JESUS' TRIAL BEFORE PILATE

Passage: Mark 15:1-15

Key verse: 2

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)

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

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

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

6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9 “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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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. 2 (G)And Pilate asked him, (H)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, (I)“You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, (J)“Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus (K)made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

6 (L)Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had (M)committed murder (N)in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 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. Jesus, the king of the Jews (1-5)

The Jewish leaders took Jesus to Pilate the Roman governor. Pilate asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus answered, 'You have said so.' Jesus is the promised Messiah King. The chief priests accused Jesus of many things. But he didn't defend himself in order to fulfill God's salvation work just as a soldier jumps on a grenade to save fellow soldiers.

2. Jesus, sentenced to be crucified (6-15)

Pilate knew Jesus' innocence and the Jews' evil motive. But to keep the Jews satisfied, he offered the crowd a choice between Jesus and a murderer Barabbas. But they rejected Jesus and chose Barabbas. They rejected God's free offer of salvation-Jesus-and chose a criminal. They demanded Pilate to crucify Jesus. Pilate finally handed Jesus over to be crucified. He gave in to the crowd, knowing that it was wrong. When he didn't stand on the truth, cowardice and sin took over him. Jesus was condemned for us, who chose sin-like the crowd-and gave into evil in the spirit of cowardice and compromise-like Pilate.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are our King who took the burdens of our sins silently to the cross. Help us to accept Christ and to stand on the side of truth.

One Word: Jesus is the servant King