WHAT SHALL I DO WITH HIM?

Passage: Mark 15:1-15

Key verse: 12-13

NIV

Jesus Before Pilate(A)

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law(B) and the whole Sanhedrin,(C) made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.(D)

“Are you the king of the Jews?”(E) asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

But Jesus still made no reply,(F) and Pilate was amazed.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”(G) asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas(H) instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,(I) and handed him over to be crucified.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

15 (A)And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests (B)held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And (C)they bound Jesus and (D)led him away and (E)delivered him over to (F)Pilate. (G)And Pilate asked him, (H)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, (I)“You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, (J)“Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus (K)made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

(L)Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had (M)committed murder (N)in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that (O)it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with (P)the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? (Q)What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having (R)scourged[a] Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 15:15 A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing embedded pieces of bone and metal

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Pilate's dilemma (1-5) Only the Roman officials had the authority to carry out a death penalty. So the religious leaders met early in the morning and made plans. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. They made many charges against Jesus, but Jesus remained silent. Pilate knew that the leaders were acting out of envy and jealousy. Even their charge that Jesus claimed to be a king was dismissed by Pilate. The question, however, was how would Pilate respond to the truth? Would he convict an innocent man? Was he willing to accept the social and political consequences of releasing Jesus? Followers of Jesus may find themselves under similar pressures. Will we stand on the side of truth? 2. A mob mentality (6-15) The chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Barabbas, a convicted murderer, released instead of Jesus. Again and again they shouted for Jesus to be crucified, although no one could identify any crime that he had committed. Mob mentality and popular opinion are powerful forces. Will we remain faithful to Jesus in spite of such pressures? Pilate gave in. He handed Jesus over to be flogged and crucified.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us strength to stand for the truth.

One Word: Take your stand with Jesus