CHAPTER 15

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

After the events of the night before (the illegal trial, Peter's denial), Jesus was taken to the Roman Governor. The Jewish people of that day had the right of trial and normal punitive judgment; but they didn't have the right of capital punishment under Roman law. Only the Governor could put a person to death.

Notice Pilate's question: "Art Thou the King of the jews?" Seems to me, Pilate was asking not "Do You claim to be;" but, "Are You really?"
There is PURPOSE to both the question and the answer here.
Jesus' answer was "It is as you say." In other words, YES, He IS!

But when the chief priests accused him "of many things," Jesus remained silent! That's why Pilate "marvelled"!
John gives a more expanded version of this conversation in John 18:29-36.

Pilate was not a Jew, and, though he was somewhat familiar with their customs, was not a believer to the claim that a Messiah would come from the Jewish people. Yet, now, he is faced with Jesus, and realizes that Jesus' claim is not that of a false prophet. If Jesus had been a false prophet, He would have tried to "wiggle out" of the death penalty.

Matthew tells us that Pilate "knew that for envy they delivered Him." (Matthew 27:18) Pilate knew enough about Judaism to know that "Messiah" not only meant "Anointed One," but also "Commander-in-chief!" He couldn't understand how the majestic authority and supremacy of God could be delivered by mere men!

Besides that, Pilate's wife had sent him a message saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."(Matt 27:19)

Therefore the PURPOSE for Pilate's question was to discern if Jesus were truthfully the Messiah. If He WERE, then He would be able to deliver Himself. And HE DID!!
Jesus delivered Himself TO death that He might pay for our sins.
But Jesus also delivered Himself FROM death and thus proved He is God, and can truthfully save men!

6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

The "feast" spoken of is the feast of the Passover. This feast was a memorial to the Jews receiving freedom from Egyptian slavery by the act of Almighty God. Pilate, the Governor at that time, utilized the symbolism to release one Jewish prisoner from jail to the people.

Barabbas, was a murderer (see vs 7 above), yet they were willing for him to be released and have Jesus (Who had done no wrong) CRUCIFIED!

The REASON they were willing for this to happen was because "the chief priests moved the people...." The Greek word for "moved" is anaseio, which means excite, stir up.
And the reason that the chief priests stirred up the people was "envy" (vs 10)!

They were envious that Jesus was receiving more attention and being followed diligently by more people than they!
They believed in Messiah to come, but didn't believe He would come as a man; even though their prophets taught it (See Isaiah, Chapter 53, for instance).
They dreamed of Messiah coming out of heaven on a white horse, defeating all enemies and turning the world over to them!

The problem is the same today. Men would rather believe what they dream up than fact!
And because of that, men willingly "crucify" Truth when it conflicts with their dreams!

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Another problem with our world today is that men in positions of power bend too often to the will of a few rather than listen to the majority.
Yes, almost ALL of the crowd that day called for Jesus' crucifiction.
But ALL of the people weren't present because the trial had been performed secretly at night, and few people knew of it. And, because only those few people knew about Jesus being taken to Pilate.

Even though the crowd was few, they made "much ado," and Pilate allowed his inclination to be swayed!
He "released Barabbas" and allowed Jesus to be "scourged" and "crucified!"

Many leaders today allow the outcries of a few to sway their moral convictions!
That's why students in high school cannot receive an aspirin without parental notification, but they can receive an abortion without parental notification!
That's also why the national government and State governments sponsor gambling!
The outcries of a few in selective places sometimes crowd out the will of the totality of all the constituents who elected someone to office!

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

The soldiers mocked Jesus' claim to be the "King of the Jews."
They did NOT do this "unknowingly!"

Let us not forget that these soldiers were assigned to keep peace in Jerusalem. The were very knowledgeable about Jewish customs, rituals, and feasts. They also knew of the Jewish claim that "Messiah" would come through their lineage.

Therfore, these soldiers were mocking the fact that Jesus claimed to be the "Messiah," the King of eternity! After all, they had Him in their grasp! How could He be God if they could handle Him and torture Him?

We understand, through the ressurrection, that this was all part of God's PLAN to save the world. And this gives us perspective about how people of today's world continue the mockery of Jesus being King of eternity!

If one is not surrendered to Jesus as LORD, then one will not be committed to Him.

Instead, they will mock His Name, "make fun" of the Bible, and persecute Christians.
Their desire is to have Jesus DEAD so He cannot influence their lives!

Which leads us to the next verse. And I believe it to be a KEY verse!

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Simon is a representative of all Christians here!
We must be compelled by God's Holy Spirit (through conviction) before we can be committed to Christ's Lordship over our lives. Unless He is LORD first, He will not be SAVIOR! (See Matthew 12:30)

In order to be saved, we are compelled to take up the "sufferings" of Christ (See 2Corinthians 1:7, Philippians 3:10, 1Peter 4:13, Luke 9:23 for instance).

