COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 162
Mark 15:1 “And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 2And Pilate asked Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? And He answering said unto Him, Thou sayest it. 3And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing. 4And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against Thee. 5But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.”
(Mark 15:1-5; Matt 27:1-13; Luke 23:1-4; John 18:28-32)
THE COUNCIL DELIVER JESUS TO PILATE
INTRODUCTION
The Jewish council has now agreed that Jesus is worthy of death. This is based upon His confession that He was “the Christ, the Son of the Blessed,” and that His accusers would see Him sitting at the right hand of God and coming in the heavens. This confession established the borders of the conflict. His enemies could not condemn Him for any of His works (John 10:32) – and they really were not the issue, even with His enemies. It was who He was and what He said that moved them to indignation. Those two things still remain the issue with men. Should the professed church ever get to the business of expounding the Person and words of Jesus, it would directly impact upon the whole of their program and the number of their constituents. Men can tolerate a Jesus who fits into their own preferences and ambitions. And, indeed, for a while Jesus may appear to do just that, as when He fed the multitudes and healed their sick. The expression of such mercies, however, are like a time of testing that establish whether or not the people want the real Jesus – who brings an end to sin, establishes righteousness, and prepares men for the day of judgment and glory. Eventually, men must deal with what Jesus has said of Himself. It is precisely at this point that Satan marshals his host against the Lord and His Christ. Men will now be forced to deal with who Jesus is, and what He has said, particularly of Himself. They will either be saved or lost upon the basis of their assessment of these two realities.
THE COUNCIL DELIVER JESUS TO PILATE
“ Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.”
THEY HELD A CONSULTATION. In the morning, or when the sun rose, straightway, or immediately, the leaders held “a consultation.” Matthew says, “When the morning was come” (Matt 27:1). John says, “and it was early” (John 18:28). It had been a long night, and they had no sleep. Yet, as the wicked are prone to do, they were eager to “do evil with both hands” (Mic 7:3). They would not delay to carry out the sentence they had imposed, giving no thought to their own convenience or comfort. That is the kind of mind-set Satan fosters in his victims. They become so intent upon doing evil that they will suppress even wholesome natural desires.
It is important to note that the opposition of Jesus was attended by much thought. It was deliberate and calculating. Their strategy was thought out, and bathed in consultation. “They plotted,” NKJV “took counsel,” NASB and “came to the decision.” NIV They “conferred together,” NRSV “held a council,” GENEVA and “discussed their next step.” NLT Speaking of this very conspiracy, the Psalmist said the people imagined “a vain thing” (Psa 2:1). In a fervent prayer for boldness, the early church referred to this occasion as people imagining “vain things” (Acts 4:25). That vanity did not have to do with Christ’s death, for that was something appointed in heaven. It rather had to do with thinking they could rid themselves of the hampering presence of Jesus. The Psalmist said that in their opposition they were really saying, “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psa 2:3). However, the Psalmist continues, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision” (Psa 2:4). In quoting from this Psalm, the early church declared why God laughed at their opposition of His Christ: They said the people “gathered together for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done” (Acts 4:27-28).
What these wicked men did not know is that they were not only gathering against Jesus of Nazareth – “His Anointed” – but against the LORD God as well (Psa 2:2). Whoever does not honor Jesus, also dishonors God (John 5:23). Jesus said, “He that hateth me hateth My Father also” (John 15:23). The status of a person before God rises or falls upon their attitude toward His Son. Considering the appalling absence of a proper view of Jesus, this has some rather alarming ramifications.
JUDAS MAKES AN APPEARANCE. Matthew records that prior to delivering Jesus to Pilate, Judas made an appearance before the chief priests and elders. He did this when “he saw that Jesus was condemned.” It was then than he “repented himself,” feeling remorse and sorrow, but not the kind that “worketh repentance unto salvation” (2 Cor 7:10). He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Mat 27:4). With complete indifference, the leaders replied, “What is that to us? . . . That’s your responsibility” NIV Judas then hurled the money into the Temple, “departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matt 27:5). Alas, he had crossed a moral line from which he could not return. He sinned a sin from which he could not recover.
In a sterling display of their hypocrisy the chief priests “took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood” (Matt 27:6). They had interpreted this to be true from the Mosaic stipulation, “Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God” (Deut 23:18). A “dog” was a male prostitute, or a sodomite. NIV In some sense, the deed of Judas fell into that class – a man that was hired to bring a form of gratification to chief priests and elders: the betrayal of their enemy into their hands. They were so exacting in making sure they did the right thing, that they refused to put this blood money into the Temple treasury. Instead, they purchased a field with it, in which strangers, or non-Jews, could be buried. That field was henceforth referred to as “The field of blood.” Matthew states that in doing this they fulfilled the Scriptures, doing “as the Lord appointed” (Matt 27:6-10). We assume the purchase was accomplished some time later.
