Gospel of Mark: Jesus, Crucified King

We're reading from Mark's Gospel, chapter 15, and it's found on page 1022 of the Church Bible.

And I'm reading verse 1 to verse 32.

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law, and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision.

They bound Jesus, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate.

Are you the king of the Jews? asked Pilate.

Yes, it is as you say, 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, and Pilate was amazed.

Now it was the custom at the feet 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? asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

What shall I do then with the one you call the king of the Jews? asked Pilate.

Crucify him, they shouted.

Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, crucify him.

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.

He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace, that is, the praetorium, and called together the whole company of soldiers.

They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

And they began to call out to him, Hail, king of the Jews.

Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him.

Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put on his own clothes on him.

Then they led him out to crucify him.

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country.

And they forced him to carry the cross.

They brought Jesus to the palace called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull.

Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

And they crucified him, dividing up his clothes, the cast lots to see what each would get.

It was the third hour when they crucified him.

The written notice on the charge against him read, The king of the Jews.

They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying,

So, you who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself.

In the same way, the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves.

He saved others, they said, but he can't save himself.

Let this Christ, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.

Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Well, crucifixion was the most cruel and horrifying punishment.

The very mention of the word was designed to create fear and terror amongst the people.

As one historian has pointed out, depending on the severity of the flogging beforehand,

some victims survived on crosses several days.

Since no major arteries were severed, death came not by blood loss,

but from hypovolemic shock, which is organ failure,

or exhaustion asphyxia, which is where you drown in your own fluids,

or heart failure, or a combination of the above.

It was a bloody and violent torture, causing the maximum amount of pain over the longest period of time.

And many people have tried to capture the depth of suffering involved of somebody on a cross,

none more so than Mel Gibson in the film The Passion of the Christ.

And in that bloody and graphic portrayal, we just see how gruesome the crucifixion actually was.

The flogging that happened beforehand, with metal barbs at the end of each piece of leather,

which exposed human flesh and bone right down to the entrails.

The constant beating on the body, which left the person swollen to an unrecognisable state.

The long metal spikes that were driven through sinew and bone.

Horrifying, horrific.

But when we get to Mark's account,

this is what we read.

Look at verse 24.

And they crucified him.

That's all he says.

There's no guts.

There's no gore.

There's no graphic description.

There's no blood.

Just a statement of historical fact.

And they crucified him.

So why doesn't he bother with all the detail?

Well, you see, Mark wants us to get past the bloody, violent suffering.

And he wants us to see the person.

He wants us to get past all the gore.

He wants us to see that the person on the cross,

the one who is being crucified,

is God's king who has come to save.

He wants us to see Jesus.

You know, the only words that Jesus speaks in this whole text

is to identify himself as king.

Look at verse 2.

Are you the king of the Jews, asked Pilate?

Yes, it is as you say, Jesus replied.

That's all he says.

Through all the suffering and all the beating and all the flogging,

through all the crucifixion,

these are the only words that are recorded here of Jesus.

Yes, it is as you say, I am the king.

Of course, to claim that you were king

was an act of treason, punishable by death.

As far as Rome was concerned, there was only one king.

And that was the emperor Tiberius.

He was the one who ruled with an iron fist.

And any challenge to his throne was firmly dealt with.

Which is why, look at verse 5.

When Jesus made no reply to the accusations,

when he made no defence to the accusations,

Pilate was amazed.

Literally, he was stunned.

He was shocked.

Why on earth would somebody claim to be a king

when they know they are going to be crucified

and suffer a horrific death?

What would be the point of saying you are a king?

What would it achieve?

Well, again, Mark's concern is that we get past

all the outer details that we see on film.

He wants us to see that in the crucifixion of Jesus,

we see these things.

We see a king who exchanged places for us.

We see a king who identifies with us.

And we see a king who proves powerful to us.

So first we look at a king who exchanged places with us.

Look at verse 6.

It was the custom at the feast,

this was the feast of the Passover,

to release a prisoner from the people

whom the people requested.

And there was a man called Barabbas

who was in prison with the insurrectionists,

their terrorists,

who had committed murder in the uprising.

