Welcome to Week 15 of our series in the Book of Mark. This week we arrive at the Passion portion of Passion week. We will see Jesus end up on Pilate’s doorstep for a judgment that even Pilate does not want to give. We will follow Jesus as he walk through mockery and suffering at the hands of the Romans. Then we will meditate on the fact that the eternal Son of God was crucified on a cross and buried in a tomb, all while reminding ourselves that this was his mission on this earth, a mission for his people to be saved.
Study notes by Will Buschmann.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
Jesus Before Pilate
Observe
Because the Jews wanted Jesus dead, but could not crucify him by law they needed the help of the Romans. They specifically needed Pilate’s approval. In this text we will see that Pilate finds no justification for the death of Jesus, but he is overwhelmed by the crowd.
Mark 15:1-15
1 And 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.
6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
This week the Scripture readings for each day will be limited to just what we are given in the book of Mark. This is purposeful to give us time this week to sit and meditate on the story of the day. Take the extra time from not having to read as much to really feel the weight of what Jesus is walking through each day. Try to put yourself in the story. Take time to view the day’s events from the perspective of Jesus and from all the other characters. Ask questions. Explore areas maybe you haven’t taken the time to think about before.
- Why does Jesus not defend himself when Pilate questions him?
- Has there been a time in your life where you did something you didn’t believe in because of pressure from others?
- What can we learn from Jesus when we face persecution today in our lives for our beliefs?
Spend some time in prayer today:
- Praise Jesus for what he did that day in front of the crowd and Pilate.
- Go to him in confession for those moments where you became like the crowd and Pilate in your life.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for courage in the face of a world who goes willingly against Jesus.
Day 2
Jesus is Mocked
Observe
Jesus has received his verdict. The road to crucifixion by the Romans is not just one of pain and suffering, but also mockery.
Mark 15:16-20
16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
Jesus the eternal Son of God is mocked and tortured at the hands of the Roman soldiers. The God who all things were created for and through is spit on by his own creation. The King of Kings who rules everything on this earth is crowned not as he should be, but with a crown of thorns that pierces his skull.
- Why did Jesus endure this mockery if he truly is God?
- If Jesus truly is the King of Kings, where in your life does your response to him not match what he deserves? Where have you replaced Jesus on the throne of your own heart and become a king for yourself?
- How does the mockery that Jesus face help and encourage you when you face it in your own life?
Spend some time in prayer today:
- Praise Jesus that we serve a king who knows what it means to be mocked.
- Confess to Jesus where you have become the king in your own life usurping his throne on your heart.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to meet you, encourage you, and help you endure in this life where suffering and mockery will come to all of us
Day 3
Jesus is Crucified
Observe
The Passion of Jesus doesn’t end with mockery or a crown of thornes, but his mission leads him to a hill. A hill he created and a hill that it is his mission to die on.
Mark 15:21-32
21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
John opens up his gospel with John the Baptist saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Consider today that this was the mission of Jesus from all eternity past. The Jews were not in control of this situation. Rome was not in absolute control, but God remained on the throne making all events line up so that his own Son would be murdered on the cross that day. Jesus went willingly in obedience to the Father. Sit in that. Rest in the fact that Jesus did for us what we could not do ourselves. That he lived perfectly and died brutally because that is the cost of the sin in our lives.
- Why did Jesus have to die?
- Why did Jesus not save himself from the enormous amount of suffering he faced while on the cross?
- How can a crucified Savior encourage your heart today? Where do you need to rest and think on the fact that Jesus would brutally die on a cross for you?
Spend some time in prayer today:
- Praise the God who would live perfectly and die brutally for you.
- Confess your sins today that would casue the wrath of the Father to fall on his Son as a substitute for you. A wrath that you won’t ever face, because Jesus faced it for you.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for the ability to rest in the finished work of Jesus on your behalf. Ask him to open your eyes to the fact that you bring nothing to your salvation, but the sin that made in necessary.
Day 4
The Death of Jesus
Observe
Fear gripped the spectators as darkness fell on the land. Afriad to hear the cries of the man that they mocked as he hung on a cross they moved quickly to silence him. In that moment Jesus breathes his last breath.
Mark 15:33-41
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, 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 curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
As Jesus dies, the curtain in the temple is torn in half. A huge and massive physical curtain that symbolized more than even its size in the Jewish faith. A curtain that separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies. No longer is just the High Priest allowed in once a year to atone for the peoples’ sin. Jesus through his death on the cross gave access to a bunch of sinners like you and I. We can confidently come to the throne purely on the fact of what Jesus accomplished. We rest in the fact that Jesus did what we could not do. That he accomplished his mission on our behalf. He didn’t run, he didn’t back down. He took the wrath of God so that we can know him.
- How does a crucified Savior set Christianity apart from other religions and the beliefs of our current culture?
- Why did a Roman centurion come to believe in Jesus as the Son of God because he witnessed his death on a cross?
Spend some time in prayer today:
- Praise Jesus for his death.
- Confess your sins that Jesus has already died for. No need for fear in this moment, just honesty.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for the confidence that you don’t have to hang yourself back up on the cross each time you sin. Ask the Spirit for an unwavering trust that Jesus accomplished everything for you and you have nothing to earn because of your actions today. Be set free in the freedom that Jesus has accomplished for you.
Day 5
Jesus is Buried
Observe
The deed is done. Jesus the Christ is dead. An unknown man enters into the story with an incredible act that shows his courage and the honor he has for Jesus.
Mark 15:42-47
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
I don’t think Joseph of Arimathea gets enough credit for his part in this story. As the disciples run and hide, he goes to Pilate. As a member of the very council that wanted this to happen, he acts courageously. He doesn’t care about the repercussion from the Jews around him as I am sure they would see this as an act of betrayal. He honors Jesus by honoring his body.
- What do you think caused Joseph of Arimathea to act courageously?
- I’m sure Joseph of Arimthea had questions, doubts, and was entirely confused about what was going on. In all of that though he acted. Where do you need to trust Jesus and act in the face of your doubts, questions, and fears today?
For prayer today find a quiet place. Get on your knees or open your hands, whatever posture feels comfortable for you. Pray, “Come Holy Spirit, come.” Sit quietly, wait, and see what happens. This will probably be a little uncomfortable, but give it a try.