Mark 15

The chief priests, the elders, and the scribes had for some time been looking for some method of getting Jesus of Nazareth out of the way. These officials were the leading religious figures in Israel. When the long-awaited Jewish Messiah came, he was despised by those who had the responsibility of leading the Lord’s people in spiritual matters. They recognized the danger of their situation because of the limits of their authority and the risk of causing a riot by harming someone they presumed to be greatly loved by the crowds. It was apparently their goal to have him handed over to the civil authorities, to the Roman governor and his soldiers, so that they could not be held responsible for his death. This plan now seems within their reach, as they bind Jesus and lead him over to Pilate.

It is in front of Pontius Pilate that Jesus is said by Paul to have made the good confession (1 Timothy 6:13). Jesus is the King of the Jews. Pilate can scarcely be expected to understand what this declaration is all about. He knows that Jesus has not broken any Roman law, that He certainly is not guilty of any crime that would justify a sentence of death by crucifixion, and that He is before him only because of the envy of the religious leaders. He therefore expects to be able to let Him go according to his Passover custom that one prisoner be released at that time every year. But whatever crowd is at that place is stirred up by the chief priests to demand the release of Barabbas, and to insist that Jesus be crucified. All these events are very unlikely, yet there is something happening here that cannot be stopped by any Roman or Jewish authority. The Son of God, the King of the Jews, the Messiah, a Man who has done no evil is going to the cross to die for sinners.

The Jewish rulers and the Jewish mob have pronounced their judgment against Jesus. Now the Gentile rulers and their soldiers treat Him with the most horrific disrespect. There is something almost unnatural on display here in their mocking and their torture. Yet here we see what the nations do when they have God in their hands. Like the people of Israel, the powers of the earth are willing to come against the Lord with venom, for not only Jews, but also Gentiles, despise the God who has come to save. Here we see vividly the necessity that God would provide for us a Savior, lest we stand before Him in our wretched guilt. All have sinned, and have fallen far short of the glory of God. We need a righteousness that only He can supply. In our depravity we too would hate the only Redeemer of God’s elect.

Now the time of the cross has finally come. Though the weakened Savior may need another to carry the tree on which He will die, only He has the strength of righteousness that can accomplish what is necessary in this death. No other lamb would do. Here is the Lamb of God slain for sinners. Here is the King of the Jews, suffering for Jews and Gentiles who have despised Him. Here is the fulfillment of Messianic Scriptures that are finally coming into the bright light of prophecies fulfilled. Yet people do not see it yet. They still suppose that they are strong enough to taunt the dying Jesus. They do not yet see that the greatest strength ever displayed before men in the resolution of the Son of God to remain on the cross, and thus to accomplish our redemption.

Finally the moment of darkness comes. The Son of God cries out to His Father, and it would appear that no one is listening. Yet the sign of the power of this death is already being displayed. The curtain of the temple is torn in two, from top to bottom. Who has torn this curtain, granting bold access to God? It can only be the same God who brings a great covering of darkness over the land for three hours. It is the God who created the light and the darkness so long ago. It is the God who hears the cry of the righteous Man, and through Him, delivers us from eternal trouble. It is the God who can bring the brilliance of divine insight to the bosom of a man, a centurion who must now say, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

The great facts of our salvation are first external to us before they are internally felt by us. The cross is an external fact. The burial of our Savior in a tomb is an external fact. The resurrection of that same Savior after three days is an external fact. These facts were observed by women who had followed Jesus throughout His days in Galilee, and who ministered to Him when He was ministering to crowds with His great divine truth and resurrection touch.

The crowds that the chief priests and elders had feared might come to the defense of Jesus did not save Jesus from their murderous envy. There is no indication that any crowd had any inclination to save Jesus when His time came to save myriads of Jews and Gentiles from certain eternal destruction. No one could save Jesus. It was Jesus who came to save us. Through His great righteousness, power, and love, He has done what He came to do.