Now Judea and Jerusalem,

where all of this was taking place,

was part of the Roman Empire.

They controlled it.

They ruled it.

And the role of Pilate

was to make sure that any signs of revolt or rebellion

were ruthlessly dealt with.

That's why he was stationed there.

And Barabbas was one of these rebels

who was always at the Roman Empire.

He had led a violent uprising, we're told,

terrorising and murdering people.

But now he has been captured

and he's sitting on death's row,

awaiting his crucifixion.

But we're told in verse 8

that the crowd came up and asked Pilate

to do for them what he usually did.

As a way of easing tensions amongst all the people

and pacifying the crowd,

Pilate would release a prisoner of their choosing.

I guess something not unlike the Good Friday agreements.

Verse 9

Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?

asked Pilate,

knowing it was out of envy

that the chief priest had handed Jesus over to him.

But the chief priest stirred up the crowd

to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

You see, Pilate knows

that Jesus is innocent.

And Pilate knows that Barabbas is guilty.

So he begins to question their request

in verse 12.

What shall I do then

with the one that you call the King of the Jews?

Pilate asked them.

Crucify him!

But why?

What has he committed?

What crime has he done?

Why would you want to crucify him?

But they shouted all the louder.

Crucify him!

You see, all who are involved in this trial,

every single person knows the truth.

They know Jesus.

They've seen him.

He's lived a perfectly innocent life.

Healing the sick.

Caring for the poor.

Defending the weak.

Never did he lose his temper.

Never was there a cross word.

Never was there a violent act.

He was compassionate

and he was generous.

He was respectful to those around him.

He loved his enemies.

He was honourable to those who were above him.

In contrast,

look at Barabbas.

He's lived a destructive

and a violent life.

Causing terror,

maiming and murdering.

Driven by hate,

motivated by revenge,

an angry and ruthless

and guilty man.

But look what happens.

Verse 15.

Wanting to satisfy the crowd.

Wanting to appease them.

Wanting to keep the peace

and make his job a little bit easier.

Wanting to make sure

that there was no more kind of outcries.

Pilate released Barabbas to them.

He had Jesus flogged

and handed him over

to be crucified.

Now tell me,

what kind of king is this?

Kings have power and authority.

Kings come to judge.

They are not judged.

Kings come with authority

to bring justice.

They don't suffer injustice.

But look at this king here.

What's it all about?

It all seems so foolish.

But what we see here in this king

is a king who comes to exchange places

with a guilty murderer.

This king does not plead his innocence.

So Barabbas is released instead

and Jesus is crucified in his place.

Jesus takes his place on death row

and dies in place of him

so that he can go free.

Now I don't know what Barabbas thought about that.

Did he ever reflect on it

when he saw Jesus on the cross

and thought,

he's dying in my place?

Did it even register with him?

We're not told.

But what we are sure for from this is

is that through this very act

we are being painted a picture

of what Jesus is about to do

on the cross for you and for me.

For Jesus is the perfect,

kind, generous,

and innocent king.

Sinless in all his perfection,

in all his beauty,

in all his wonder.

Yet we are sinful

and we are guilty.

We are the ones

who deserve to be punished.

But on the cross,

Jesus exchanges places

for people like you and for me.

He is treated as guilty

and he suffers the judgment

that we deserve.

Jesus is the one

who goes to death row

for you and for me

so that we can go free,

so that we can be forgiven

of our sins,

so that we are no longer condemned,

but that we are welcomed

as his children,

treated as innocent.

This is what Mark wants us to see

as we see Jesus crucified.

Second,

we see a king who identifies with us.

Look at verse 16.

The soldiers led Jesus away

into the palace.

That is the praetorium.

That is like the barracks.

And they called together

the whole company of soldiers.

Now, company there

is actually a military term

and it's about 600 men.

So here we have Jesus

standing in the middle.

He's already weak and broken

from the flogging

that he's just received.

And then in unison,

these battle-hardened soldiers

all begin to mock

and laugh

and jeer.

And Jesus stands there

alone in the midst

of all the laughing

and all that's going on.

Verse 17.

They put a purple robe on him.

A sign of royalty.

