Mark 15:1-15 Uncultured Saints Bible Study

Jesus Before Pilot

Pilate likely doesn't care about Jesus or Jewish religious disputes. 

As a Roman proconsul dealing with occupied territory during times of insurrection, he's primarily concerned with security and Caesar's interests. 

The charge against Jesus that he is claiming to be "King of the Jews" matters to him because it suggests political rebellion.

When Pilate asks if Jesus is the King of the Jews, Jesus responds, "You have said so." 

This non-answer, combined with Jesus's refusal to defend himself against accusations, gradually disarms and confuses Pilate. 

Pilate seems to recognize Jesus's innocence, but he likely feels politically trapped.

The Crowd

Who is the crowd?  This might be the same Palm Sunday crowd, manipulated by chief priests and scribes. 

These religious leaders likely gathered people early in the morning, exploiting their disappointment that Jesus failed to be the revolutionary they expected. 

When Jesus doesn't overthrow Roman rule, the crowd turns against him.

 Barabbas

Barabbas represents layered biblical irony. 

His name literally means "son of the father," creating a striking parallel when the crowd chooses a false "son of the father" while rejecting the true Son of the Father. 

Barabbas was an actual insurrectionist and murderer, the very thing they falsely accused Jesus of being.

Why is Jesus silent?

Jesus's silence fulfills Isaiah 53, where the suffering servant doesn't open his mouth. 

The discussion emphasizes that Jesus simultaneously stands innocent before Pilate yet guilty before God not because he sinned, but because he took on humanity's sin. 

In this section of Mark 15, the conversation highlights how God uses human schemes to accomplish divine purposes. 

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO. 

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