.
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