READING

 

 

MARK 15

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Before Pilate

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews.

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28]  29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,[d] and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Burial of Jesus

42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

 

 

DEVOTIONAL

by

Darlene Bane

This chapter begins with Jesus being delivered to Pilate by the Sanhedrin, the chief priests and teachers of the law, for trial. It goes on to describe Pilate’s decision to release Barabbas, a known criminal, and to crucify Jesus. Suffering through insults and torture, Jesus was nailed to a cross between two rebels; and crying out to His Father, He died, attended by women who had cared for His needs before His death. Then, Joseph of Arimathea - a Council member, boldly asked Pilate for Jesus’ body, and after receiving permission, prepared and buried Him in a tomb.

Verse 10 states that, at the trial, Pilate recognized that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him out of self-interest. Defined as “one's personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others”, self-interest can be noted in several unhealthy instances in this chapter. Not only was the Sanhedrin motivated by their interests, but Pilate also acted to secure his own popularity with the crowd (v. 15). After torturing Him, the soldiers gambled for Jesus’ clothes, profiting from the punishment of an innocent Man (v. 24).

This self-interest, disregard for others is contrasted sharply by the matchless sacrifice Jesus made through His death. It is contradicted again when several of the women who had followed Jesus stayed near to these happenings even at the risk of guilt by association. Joseph of Arimathea also denied his own reputation by asking for Jesus’ body, exposing his belief in the coming of a New Kingdom.

As we begin a new year, let’s take time to evaluate our motives. It wasn’t self-interest, but faithful devotion that prompted these women to stay near to Jesus during His suffering. It was unfailing hope that spurred Joseph to care of Jesus’ body in burial. Extravagant love compelled Jesus to give His life for us. May this kind of faith, hope, and love continue to motivate us in all that we say and do this year.

  1. Have you allowed your gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice to fade? If so, take time to remember this supreme act of love and express your thankfulness to Him.

  2. In what areas of your life are you being motivated by unhealthy self-interest? Repent and renew a commitment of faith, hope, and love.

  3. How can you demonstrate selfless love to those around you today? Create an action step that does not require anyone to give you notice in return.

 

 

PRAYER plan

PEACE

We will be a healthy family experiencing the peace of God that passes all understanding.