Mark Lesson #23

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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
MARK 15:1-15
LESSON #23
THE ISSUE OF SIN

• MEMORY VERSE: MARK 15:2

• WE HAVE STUDIED THE THREE RELIGIOUS TRIALS THAT FOUND JESUS GUILTY OF BLASPHEMY, A VERY SERIOUS RELIGIOUS CHARGE WORTHY OF DEATH.
• BECAUSE THE JEWS HAD NO AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE JESUS, THEY TOOK HIM TO THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES.
• THE GOSPEL OF MARK DOES NOT TELL US ALL THE DETAILS OF THE POLITICAL TRIALS BEFORE THE ROMANS.

• READ MAR 15:1
• THE MEETING OF THE SANHEDRIN THAT PLANNED A NEW STRATEGY:
• HOW HAVE THE CHARGES AGAINST JESUS CHANGED FROM THE FINAL RELIGIOUS CHARGES?
• THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES WOULD NEVER EXECUTE A PERSON FOR THE RELIGIOUS CHARGE OF BLASPHEMY. THEREFORE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DERIVE A CHARGE THAT WOULD INTEREST ROME.
• THE JEWS COULD NOT ENTER THE GENTILE PALACE AND REMAIN CEREMONIALLY “CLEAN” FOR THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION, SO PILATE CAME OUT TO THEM.
• PILATE WAS SURPRISED THAT THEY BROUGHT HIM A CAPITAL CASE DURING THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION.
• PILATE TOOK JESUS INTO THE PALACE FOR TRIAL.
• THE NEW POLITICAL CHARGE WAS INSURRECTION, IN THAT JESUS CLAIMED TO BE A KING.
• IT IS TRUE THAT MANY OF THE JEWS WANTED A JEWISH KING TO RISE UP AND DESTROY THE ROMAN DOMINATION OF THEIR NATION.
• HOWEVER, JESUS’ KINGLY CLAIM WAS A SPIRITUAL ONE AT THAT TIME. HE SAID HIS KINGDOM WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD.
• THE ROMANS TOOK SERIOUSLY ANY INKLING OF AN UPRISING AND SMASHED QUICKLY ANY GROUP THAT HINTED AT INSURRECTION.

• READ MAR 15:2
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF PILATE?
• PILATE WAS THE ROMAN PROCURATOR (GOVERNOR). HE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE ROMAN EMPEROR.
• TO BECOME A PROCURATOR, A MAN HAD TO BE AT LEAST 27 YEARS OLD. HE HAD TO CLIMB THE LADDER OF MILITARY COMMANDS.
• PILATE BECAME PROCURATOR IN 26 AD. HE HELD THE POSITION FOR 10 YEARS UNTIL HE WAS RECALLED.
• PILATE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE JEWS NOR LIKE THEM. HE THOUGHT THEY WERE IRRATIONAL AND FANATICAL.
• PREVIOUSLY, ROMAN POLICY TREATED THE JEWS VERY CAREFULLY FOR FEAR OF REVOLUTIONS. HOWEVER, PILATE DEALT HARSHLY WITH THE JEWS. FOR EXAMPLE:
• THE ROMAN STANDARD WAS NOT A FLAG BUT A POLE WITH AN EAGLE ON THE TOP. BECAUSE JEWS HATED IMAGES, EVERY PREVIOUS GOVERNOR HAD REMOVED THE EAGLES BEFORE MARCHING INTO JERUSALEM. PILATE DID NOT.
• PILATE BUILT A NEW WATER SUPPLY FOR JERUSALEM USING MONEY FROM THE TEMPLE TREASURY.
• PILATE’S HEADQUARTERS WERE IN CAESAREA BECAUSE HE LIKED THAT CITY BETTER THAN JERUSALEM. CAESAREA WAS ON THE COAST WITH A MILDER MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE.
• DURING PASSOVER, PILATE WAS IN JERUSALEM BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF RIOTS. PILATE DID NOT WANT A RIOT BECAUSE ROME WOULD HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE.
• PILATE WAS A CLASSIC POLITICIAN WHO USED EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER HIS OWN CAREER AND KEEP THE PEACE SO AS NOT TO ANGER THE HIGHER ROMAN AUTHORITIES.
• PILATE’S CONCERN WAS EXPEDIENCY AND NOT LAW. HE WAS MORE AFRAID OF THE ROMAN EMPEROR THAN HE WAS OF THE JEWS.
• GOD’S HISTORICAL JUDGMENT ON PILATE:
• PILATE WAS FINALLY RECALLED TO ROME IN 36 AD (JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION) BECAUSE OF A SAVAGE INCIDENT IN SAMARIA.
• A CERTAIN IMPOSTER SUMMONED PEOPLE TO MT. GERIZIM TO SEE SACRED VESSELS THAT HE SAID MOSES HAD HIDDEN THERE. A LARGE MULTITUDE CAME. UNFORTUNATELY MANY CAME WITH WEAPONS. PILATE HAD THEM ALL SLAUGHTERED. PILATE NEVER CAME TO TRIAL BECAUSE OF THIS MASS MURDER BECAUSE THE EMPEROR DIED BEFORE PILATE COULD GET BACK TO ROME.
• LEGEND SAYS THAT PILATE COMMITTED SUICIDE. THE BURIAL OF HIS BODY WAS MOVED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BECAUSE OF A CURSE.