Then they twisted together

a crown of thorns.

Usually it was a gold wreath

symbolizing military power.

But this time

it's a thorny crown

shoved into his head.

Verse 18.

And then they began

to call out to him,

Ha!

Ha!

Hail!

King of the Jews!

Look at him!

He calls himself a king!

Again and again

they struck him on the head

with a staff

and they spat on him.

Falling on their knees

they paid homage to him.

You call yourself a king?

What kind of king are you?

You know when the Roman Emperor

came into town

he would come

dressed in all his royal robes.

Streets would be lined

with all the people

cheering crowds

celebrating his military might.

They would come

and they would all

bow down in honour

to their great emperor

and king.

Hail Caesar!

And here they are

before this king.

The true king.

Here they come

before him saying

you think you're a king?

It's painful.

It's humiliating.

It's a soul-destroying mockery.

Verse 20

And when they had mocked him

they took off the purple robe

and put his own clothes on him.

Then they led him out

to crucify him.

On and on the mocking went.

The crowds hurling abuse

as he made his way

to the cross.

Verse 29

Even those who passed by

hurled their insults at him.

Verse 31

In the same way

the chief priests

and the teachers of the law

mocked him.

The end of verse 32

even those who were crucified

with him

also heaped insults on him.

You call yourself a king?

You effing fool!

Look at the state of you!

Who do you think you are?

The innocent king

suffering violent

and verbal abuse.

But never once

does Jesus retaliate.

Never once

does he threaten

or answer back.

Never once

is there a cross word.

Just silence.

And we look on at this

and we say

Why?

What's the point?

What does it all achieve?

Jesus is supposed to be

the king.

Kings are honoured.

They're not mocked.

People bow down

to kings in worship.

They don't spit in their face.

But this is the kind of king he is.

He's telling us that

I am not immune

or unmoved

by your suffering.

Jesus knows

what it is

to face

injustice.

He understands

the pain

of mocking.

He has felt

the fists

of abuse.

He has experienced

being humiliated

and shamed.