JESUS IS BOUND AND DELIVERED TO PILATE. Now the leaders bind Jesus, carry Him away, and deliver Him to Pilate. John says they “led . . . Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early.” This was called the “Praetorium,” NKJV and was “the palace of the Roman governor.” NIV However, in keeping with their penchant for keeping the Law, “they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover” (John 18:28). In this we see how easily carnality and corrupt religion can be mingled together. Once religion is corrupted, there is no end to what can be done against the Lord and His Christ – the only limitation being the determinations of God. This is a factor that must be taken into consideration when one embarks on a sinful life.
PILATE ASKS JESUS IF HE IS THE KING OF THE JEWS
“ 2 And Pilate asked Him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And He answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. 3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing.”
WHAT ACCUSATION DO YOU BRING? John records that, upon their arrival at Pilate’s hall of judgment, Pilate came to the leaders (for they had not entered into the hall itself) and asked them, “What accusation bring ye against this man?” (John 18:29). It is not that he had any particular interest in Jesus. He was rather acting in strict accord with the judicial Law, which required the presentation and substantiation of a legitimate charge.
The people quickly responded, “If He were not a malefactor [evildoer], we would not have delivered him up unto thee” (John 18:30). Unwilling to put up with their nonsense, Pilate responded, “Take ye Him, and judge Him according to your law.” We know that Pilate had no respect for the Jews or their Law, because he had once slaughtered some Galileans, mingling their blood with that of the sacrifices they offered (Lk 13:1). However, as will be confirmed later, he preferred to have nothing to do with this case. Notwithstanding this circumstance, the Jews responded, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death” (John 18:31). By using the word “lawful,” they were not referring to the law of Moses, which often commanded them to put people to death (Lev 20:2; Deut 13:9; 17:7). It is generally agreed that this had reference to the removal of their right to execute people under Roman Law. However, they had not thought of this before, when they had determined to stone Jesus (John 8:3,59; 7:25). Just prior to Jesus’ betrayal these very leaders had assembled together and “consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill Him” (Matt 26:4). This seeming submission to Roman law was only a cunning way to avoid raising the indignation of the common Jewish people, who would not, at that time, have consented to Him being killed. That is why they wanted Judas to betray Him “in the absence of the multitude.”
Over and above this circumstance, John adds this remark concerning this response. “That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die” (John 18:32). That “saying” included Him being lifted up on the cross (John 3:14; 12:32), being crucified (Matt 20:19; 26:2), and being delivered to the Gentiles (Lk 18:32). Thus, when Jesus would be put to death, it would be according to Divine determination (Acts 4:28).
Luke tells us that prior to being questioned by Pilate, “they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King” (Luke 23:2). This was in stark contrast with the words of Jesus Himself who said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's” (Matt 22:21). However, these people had no interest in either truth or justice. They wanted to rid themselves of Jesus, and are willing to do or say anything that will contribute to that cause.
ART THOU KING OF THE JEWS? Now Jesus is brought to stand “before the governor,” Pilate himself (Matt 27:11). John tells us that at this point “Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus” (John 18:33). It is the charge that the Jews have made concerning Jesus saying He was a king that provokes Pilates’s question. “Art Thou king of the Jews?” He does not ask Jesus if He is perverting the nation, or leading it astray. He does not ask if He is a malefactor, or a doer of evil. Neither, indeed, does he ask Jesus if He has advocated withholding taxes from Caesar. Instead, he asks the Man before him if He is “the King of the Jews.” All four Gospels record this question (Matt 27:11; Mk 15:2; Lk 23:3; John 18:33). It is one which the Lord will answer. There is no record of Him ever being asked this question before.
THOU SAYEST IT. Jesus answered, “Thou sayest it.” The literal translation is, “You are saying.” The idea is, “It is as you say” NKJV, AMPLIFIED Even though Pilate had not intended to say so, he has said the truth. This also indicates that he knew enough to make further inquiry into the matter. This was also God speaking through Pilate as He did through Caiaphas (John 11:50-51). In both cases, the accuracy was unintended by men. The only other time we read this expression, “the King of the Jews,” is when “wise men came from the east,” seeking the One who was “born King of the Jews” (Matt 2:2). Although Jesus was not only the King the Jews, He was, indeed, precisely that, being appointed by God to that role.
THEY ACCUSED HIM OF MANY THINGS. At this point, “the chief priests accused” Jesus “of many things.” Matthew says He was accused “of the chief priests and elders” (Matt 27:11). Luke says Pilate answered “I find no fault in this man,” to which the Jews replied with unparalleled fierceness, “He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place” (Luke 23:5). This session was especially volatile.
