The Gospel of Mark – Part 50

Perseverance Through Suffering – Mark 15:1-20

Mosaic Rockford – Dave Spooner – Sept 6th, 2020

Intro:

Jesus continued to submit himself to the will and word of God His Father. He never stepped out of bounds, He never rebelled, He never sinned. These things had been demonstrated in every moment of His life and ministry. The depth of His commitment to follow the will and the word of His Father was seen in His suffering. Jesus verbally committed and submitted His will to the Father’s in the Garden of Gethsemane, and physically and fully fulfilled His vow and His mission.  

Isa 53:10 ESV

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief;  when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

The will of the Lord prospered in His hands. And may the will of the Lord prosper in your hands as you give yourself to it.  As Jesus prayed in the garden, He was betrayed by one of the 12. He was abandoned by the disciples, He was falsely accused and condemned by the council and He was denied by His friend.  

Luke 22:63-65 ESV

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

In all these things, Jesus continued to submit Himself to the will of the Father, and persevered through suffering.   

Perseverance under religious persecution  

Mark 15:1-5 ESVAnd as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Those who claimed they could “see” were blinded by their pride, jealousy, and hardness of heart.  They did not see or believe the word of God and the identity of Jesus as the Christ. After they condemned Jesus for claiming that He was the Christ, they brought the whole council together first thing the next morning. They had decided to kill Him and wanted to do so by the hands of the Romans. So, they brought Him to Pilate who was the Roman governor of the region.They knew the Romans were wary of people rising up and rebelling against them, as that happened in that region time and time again.  So, the Jewish leaders thought that Rome would take Jesus out if He said that He was “King of the Jews.” Jesus, indeed, was the king of the Jews, but much more than just the king of the Jews. He was the King that was above all kings. He did indeed tell them the truth, but He did not tell them what that meant. 

Luke 23:4-18 ESV

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they