• TRIAL #4 (A ROMAN TRIAL BEFORE PILATE) (MAT 27:11-14)
• PILATE QUESTIONS JESUS (2)
• “ART THOU THE KING OF THE JEWS?”
• THE INTERPRETATION OF THE ANSWER THAT JESUS GIVES HIM IS, BY REASON, LEFT UNCLEAR.
• FOR EXAMPLE, IT COULD MEAN, “YOU DO WELL TO ASK.”
• IT COULD ALSO MEAN AN ESSENTIAL AGREEMENT AS THOUGH TO SAY, “YES, I AM WHAT YOU SAY.”
• IT IS READER OF THE GOSPEL THAT MUST DECIDE WHETHER JESUS IS REALLY THE KING OF THE JEWS.
• THE IRONY IS THAT JESUS IS ACCUSED OF BEING A KING WHEN IN FACT HE FAILED TO TAKE UP THE PUBLIC CALL FOR A KING TO RISE UP AND TAKE CHARGE AGAINST ROME.
• THE RESULTS OF THIS TRIAL:
• PILATE WANTED TO PLEASE THE SANHEDRIN, BUT JESUS WAS NOT AS COOPERATIVE AS HE WISHED. THERE WAS NO SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL EVIDENCE AGAINST JESUS.
• PILATE FOUND JESUS INNOCENT.
• LIKE A TRUE POLITICIAN, PILATE SAW HIS OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ANOTHER ROMAN LEADER, AND SENT JESUS TO HEROD

• TRIAL #5 (A ROMAN TRIAL BEFORE HEROD)
• READ LUK 23:6-12
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HEROD ANTIPAS, THE TETRARCH:
• HEROD ANTIPAS INHERITED HIS POSITION FROM HIS FATHER, KING HEROD THE GREAT (40 – 4 BC)
• THE KINGDOM OF KING HEROD THE GREAT WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS, ONE FOR EACH OF HIS SONS. HIS SON, HEROD ANTIPAS, GOVERNED THE AREA OF GALILEE AND PERAEA.
• HEROD ANTIPAS WAS HALF JEW. HE WANTED TO BE KING OF THE JEWS AND CALLED HIMSELF BY THAT TITLE. THE TITLE WAS GIVEN TO HIS FATHER BY ROME, BUT NOT EXTENDED TO HEROD ANTIPAS. THE JEWS HATED HEROD.
• THEY DISLIKED HIS COMPROMISED BLOODLINE. HE WAS HALF JEW AND HALF EDOMITE.
• THE JEWS ALSO HATED HEROD’S COMPROMISING POLITICS. THEY VIEWED HEROD ANTIPAS AS A SPY FOR ROME.
• HEROD ANTIPAS WAS NOT A KING, THOUGH HE IS OFTEN CALLED A KING. HE HAD THE POSITION OF TETRARCH WHICH MEANS HE WAS IN CHARGE OF A CERTAIN GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
• JESUS CALLED HEROD ANTIPAS, A FOX. (LUK 13:32) THIS WORD DESCRIBES HIS CONTINUAL POLITICAL MANEUVERINGS AND MACHINATIONS.
• JESUS BEFORE HEROD ANTIPAS:
• HEROD HAPPENED TO BE IN JERUSALEM DURING THE PASSOVER EVEN THOUGH THE CITY OF JERUSALEM WAS NOT IN HIS JURISDICTION.
• PILATE SENT JESUS TO HEROD BECAUSE JESUS’ MINISTRY OCCURRED IN HEROD’S JURISDICTION OF GALILEE.
• HEROD WAS ENDEARED TO PILATE BECAUSE OF THIS DEMONSTRATION OF DEFERENCE TO HEROD’S AUTHORITY.
• HEROD WANTED TO MEET JESUS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO SEE HIM DO A MIRACLE.
• JESUS WAS SILENT BEFORE HEROD TO FULFILL PROPHECY. (PSA 33:13)
• THE RESULTS OF THE TRIAL BEFORE HEROD:
• THERE WERE NO LEGAL CHARGES PRESENTED AND NO LEGAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED.
• THE SOLDIERS MOCKED JESUS AND DRESSED HIM IN AN ELABORATE ROBE BELONGING TO HEROD.
• HEROD DID NOT FIND JESUS GUILTY BUT AGREED TO MOCK HIM FOR PRETENDING TO BE KING OF THE JEWS.
• REMEMBER, THAT WAS A TITLE THAT HEROD WANTED FOR HIMSELF.
• HEROD RETURNED JESUS TO PILATE.
• GOD’S HISTORICAL JUDGMENT ON HEROD ANTIPAS:
• HEROD HAD MARRIED THE DAUGHTER OF A NABATAEAN KING, ARETAS. HE DIVORCED HER TO MARRY HIS BROTHER’S WIFE.
• REMEMBER THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS BEHEADED FOR CRITICIZING THIS ACTION.
• THE NABATAEAN KING, ARETAS, AVENGED THIS AFFRONT TO HIS DAUGHTER BY GOING TO WAR AGAINST HEROD ANTIPAS IN 36 AD (JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION).
• IN 39 AD HEROD WAS DENOUNCED BEFORE THE ROMAN EMPEROR AND LIVED THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN EXILE.