Simon was "the father of Alexander and Rufus."
These are probably the "Alexander" of Acts 19:33, and the "Rufus" of Romans 16:13.

Simon was compelled to carry the cross.
Our surrender to Christ as Lord of our lives compels us to carry our cross of denying self and exalting Jesus all through our lives. (Luke 9:23)

22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

The explanation of three things(by Mark) lead us to "the third hour."

First, The hill upon which Jesus died (vs 22) was called "Golgotha," or, "The place of the skull." The very name signifies death. It was here that criminals were taken to DIE!

Second, Jesus was OFFERED a drink which resulted in deadening the senses (vs 23). But Jesus REFUSED the drinK! Jesus chose to experience ALL of the suffering and pain FOR US! That cross signifies the awful death WE should die because of our sins against God. But Jesus came to PAY THE PRICE for our salvation!

Third, they GAMBLED at the foot of Jesus' cross!! They GAMBLED for His CLOTHES! OH! The depravity of man! That we would gamble before the very person and means of our salvation!

And, THEN, "..it was the third hour..." That was 9:00 in the morning.
Later, we will find that Jesus died at "the ninth hour", which was 3:00PM.
That time is significant, and fulfills prophetically the "law of the sacrifice" for the Passover.
More about this later.

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

The guards sat down to watch Jesus die, AND to make sure no one took Him down from the cross.

Usually, there was some kind of statement nailed to the upper portion of the upright beam. That statement was the crime which the person had committed. Above Jesus' head was the sign: "THIS IS JESUS KING OF THE JEWS."

According to John 19:21, the chief priests and elders asked that the inscription be changed. They wanted it to read "HE SAID HE WAS KING OF THE JEWS."

When Jesus was before the high priest (Matthew 26:63-64), He had been asked if He were the "Christ, the Son of God." He had answered, "Thou sayest...," which, as discussed earlier, meant: "You are speaking the truth."

When Jesus was before Pilate (Matthew 27:11), the govenor asked, "Art thou King of the Jews?" Again, Jesus answered, "Thou sayest." GOD CANNOT DENY TRUTH! Jesus IS King of kings, Lord of lords!

However, the accusation which the rulers had stated against Jesus when they were before Pilate, was not the same as the accusation they had made of Him when in the trial the night before. That night, they had accused him of blasphemy; a man calling Himself God! But when they went before Pilate, they accused Jesus of being a "King," Who perverted the nation and forbid to give tax money to Caesar (See Luke 23:2). In John 18:33-37 Jesus took time to explain to Pilate that His kingdom was "not of this world." He was not an insurrectionist. There was no need to crucify Him because of the law. He was not exacting taxes, and He was not forbidding that taxes be paid to Caesar.

Therefore, they who accused Jesus, and he who caused him to be crucified are as Judas: guilty of "innocent blood!"

The two thieves were more than likely guilty of more than thievery. Men were not normally crucified for theft only. These were hardened criminals. Thus Isaiah 53:12 was fulfilled, "he was numbered among the transgressors."

Passersby came to witness the crucifixion of criminals. Some of them wagged their heads, indicating a shameful thing. Some of them "reviled" Jesus with words. They didn't believe He was God, because He didn't deliver Himself from the cross.

But one of the thieves believed Jesus (See Luke 23:39-43).

The chief priests also came by. They reviled Jesus by saying "If He be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross..." They indeed believed Jesus to be guilty of blasphemy because He did not deliver Himself.

These men professed to be speakers of truth. Yet, when they came face to face with absolute Truth, they could not comprehend it! They did not understand, along with millions today, that in order to forgive, God must pay God the atonement for their sins! Having lived so long under the sacrificial system, they did not comprehend its symbolic and prophetic meaning! Isaiah 53:7 says, in part, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter..."

Yet, it was for THEM, and for US, that Jesus STAYED on that cross! He was not a malefactor, He is our Benefactor! By His payment for our sins, He confers forgiveness to all those who surrender to Him!

Little did they know that, though He was not delivered from the cross, He would be delivered from the grave!

33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Both Matthew 27:45 and Luke 23:44 speak of this "darkness" which was over the land of Judaea from "the sixth hour....unto the ninth hour." That would mean that darkness prevailed from noon until 3PM. Remember, this was the time of the full moon, for it was the time of the Passover. Therefore, it was not a "darkness" of an eclipse! It was a supernatural expression of God's sorrow!
It must be noted that some secular writers from around that era wrote of an "eclipse" which occured. However, none of them were present at the time. And all of their writings were taken from fact-finding conversations they had with others. It would have been easy for those writers to misconstrue statements concerning "darkness" with "eclipse."

The "Sun of Righteousness" was suspended in "darkness" when men's sin crucified the Savior! It was the ugliest, blackest moment in the history of mankind when the life of God in flesh was given freely for man's aberrations! In Luke 23:53
Jesus had said to those who came to take Him with swords, "..this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Just before 3PM, Jesus cried loudly "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
How can one ever explain?

