zephaniah

1. Mark 15:6-15
EOPC - morning
Randy Bergquist
February 8, 2015
Intro:
 Jesus stands silent before Pilot. And Pilot is amazed. Vs. 5.
 Why amazed?
o Every one, in a Roman court defends themselves. For one is presumed
guilty until proven innocent. So silence is a sure conviction.
 JESUS does not respond to false accusations. He is dignified.
 So silence is shocking. Jesus chooses to be silent. Silent until the cross.
o He is fulfilling the prophet. Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he
was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is
led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is
silent, so he opened not his mouth.
 Mark is telling us the true story of OUR savior. His obedience as the son of
the “father which art in heaven.” This is the story of the faithful, “only
begotten son of the father full of grace and truth.” (john 1:14)
 Mark 15:1-16 is a unit with a purpose.
o Vs. 1 Pilot
o Vs. 15 Pilot
o Vs. 1 Jesus bound, led and delivered TO Pilot.
o Vs. 15 Jesus is scourged and delivered TO crucifixion.
o Vs. 2-15 tell us HOW we go from Jesus being delivered TO Pilot To
being delivered to be crucified..
 Vs. 6-15 answers the question raised in vs. 5. What Pilot will do with HIS
Amazement?
o His wonder.
o His fascination
o His astonishment.
 Word “amazement” used 5 other times in Mark.
o All in response to Jesus.
o Some praise God. Some do not.
 WHAT WILL Pilot do?
o We know what he SHOULD do. But will he?
 What do you with Jesus silence? His dignity? His fulfilling Isaiah 53:7?
o Are You amazed? Why are you amazed? What do you do with your
amazement?
Pilot looks for a third option.
1. Pilot is the prelate from Rome. Has the power of life and death.
a. Abolotio = amnesty prior to trial is completed.

2. b. Undulgentia = amnesty after sentence of guilt.
c. Should have done one of these. IT would have been the RIGHT thing
to do. He knows he is not guilty of anything.
i. See verse 10.
ii. Washed his hand declaring not guilty in Matthew.
iii. Even warned by his wife due to a dream in Luke.
d. Amazement does not overcome his own desire to keep his position.
2. Vs. 6-8 another option. “release”.
a. Word used four times.
i. 6, 9, 11, 15
ii. central to this account.
b. During Passover: ONE man “exonerated.” Released. Set free.
i. Why? To keep the peace.
ii. Passover. The highest time of national pride.
1. Natural time for frustrated violence.
2. Times of insurrection or revolt.
iii. So Pilot would offer one as a type of “peace offering.”
1. A criminal set free.
2. Someone loved enough to appease the people.
c. The crowd knows this.
i. Ask for one to be given. “one they ask for.”
ii. They want Barabbas.
iii. A murderer of Romans.
iv. A part of a specific insurrection.
d. Who is “the Crowd”?
i. Important. Mentioned 5x. 8, 11, 13, 14, 15
ii. Pilot Verses “the crowd.”
iii. They will have a vote.
iv. Jewish loyalist from south Jerusalem.
3. Vs. 9-10 Pilot: Amazed by Jesus want to spare him AND slam those who
delivered Jesus to him.
a. He asks. Watch the key words.
i. Release for YOU!!!
ii. King of the Jews.
1. Not called Jesus.
2. Battle of the identity of Jesus.
3. Vs. 2, 9, 11, 18, 26, 32
b. The crowd, the normal Jewish people are asked to decide between a
murdering insurrectionists. Someone who tried to give them earthly
freedom. AND “the king of the Jews.” A man who does not even accept
this earthly title but brings a kingdom from heaven.
i. Where is their allegiance?
c. Pilot thinks the crowd will shift and take Jesus.
d. Pilot seems to not take seriously how much the Jews hate him. They
will never give in to anything he requests.

3. e. Vs. 10
i. He see their envy.
ii. Envy is in the center of our passage.
iii. Lays bare the heart of the religious leaders.
iv. The heart of the culture.
1. Honor and shame.
Pilot fails: he loses the crowd. He loses control of Jesus.
1. Vs. 11
a. Chief priests and the crowd.
b. NOT Jesus: “Release” Barabbas.
c. Escalating.
i. A man released each year.
ii. Should I release Jesus?
iii. NO: Release Barabbas.
2. Vs. 12 Second time!!! Shall I release him?
3. Vs. 13 Crucify him.!!!!
a. This should be shocking.
b. Jews join the religious leaders.
i. Want him shamed, humiliated and hung on a cross.
ii. They know what they are asking for. WICKED.
4. Vs. 14 What should they do with Jesus?
a. One more chance to repent and follow Jesus.
b. More intensity!!! Crucify him.
5. Vs. Pilot submits to the crowd.
a. Released Barabbas.
b. Jesus scourged
i. The worst of acts.
c. Delivered to be crucified.
Point #3 The amazing exchange.
1. What should have happened?
a. Jesus declared innocent and exonerated.
b. Barabbas crucified.
2. What does happen?
a. Barabbas is exonerated.
b. Jesus is declared the vile offender and sentence to a murderers death.
3. Amazing!!! Amazing love!!
a. Name Barabbas means “son of the father.”
b. The “son of the father” is set free.
c. The son of the father is condemned to be crucified.
4. Two different fathers.
a. Barabbas is the son of Satan.
b. His father is the father of envy.
i. Quote church fathers.
c. The religious leaders and the crowd choose this father.

4. d. Jesus, the son of God.
i. Mark 1 and 9.
e. Be amazed. The son willingly allows himself to be exchanged. To
bear the shame of being exchanged for a murderer. A denier of the
messiah. This one he takes the image of God and murders it.
f. Jesus is exchanged so that he could die for those who take the image
of God and murder it.
Are you amazed at Jesus? Do you bow in awe and wonder?
This text is so challenging. See the politicians who are amazed at Jesus but only as
one who is to good to understand and can be used to bolster their own power. They
can only envy and seek to shame. The religious leaders who are amazed only in
that he was honorable under great oppressionleaving only an example to try to be
better. But this is powerless so they actually hate him and will trade him for a better
model. Even the crowds in so many churches actual deny any real amazement only
want Jesus if he can be exchanged for earthly reward or comfort.
Be amazed because of the love of the true son of the father.
We must delight in what he has DONE for us.