• READ MARK 15:3-15
• TRIAL #6 (A SECOND ROMAN TRIAL BEFORE PILATE) (MAT 27:15-26)
• READ LUK 23:2 THE CHARGES AGAINST JESUS:
• =1= JESUS WAS A REVOLUTIONARY.
• =2= JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE NOT TO PAY THEIR TAXES TO ROME.
• =3= JESUS CLAIMED TO BE A KING.
• =4= JESUS CLAIMED TO BE THE SON OF GOD (LUK 23:2 JOH 19:7)
• THE RESULTS OF THIS TRIAL:
• THE FIRST TWO CHARGES WERE FALSE AND NOT SUBSTANTIATED BY LEGAL TESTIMONY.
• THE LAST TWO CHARGES WERE UNRECOGNIZED TRUTHS ABOUT JESUS.
• JESUS WAS SILENT AND DID NOT DEFEND HIMSELF. THAT BEHAVIOR SURPRISED PILATE.
• PILATE REALIZED THAT HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT JESUS. HE COULD NOT IGNORE THE MATTER. HE HAD TRIED TO PASS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HEROD WITHOUT SUCCESS.
• ALL PEOPLE EVENTUALLY COME TO A POINT IN THEIR LIFE WHERE THEY MUST DECIDE WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH JESUS.
• PILATE’S PLAN:
• PILATE DECIDES TO PRESENT THE TWO PRISONERS (BARABBAS AND JESUS) TO THE CROWD AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHO IS TO BE RELEASED.
• PILATE SAYS IT WAS A CUSTOM TO RELEASE A PRISONER AT PASSOVER.
• THERE ARE NO OTHER MANUSCRIPTS OUTSIDE OF THE BIBLE THAT REFER TO THIS PECULIAR CUSTOM.
• WHO WAS BARABBAS?
• BARABBAS WAS A CONVICTED THIEF AND MURDERER GUILTY OF LEADING AN INSURRECTION AGAINST ROME. HE ROBBED ROMANS TO GET MONEY FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES OF HIS GROUP.
• THE NAME, BARABBAS, MEANS = SON OF THE FATHER. HE WAS THE SON OF A RABBI IN A DISTINGUISHED FAMILY.
• BARABBAS HAD ANOTHER NAME AS WELL. IT WAS THE NAME, JESUS, WHICH WAS A COMMON NAME AT THAT TIME.
• BECAUSE PILATE KNEW JESUS WAS INNOCENT AND BARABBAS WAS GUILTY, HE THOUGHT THE CROWD WOULD CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF JESUS.
• THEN THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WOULD HAVE THE CROWD TO BLAME FOR JESUS’ RELEASE. PILATE WOULD BE OFF THE HOOK.
• PILATE WASHES HIS HANDS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF JESUS’ BLOOD.
• THIS ACT WAS A JEWISH CUSTOM (DEU 21:1-9)
• HOWEVER MUCH PILATE WANTED TO BE FREE OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY, HE WAS STILL RESPONSIBLE TO GOD.
• PILATE WAS WARNED NOT TO MAKE JUDGMENT ON JESUS:
• HIS SENSE OF JUSTICE AND ROMAN LAW WARNED HIM.
• HIS CONSCIENCE WARNED HIM THAT JESUS WAS INNOCENT.
• HIS WIFE’S DREAMS WARNED HIM.
• MUCH TO PILATE’S SURPRISE, THE CROWD, SWAYED BY THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF BARABBAS.
• JESUS GETS THE DEATH PENALTY.
• JESUS, WHO IS INNOCENT, MUST TAKE THE PLACE OF BARABBAS.
• WHAT DOES BARABBAS REPRESENT?
• BARABBAS REPRESENTS ALL SINFUL, GUILTY HUMAN BEINGS.