How could God leave God? Can anyone ever imagine, even minutely, the awesome suffering of Jesus, as the Spirit of God LEFT His body to DIE? There had never been a time in Jesus' physical life that He did not know the fullness of the Spirit of God! He ALWAYS knew the closeness, unity, holiness, and fullness of God in Him! At that time, the Holy, Eternal, Almighty God LEFT His own body to die on the cross! At that time the Son, the body of God became the "kernel of wheat" (See John 12:24).

This was God's plan from "..before the world" (See John 17:5, 1Corinthians 2:7, 2Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2).

The ONE "Son" of God, the ONE "body" of God must die to sin in order show the holiness of God. The body of Christ had never sinned. He died to sin, and lived perfect. He was "without spot" and "without blemish." Thus, His body was the PERFECT sacrifice!

And the ONE "Son" of God, the ONE "body" of God must die for sin to grant men the privilege of forgiveness. In all acts of harm against another, it is the FORGIVOR who must bear the COST of forgiveness! Jesus' body was given to pay the ransom price, to purchase atonement, to make propitiation for man's sins.

Matthew uses the word from Hebrew origin "Eli," meaning "My GOD."
Mark uses the word from Syriac "Eloi," still meaning "My GOD."
Both use the word from Hebrew origin "lema," which means "WHY."
And both use "sabachthani" (of Hebrew origin), which means "LEFT."

Some, who were standing by, misunderstood and thought Jesus was calling for Elijah. Then they lifted a sponge to His mouth, probably because He said, "I thirst" (John 19:28).

The very next thing recorded is that Jesus "yielded up the ghost," meaning life passed from His body and He DIED!

Without a real bodily death, God could not have paid for our sins!
Just as, without a real bodily resurrection, we have no hope!

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

This was Friday, at "the ninth hour," or 3PM (see verse 46 above). This was precisely the time that the high priest was to offer a lamb for the sins of the people. After he had offered that lamb, he was to enter the Holy Place of the tabernacle and place blood on the small altar in front of the veil. Then he was to enter beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies, and place blood on the mercy seat of the ark.

The high priest was allowed to enter that Holy of Holies only ONCE per year! The veil symbolized a separation of God from people and their sinful ways. The once-per-year atonement symbolized that God must ALLOW one to come within to plead for the people. To enter without permission would mean sure death!

The Bible plainly states that at this time, "..the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.."!! Can you imagine the mind-boggling disturbance in the mind of the high priest as he entered the Holy Place and saw the veil RIPPED from top to bottom?!

When the Spirit of God left the body of Christ, His "Person" went directly through the veil!
He opened access to God permanently for all those who come to God by Him (See Hebrews 9:12). He purchased eternal redemption for those who come to God by Him!

And those who trust in Christ become sanctified by His bodily offering (See Hebrews 10:10).

Jesus is the "Great High Priest" Who has entered the Holy of Holies of God for our sakes (See Hebrews 4:14). And He is set on the "right hand," (or place of power) of God!! (See Hebrews 8:1)

Through surrender to Christ, we can come "boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

The "centurion" was a Roman guard, placed to witness the death of those crucified. A Roman, a man who probably worshipped many "gods." Even he said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

This man was a witness to how Jesus willingly lay down to receive the nails in His hands and feet. He was a witness to how Jesus cried, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." He was a witness to the darkness that covered the earth. He was a witness to the earthquake when Jesus died. He KNEW this was "The Son of GOD!"

Countless others, by this man's witness, and by the reading of the Gospels, have come to know Jesus as the Eternal, Holy, Son of God, and Savior!

40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

Many people stood by "beholding" the events of Christ's death. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less, and Mary the mother of John and James. Jesus' mother, Mary, and John the apostle were also there (See John 19:25-27).

They who witnessed Jesus dying to sin in His life, were there also to witness Him dying for sin at His death. They had been witnesses to His spotless life, and now witnessed His vicarious death.

"1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:1-2)

Remember Him Who died for you, that you may remember you died to Him!

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Here was a "rich man" who was a devoted disciple and follower of Christ - Joseph of Arimathaea. He used his influence to "beg" Pilate for the body of Christ. Then, after he had seen to it that the Lord's body was wrapped appropriately for burial, buried Jesus in his OWN tomb!! He had purchased that tomb for his OWN burial!

At this, let me reiterate a statement made in the discussion on Matthew 19:16-26.
"But what Jesus was explaining is that only God can overrule a man's desire for worldly fame and fortune. It is IMPOSSIBLE for man to be saved by his own works, merit, or fortune! But with God it is POSSIBLE! God can and will forgive the poorest or the richest persons."

It has been said that Joseph didn't mind Jesus using his own tomb at all. After all, Jesus only wanted it for the weekend!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.