Pilate has just asked the crowd what he should do with Jesus. And they have called for him to be crucified. So now, Pilate makes the fatal decision. "Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified". –  Mark 15:15

Pilate has just asked the crowd what he should do with Jesus. But it’s never a good idea to ask the crowd about moral issues. “Crucify him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” - Mark 15:13-14

The crowd has just asked Pilate to release Barabbas to them instead of Jesus. This doesn’t help Pilate with the problem of what to do with Jesus, and so he asks the crowd. What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. – Mark 15:12

Pilate was a brutal prefect of Judaea. One of his key jobs was to keep the Jews peaceful and quiet, and in this he failed miserably. There were, however, some practices that he supported which aimed to keep the people happy. One of these was the custom of releasing a prisoner at Passover. Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. – Mark 15:6–11

Very early in the morning, Jesus has been handed over, bound, to Pilate. As the Roman Prefect of Judaea, Pilate was the only person in the nation with the authority to impose the death penalty, so what Jesus says to him is important. Again, we get to listen in. “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 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.” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. – Mark 15:2–5

Now that they have their hands-on Jesus, his enemies make their plans for how to kill him. Let’s see what happens next. 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. – Mark 15:1

Peter has just denied knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus said he would. When the reality of who you really are, catches up with you, it can be a very sobering moment. And so it was for Peter.

Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept. – Mark 14:72

Remember Peter? While Jesus is being tried before the Sanhedrin, and while he is being spat on and beaten, Peter is still there, warming himself by the fire. In fact, it’s probably because of Peter that we know what went on in Caiaphas’ palace, because Peter overheard the trial of Jesus from the courtyard. So, now the story turns to Peter.

The High Priest Caiaphas has just asked Jesus directly if he is the Messiah, the Son of God, and for the first time, Jesus has responded. In his response, he has gone way beyond identifying himself as the Messiah. In using the name, “I Am,” Jesus has unequivocally identified himself as being Jehovah God. 

Not only that, but Jesus has identified himself as the divine Son of Man who defeats his enemies and brings about the Kingdom of God in the prophecies of Daniel. Plain truth is often met by pure anger, and that is precisely what happens next.

During his trial before the High Priest Caiaphas, Jesus refuses to answer the many accusations made against him. An infuriated High Priest has just stood up and demanded that Jesus answer the charges. And still, Jesus says not a word. Caiaphas, who is used to being in charge, seems to have completely lost control of the situation. So, now Caiaphas intervenes again. And this time, Jesus will respond.