Oct. 25 Lesson, Part 1 - Mark 15:1-5

If you want to look up this passage before you read this blog, just click on the link to the right (below) for either YouVersion.com or Crosswalk and you can go to this passage...

We pick up in this passage where we left off in Life Group this past week. Jesus had just been arrested in the middle of the night by a group of guys who had come after him with weapons and at a time of day when no one else would know. Peter tried to fight back, but Jesus rebuked him, put the guard's ear back on and questioned the mob about why they had come after him in the night bearing weapons when they could've arrested him any day over the course of the past two weeks as he taught openly in broad daylight. We talked about how Peter had good intentions, he wanted to stand up for his friend and teacher, but in the midst of this chaos, Peter forgot what Jesus had been teaching him. Jesus' teaching was about peace and turning the other cheek - sometimes in the midst of our good intentions, we do what we think is right but forget to think through Jesus' commands.

Somebody in class this past week brought up a good question that has to do with today's passage. "Why didn't Jesus just come out and say that He was the King of the Jews, the Messiah? It seems like He should've spoken up." We discussed what we see in Mark 15:1-5 in that Jesus did what was most wise. Pilate asked Him if He was the "King of the Jews" and Jesus answered, "You have said it." Jesus recognized that if He were to proclaim Himself as King of the Jews, it would've been recognized as treason, as if He were trying to take over the kingdom in which He lived. But Jesus was taking over the spiritual kingdom, not the political one. So Jesus was wise to not proclaim this Himself, yet when Pilate said it Jesus was not shy about saying "YES! What you have said is right!!!"

As the passage goes on, Pilate wonders why Jesus isnt' defending Himself from all of these charges (which is what most of us would do). But once again, Jesus is in complete control and knows what He's doing. He knows that He came to Earth for this very reason and beyond that His arguments wouldn't help the situation, so He remains silent. I wish I were wise enough to remain silent more often.

The passage ends with Pilate amazed. This is the twelfth time we see someone amazed at Jesus in the book of Mark. He was no ordinary man to say the least. If only we (I) were more often amazed with Him perhaps we (I) would live more extraordinarily (like Him) and others would be amazed with Him still (through watching us).