So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself."

Mark 15:21-32

So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself." Mark 15:31

I continue my study of Mark, focusing on Mark 15:21-32.  

Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: v21 - it appears that Jesus was beaten so severely and scourged so harshly that Simon of Cyrene must help carry the cross where Jesus will be crucified; v21 - Jesus is offered wine with myrrh (one of its uses is as as an analgesic) but He refuses - suggesting that He did not want to "dull" the pain or otherwise not completely accept the will of the Father which was for Him to be the final sacrifice for all sin; vv23, 25 - the soldiers crucified Jesus and fulfilled prophecy from Psalm 22:18 (of David) which describes David's agony as Saul hunts him down - this Psalm more broadly mirrors many aspects of the gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion; v24, 26, 29-32 - Jesus is mocked, taunted, derided, and reviled by those crucifying Him, including the soldiers and the chief priests with the scribes, even by those who passed by; v32 - the two robbers crucified with Jesus also reviled Jesus.   
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: v31 - the chief priests with the scribes all but admit that Jesus has saving power and that He "saved others," yet their envy drives them to murder Him.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Envy is a destructive sin that we should avoid - do not covet is one of the Ten Commandments. We should see that Jesus IS King but that His Kingdom is eternal.  He is King of Kings. We should endure suffering as Jesus did and allow others to see how God works through our suffering to give us strength to endure. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves - thank You for saving me while still hostile and an enemy to You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor of the mercies You pour out for me daily that never cease.  My sin is great and it continues...please forgive me Jesus - for impatience, anger, etc.  Help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Mark 15:1-20

And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Mark 15:14-15

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is, per the commentary, the second division of the text from Mark 15:1-20 - vv6-14.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv1-5: (1) God in the text:  Jesus is the object of others' actions, and here Pilate is struggling with what to do with Jesus as he believes Jesus is innocent of any crime (v14) but at the same time Pilate must placate (v15) Jewish leadership (some of which must use there role to stir up civil unrest or other complications for Pilate).  Jewish leaders urge crucifixion of Jesus - vv13-14; Jesus is then mocked and scourged (v15) (2) People in the text: Jewish leaders seek Pilate to follow custom and release a prisoner during Passover and they urge Barrabas to be released (they roundly reject Pilate's suggestion that it be Jesus - v9) and it is ironic that Pilate agrees because Barrabas participated (committed murder) in insurrection against Rome (v7); Pilate correctly sees the Jewish leadership as envious of Jesus due to Jesus' following among the people as they felt threatened and did not see Jesus as the promised Messiah from OT prophecy; many believe the Messiah would be an earthly king that would overthrow Rome and restore Jerusalem to self governance and former glory (such as under David's rule) (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: Avoid envy - see Exodus 20:17; see Jesus as the Promised Messiah and His kingdom as an eternal one not bound by earthly definitions. Do not murder.  Follow Jesus' example to understand and follow the Father's will.  Obey governing authorities (Romans 13).   

Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division: 

• The title of the first division is "Our Great King’s Substitution: The Injustice and Insult."   
• RE: Pilate's tough situation - we are referred to Matthew 27:19 where [Pilate's] wife had warned him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!”. 
• "Pilate has had enough. He publicly washes his hands, while the crowd accepts responsibility for executing the King (Matthew 27:24-25). Jesus was innocent but declared to be guilty."  It's important to note that this text describes how the crowd all but admits that they are committing murder by asking for Jesus' crucifixion.  

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God that willingly sent His Son to die on the cross, and Jesus willingly submitted to Your Will so that I could have life now to the full and for eternity in Heaven.  Thank You!  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For [Pilate] perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.

Mark 15:1-20

For [Pilate] perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. Mark 15:10

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 15:1-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus is delivered over by the chief priests, elders, scribes and Jewish leadership council (Sanhedrin) to the Roman authorities for Pilate to ultimately decide Jesus' fate (v1). Pilate questions Jesus but other than a brief “non-responsive” response in v2, Jesus does not respond to Pilate (v5) - similar to how Jesus acted during questioning by the chief priests in chapter 14. Pilate correctly believed that Jesus had done no evil (v14) and saw envy of Jesus as the primary motive for Jesus' arrest (v10).  Jesus is not released per the custom during the Passover feast (v6) - instead Barrabas is released (v15). Pilate agrees to crucify Jesus and has him scourged (v15).  Jesus is led away and it is implied that a whole battalion (v16) is in place (hundreds of soldiers) to be prepared for wider unrest in Jerusalem given Jesus' popularity, following and the hatred stirred up against Jesus by Jewish temple leadership. Jesus is mocked as they gave Him a purple cloak (purple typically reserved for wealthy/powerful people and royalty) and crown of thorns.  He is beaten and spit upon then lead away for crucifixion (vv17-20).    
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: Jewish leadership is indeed envious of Jesus and this animates their desire to have Him suffer and die - Pilate's offer to release Jesus is roundly rejected and alarmingly the Jewish leaders want a murderer (v7) who played a role in insurrection against Roman rule (ironically something the Jews accepted but despised) - Pilate readily agrees to the release of Barrabas despite knowing this.  Roman governing power is indeed intimidating as Pilate seeks to placate Jewish leadership while avoiding wider civil unrest.   
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Envy is a powerful emotion and we see this at work with Jesus' arrest, etc.  Do not covet is one of the ten commandments.  We are to obey governing authorities (see Romans 13) except when in conflict with Jesus' commands. We are to follow Jesus' example of sharing the gospel even under threat of arrest and persecution - we are to trust that God will protect us either physically - at least spiritually.  In the face of trouble, we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world (including death) - John 16:33.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves - thank You Jesus!  Amazing grace indeed - thank You for the greatest gift of all time - salvation.  I am not deserving...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.