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!
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
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
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