so whatever

act of injustice

you may go through

whatever

abuse

you may

endure

when people

shut you out

and mistreat

you

and laugh at you

when you are there

sitting alone

in silence

broken

and weak

when you feel

you're outnumbered

at work

or within

your own family

look to the king

who identifies

with you

when you get

laughed at

because you love

Jesus

when you get

slagged

because your husband

or wife

thinks what you do

is silly

when your college

mates or your

school mates

think it's a load

of rubbish

remember

he knows

where you're at

he

has been there

he

is not

distant

and immune

and unmoved

to your suffering

and as we

come to him

as now

the risen king

we find

that he

understands

you

he

sympathises

with you

he is

the refuge

he cares

for you

and he

will comfort

you

and he

will strengthen

you

because he's

been there

he's been

through it

and he's

risen again

but don't you

sometimes want

to retaliate

aren't there

times when you

just want to

get your back

your own back

at people

don't you

wish bad

things to

happen to

people who

do nasty

things to

you

well listen

to what

Peter

says

remember

Peter

the one

we looked

at last

week

who had

disowned

and

betrayed

listen to

what Peter

now says

as he

reflects

on Jesus

being crucified

you can

look it

up if you

like

in

1st

Peter

1st

Peter

chapter

2

if somebody

has a page

number that would

be helpful

1st

Peter

chapter

2

1

2

1

8

1

when you

want to

retaliate

when you're

feeling bitter

and angry

and you're

wanting to

get back

at someone

we're to

look at

Jesus

being

crucified

and facing

the mocking

let's read

these words

1 Peter

1 Peter 2:21

chapter

2

verse

21

to this

you were

called

because

Christ

suffered

for you

leaving you

an example

that you

should follow

in his

steps

he committed

no sin

and no

deceit

was found

in his

mouth

when they

hurled

their insults

at him

he did

not

retaliate

when he

suffered

he made

no threats

instead

he entrusted

himself

to him

who judges

justly

he himself

bore our

sins in his

body

on the tree

that's the

cross

so that we

might die

to sin

and live

for righteousness

by his

wounds

we have

been healed

do you see

what Jesus

did

he didn't

retaliate

he entrusted

himself

to him

who judges

justly

and one

day this

king

who is now

the risen

king

is going

to return

as the

just

judge

and he's

going to

come with

all power

and all

authority

and he

will correct

every act

of injustice

done to

you

and he

will put

all wrongs

to right

the guilty

will be

held

accountable

nobody

will

escape

but remember

Jesus

who suffered

in your

place

and so

we entrust

ourselves

to him

in the

knowledge

that we

will be

healed

of all

of our

pain

all those

scars

that we

have felt

will all

fade away

there will be

no more

tears

and every

broken life

will be

restored

to those

who entrust

themselves

to him

this

is what

we are

to see

as Jesus

is crucified

on the

cross

for you

and for

me

third we

are to

see a

king

who proves

powerful

to us

look at

verse 25

back in

Mark's

gospel

chapter 15

it was

the third

hour

about

nine in

the morning

when they

crucified

him

the written

notice of

the charge

against him

read

the king

of the

Jews

and as

we look

now with

the crowds

at Jesus

crucified

on the

cross

there is

nothing here

to suggest

that this

is a

king

all we

see

is a

broken

beaten

and

bloodied

body

in fact

everybody

around him

is just

mocking

and laughing

verse 31

in the

same way

the chief

priests

and the

teachers

of the

law

mocked

him

among

themselves

he

saved

others

look at

him

he can't

even

save

himself

let

this

Christ

you say

you're

the king

of Israel

well then

come down

from the

cross

so that

we may

see

and believe

and those

crucified

with him

also

heaped

insults

on him

if you're

really

the king

then get

down

from the

cross

if you

say

who you

are

then why

don't you

save

yourself

go on

Jesus

give us

some

proof

come on

king

do

one

of your

miracles

then we

will

believe

you

perhaps

you're

thinking

the same

thing

you're

wanting

proof

maybe

you're

doubting

that he

is

powerful

maybe

you

doubt

he

is

good

Jesus

heal

my

sick

child

then

I

will

follow

you

Jesus

why

don't

you

end

all

the

violence

in

the

world

then

I

will

trust

you

Jesus

change

the

situation

and my

work

then I

will

do

whatever

you

want

give

us

some

proof

Jesus

that

you're

the

king

then

I

will

believe

you

but

the

crucifixion

is

the

proof

the

cross

is

the

evidence

that

Jesus

is

king

you

see

look

look

back

at all

of

this

a

minute

as

Jesus

walked

the

earth

he

calmed

the

storms

with

a

word

he

healed

the

sick

people

who

had

leprosy

and

every

other

kind

of

disease

people

who

couldn't

walk

he

just

touched

he

just

spoke

and

he

made

them

well

people

who

were

dead

he

spoke

to

and

they

raised

to

life

again

he

defeated

evil

that

nobody

else

could

overcome

he

fed

thousands

of

people

with

just

a

few

loaves

of

bread

and

a

bit

of

fish

of

course

he

has

the

power

to

come

down

from

the

cross

but

in

the

ultimate

display

of

power

ever

he

goes

to

the

cross

and

he

chooses

to

use

his

power

to

suffer

and

to

die

he

willingly

and

lovingly

gives

up

his

life

for

us

he

chose

not

to

resist

arrest

he

chose

not

to

defend

his

innocence

he

chose

not

to

fight

back

here

we

see

a

powerful

king

serving

sacrificing

deliberately

he

goes

to

the

cross

to

exchange

places

with

you

and

with

me

he

intentionally

faces

the

mocking

to

identify

with

you

and

with

me

if

Jesus

did

come

down

from

the

cross

think

about

it

if

Jesus

came

down

from

the

cross

we

would

be

left

facing

God's

judgment

if

Jesus

did

come

down

from

the

cross

we

would

be

left

living

without

hope

and

without

justice

we

would

not

have

a

king

who

was

there

to

identify

with

us

so

Jesus

says

look

at

me

as

we

see

Jesus

crucified

on

the

cross

he

says

look

at

me

look

at

how

I

love

you

look

what

I

have

done

for

you

see

and

believe

let's

pray

God