HE ANSWERED NOTHING. In fulfillment of the prophets, Jesus “opened not His mouth.” He was “as a sheep before her shearers is dumb” (Psa 39:9; Isa 53:7). He acknowledged He was Christ, the Son of God, to Caiaphas. He acknowledged that He was the “King of the Jews” before Pilate. However, He would not respond to the false charges of the people.
JESUS’ SILENCE CAUSES PILATE TO MARVEL
“ 4 And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. 5But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled.”
PILATE SENT HIM TO HEROD. Luke records that as soon as Pilate heard about Jesus preaching in Galilee, he asked if He was a Galilaean. Upon hearing that he was, and knowing that Galilee was within Herod’s jurisdiction, and thinking to rid himself of this case, “he sent Him to Herod, who himself was at Jerusalem at that time” (Lk 23:6-7). Upon seeing Jesus, Herod “was exceeding glad,” for he had wanted to see him for a long time, “because he had heard many things of Him.” In fact, “he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him” (Lk 23:8). It is written that Herold questioned Jesus “with many words,” or “questioned Him at some length.” NASB However, Jesus also maintained His silence before Herod (Lk 23:9). The “chief priests and scribes” had followed Jesus to Herod, and “vehemently accused Him” before him (Lk 23:10). It was then that “Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate” NKJV (Luke 23:11). It is also said of that occasion, “And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves” (Luke 23:12).
PILATE ASKED HIM AGAIN. It is at this point, upon the return of Jesus from Herod, that Pilate again interrogated the Lord. “Do You answer nothing? (Mk 15:4). As when He was before the high priest and the council, the silence of Jesus contradicted all notions of legal propriety. This was an opportunity for Jesus to exonerate His name, and confirm that the charges leveled against Him were totally false. His rights had been violated, and injustice was having its way – at least that is the way that is appeared. However, more was happening than what appeared to men! The will of the Lord was being carried out in meticulous detail – a will that involved Him using dishonorable vessels that were in His house (2 Tim 2:20). Jesus knew precisely what was happening, and did not lift His voice, for that would have conflicted with the will of God. Jesus came to do His Father’s will, and keeping silence was part of that doing.
Solomon wrote that there is “a time to keep silence,” and this was such a time (Eccl 3:2). As “the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24), Jesus was able to identify such a time, and fully comply with it. It seems to me that those who wear the name of Jesus do well to also be discerning of such times. Paul spoke of such occasions when he said, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business”(1 Thess 4:11). Although not always easy, this is to be done.
BEHOLD HOW MANY THINGS THAT WITNESS AGAINST THEE. “See how many things they testify against You!” (Mk 15:4). The specified charges that are recorded include the following. 1) He was a malefactor, or evildoer (John 18:30). 2) He perverted the nation (Lk 23:2). 3) He forbade the people to pay tribute to Caesar (Lk 23:2). 4) He said that he was a king (Lk 23:2). 5) He was stirring up the people (Lk 23:5). It is also stated that “He was accused of the chief priests and elders” (Matt 27:12), “the chief priests accused Him of many things” (Mk 15:3). There is a certain ambiguity that characterizes all of the charges brought against Jesus. How foolish they must have sounded to Pilate. The only charge that might have concerned him was that of Jesus stirring up the people, and creating unrest in his political turf. However, he must have known this was not true, for his militia had never been called out to quell any disturbances caused by the Prince of peace. Jesus did not stir up political unrest, and there is not the slightest indication that He is involved in such things today.
JESUS STILL ANSWERED NOTHING. The second time Jesus keeps His silence. He did this before Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and now again before Pilate. We are speaking of a lengthy period of time that commenced on the prior evening, and has now extended well into the next day. Along with the interrogations, He has been bound (Mk 15:1), spit upon (Matt 26:67a), pummeled with fists (Matt 26:67b), buffeted while His face was covered (Mk 14:65), slapped with open hands (Matt 26:67c), mocked before the council (Matt 26:68), He was blasphemed (Lk 22:65), and mocked by Herod and his men of war (Lk 23:11). In addition to all of this, He had heard Peter deny Him three times. Yet, the firm heart of Jesus remained strong, and His determination to do the will of His Father never waned. He still did not speak in His own defense!
And why was this so? It was because Jesus had lived His entire life unto His Father. He had cultured His spirit, and had never become absorbed in the ways of the world. In this the word of Isaiah concerning the coming Messiah was fulfilled: “His righteousness, it sustained Him” (Isa 59:16). When we assume a godly posture in life, it will also sustain us during trial.
PILATE MARVELED. Matthew says that Pilate “marveled greatly” (Matt 27:14). It was during this interrogation that Jesus told Pilate His Kingdom was not of the world, and that He came to bear witness of the truth (John 18:34-37). Thus Pilate is dumbfounded by the presence and words of the Lord Jesus. The text will indicate that he felt unequal to the challenge of trying Jesus, and would have preferred to back out of the whole matter. However, he was caught in the net of Divine purpose, the God’s hook was in his nose.