“Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!”

Mark 15:1-47 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible (link available on links page)

Jesus before Pilate

15 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. ² Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He *answered him, “It is as you say.” ³ The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. ⁴ Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” ⁵ But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

⁶ Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. ⁷ The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. ⁸ The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. ⁹ Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. ¹² Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” ¹⁴ But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” ¹⁵ Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

¹⁶ The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they *called together the whole Roman cohort. ¹⁷ They *dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; ¹⁸ and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. ²⁰ After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they *led Him out to crucify Him.

²¹ They *pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.

The Crucifixion

²² Then they *brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. ²³ They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. ²⁴ And they *crucified Him, and *divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. ²⁵ It was the third hour when they crucified Him. ²⁶ The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

²⁷ They *crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. ²⁸ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.” ²⁹ Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” ³¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. ³² Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

³³ When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ³⁵ When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” ³⁶ Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” ³⁷ And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. ³⁸ And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

⁴⁰ There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

As I read these verses, describing all that Jesus endured, the physical  torture, the mockery and humiliation, all so that I could be redeemed and restored, I think how can I not boldly and proudly declare what He has done? Our society and culture is moving farther and farther toward a place where being a follower of Christ will be unacceptable perhaps even illegal. What then, if I am insecure and afraid to speak openly because some people might reject me or be offended, what will I do if my life is at stake? Will I like Peter, declare my faithfulness to the end, Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too.(Matthew 26:35),     then like him,       he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.(Matthew 26:75) 

Jesus said to Peter: in Luke 22:31-32   "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." 

Jesus also prayed for us before hand, John 17:20-23    And I ask not for these only, but for those also who shall believe on me through their word; 21. That all may be one; as thou, rather, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.22. And I have given to them the glory which thou gavest to me; that they may be one, as we are one: 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them,  as thou hast loved me. 

Jesus continues to intercede on our behalf, to help us remain faithful in the coming now and in the times to come. Romans 8:33-35  Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Jesus says: ... lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.(Matthew 28:20)

The worst thing we can do is to worry about how we will respond in these coming difficult times. We can not do it in our own strength.     Jesus says:

¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸ and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

If we rely on the flesh, we like Peter will fail. If we rely on the Spirit we will remain in Christ and in the Father's will, we will succeed.

The only thing we can do today to ensure we will faithfully live for Christ tomorrow is to die. Jesus says: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  

If we have daily died to self and been raised up for Jesus, we will have nothing to fear. They  can not kill what has already died to this world and been raised up in Christ.

Jesus was asked:  “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!”

We can answer the charges or answer the call.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, my redeemer, the one who ever intercedes for me, precious  in dwelling Holy Spirit of God, Thank You. Thank You Jesus, that You bore all the shame, humiliation and pain of the cross for me. You died so that I might live in You and with You and the Father. Holy Spirit, thank You that I can trust You to guide me, to lead me and to speak for me in times of trouble. Thank You that You have already forgiven any time I fail to fully trust you. You encourage me as You encouraged Peter by saying:  I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."  I choose this day to walk in the fullness of the Spirit. I choose to carry my cross as a reminder that I have already died to self and I am raised up with You in a new abundant life. I will declare the good news of the kingdom of God today and every day, while I have breath. Thank You. To You Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit be all glory, honor and power.   Amen