• THE CROSS JESUS DIED ON WAS BARABBAS’ CROSS.
• BUT IT WAS OUR CROSS AS WELL.
• JESUS TOOK BARABBAS’ PLACE.
• BUT JESUS TOOK OUR PLACE AS WELL.
• JESUS DIED FOR BARABBAS’ SINS.
• BUT JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS AS WELL.
• SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
• MARK CONTRASTS JESUS, THE SINLESS BEARER OF MAN’S BURDENS, WITH THE SINFUL LIVES OF PILATE AND HEROD. IN THE BACKGROUND ARE THE SINFUL JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS PUSHING AND PRODDING THE ACTIONS AGAINST JESUS.
• HOWEVER, IT IS THE SINFUL CROWD THAT CALLS FOR CRUCIFIXION.
• WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF JESUS?
• SOCIETY ALWAYS HOLDS THOSE IN AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE.
• THE NUREMBURG TRIALS OF HITLER’S OFFICERS IS AN EXAMPLE.
• GOD ALWAYS HOLDS THOSE IN AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE.
• KING SAUL’S FAILURE AS A KING IS AN EXAMPLE.
• THE JEWS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY (MAT 27:25)
• THE CONSEQUENCES:
• GOD PLACED A SPIRITUAL VEIL OVER THEIR SPIRITUAL EYES SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT CHRIST NATIONALLY UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
• THE ROMAN DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE IN 70 AD WAS GOD’S JUDGMENT ON THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM THAT CONDEMNED JESUS.
• THE ROMAN’S CULPABILITY DESPITE THE WASHING OF HANDS:
• WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE END OF HEROD’S POLITICAL POWER AND PILATE’S POLITICAL POWER, BOTH IN 36 AD.
• GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY:
• THE WHOLE PLAN OF CRUCIFIXION WAS GOD’S PLAN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
• JESUS HAD HEAVENLY POWER TO DELIVER HIMSELF FROM THE POWER OF ROME.
• JESUS WAS NOT MARTYRED. HE GAVE UP HIS LIFE WILLINGLY AS THE BEARER OF MAN’S BURDEN OF SIN.
• THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL MEN:
• ALL HUMANS ARE SINNERS. IT IS SIN THAT NAILED CHRIST TO THE CROSS. HE BECAME SIN FOR US ON THE CROSS TAKING ON HIMSELF ALL OF OUR SIN.
• THEREFORE, WE AND OUR SIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHRIST’S DEATH!
• IT IS THE ISSUE OF SIN THAT CAUSED THE CRUCIFIXION.

MARK 15:16-41

• APPLICATION OF MAR 15:1-15
• WHAT UNIQUE DETAILS ARE NEW TO YOU ABOUT THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE CRUCIFIXION.

• PREPARATION OF MAR 15:16-41
• READ MAR 15:16-41
• WHY DID JESUS REFUSE THE DRINK OF WINE WITH MYRRH (23) AND YET ACCEPT THE DRINK OF VINEGAR (36)?

• WHAT DOES THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE REPRESENT?

• WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEAR IN THE TEMPLE VEIL? (38)

• MEMORY VERSE: MARK 15:38