Mark 15 Commentary
Consider the following: – Yesterday: The high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Today: “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
Religious people and politicians have different questions. Both are answered. The LORD Jesus won’t say anything else.
Pilate thinks of it as a joke. No army, no palace, no fixed abode, no administrative structures… Only a dozen fishermen. Nothing worthy of disturbing the governor so early. Indeed, the kingdom of God has nothing to do with geopolitical administrations.
Pilate’s reference to Jesus as the king of the Jews in verse 9 has nothing to do with his faith. It is meant to highlight Jesus’ innocence.
Saints must look back at the prophecies, especially one that highlights the Son’s government – one with the government on His shoulders. Isaiah 9. As we shall learn later, His kingdom is not of this world.
He shall reign on David’s throne, so goes the prophecy. We need to go back into our history. David ‘reigned’ on God’s throne and not the other way around. During the time of Samuel, Israel demanded that the LORD God give them a king. They wanted to be like any other nation. The direct rule of God over them wasn’t working for them. Of course, they forgot how they made it impossible for themselves because of wickedness.
Go back to the Garden of Eden and see how mankind lost dominion. Dominion doesn’t return until the rule of Jesus, or until the kingdom of God. By the declaration that He is the king, the LORD Jesus means more than what the chief priests and Pilate have heard. The kingdom brings about the obedience that went missing in the Garden of Peace and tranquility.
We have an example here. Pilate knows the truth, but he cannot rule. The pressure group, incited by the chief priests and the scribes, is in charge. They determine what happens, not Pilate. So much power from his position as governor yet something else or someone else is in charge. Pilate has zero ‘rule’ or dominion and must act as decided by the crowd. He should be the first candidate for the kingdom of God!
Even the gentile governor, Pilate, knows the chief priests have acted out of self-interest by handing Jesus over to be killed. But how else does the insurrectionist Barabbas get his freedom? How else do I get my freedom? It just had to be Isaiah 53 and nothing else.
The chief priests and scribes are right. He cannot save himself. Then there is no salvation at all! The Passover lamb has to be slaughtered otherwise there is no exodus!
Jesus dies at 15:00 – the time of the evening sacrifice, but not before darkness over the whole land for 3 hours. Has the Creator God created an artificial twilight to ensure Jesus’ death corresponds to the conditions under which the Passover lamb was killed?
The chief priests, the scribes, and the passersby mock Jesus but check what they say. They summarize the gospel for us. They didn’t know that by this time the construction of the temple was in progress – probably the substructure was done already! And definitely, the Messiah would not come down from the cross. It was never part of the script!
The reference to Elijah is interesting. Elijah contended with Baal worshippers whom he began to mock at noon – the time darkness descended on the whole land during the crucifixion. Elijah called on the name of the LORD at 15:00 and fire came down and consumed the sacrifice on the altar. Jesus also dies at 15:00 – God’s sacrifice is consumed at 15:00.
The powers of darkness were completely disarmed in this process. At the same time, this process empowered the saints. See the power in action: The fearful Peter who trembled at the questioning of a servant girl would shortly face the Sanhedrin and tell them in the face that Jesus is LORD!
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