The Other Simon

Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. Mark 15:21

Jesus chose two Simons, one surnamed Peter, and one known as a zealot, but then a third one is passing by while Jesus bears His cross toward Golgotha. The Roman soldiers chose this third Simon, and they didn't ask whether he wanted to come along with or not. Why did they choose this man from a city in what we know as Libya? Probably due to his appearance, given they knew nothing else about him. For all those who state their piety by desiring to touch the cross of Jesus, Simon gets to do it by the overbearing compulsion of imperial Rome. This Simon may not have seen the honor in it. The cross of Jesus, bloody and sweaty, and probably used for many executions before and after this time. Imagine being compelled to tote an electric chair up the hill to a public execution. You would need no compulsion to let everyone up there know the chair wasn't for you!

Let 'em know, Jesus is Lord!

Bucky

Mocking Game

Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. Mark 15:19-20

Although the Roman garrison bowed the knee to Jesus, their heart was not in it. How a person or group behaves with another person delivered to them by an authority as a prisoner will say much about their character. We can criticize the Roman soldiers for this, but there is Jesus also to consider. This man who walked across the stormy surface of Lake Tiberias and raised dead people back to life, must not be entirely helpless even in this circumstance. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells His valiant, ear-whacking, swordsman to put it away since His Father could send twelve legions of angels to His rescue. One Roman garrison versus twelve legions of angels? Gotta go with the angels on that one. Therefore, as Jesus had the power to call upon a superior force but didn't, what mission holds Jesus on this course? We are grateful that this mission was our salvation, and that Jesus held Himself to it.

Praise God for our Lord's longsuffering and patience,

Bucky

Pilate's One Chance

So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.  Mark 15:15

Wanting to gratify the crowd may be a good thing, such as a music performer playing that hit song that maybe they do not want to play yet another time, or it may be that the crowd needs a restraining influence. Here is Pilate, the one authority who could restrain the crowd, but he doesn't want to answer them with a negative. So, Barabbas gets to live another day, while an innocent man goes to the cross. Pilate lives on also, but what thoughts go through his mind after meeting Jesus? We do not know. Pilate is not quite out of the story after this. There is the matter of a body to be buried. However, Pilate's one chance came and went, and he chose the crowd over Jesus. I think there is a lesson there!

Rejoice in the Risen Savior!

Bucky

They Turned On Him

Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
  -- Mark 15:12-14

If repentance is turning to the Lord, this would be a demonstration of the opposite. The people, stirred up by the chief priests, turned on Jesus. Were these the same who a few days before had hailed Jesus as the Son of David? His twelve disciples had fled from Him, one even betrayed Him to the authorities, and God? God it appears wanted Jesus right where He was, unjustly condemned by the crowd. The crowd of His chosen people. Their king. "Crucify Him!" they shouted at the Roman governor. A sad moment in the history of Israel. And yet, from this apparent weakness comes our Lord's great victory over sin and the grave.

His redemption of us, an amazing story!

Bucky

They Had One Chance

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Mark 15:6-9

What can unbelief do to a people? We have here as one choice the Savior of the world, Messiah, King of the Jews, the Christ. On the other side a rebel and murderer. And the people have one chance to release their king and Messiah. Ah, the problem is that they do not believe that Jesus is those things. They have unbelief as their guide. Pilate knew well the entry into Jerusalem Jesus had just done a few days past. No doubt the people would want the One they shouted "Hosanna!" and laid cloaks and palm branches before. Nope, give us the murderer and rebel, the crowd asks.

And thus did a great miracle happen and us Gentiles got the chance to believe in the risen Son of God, the Christ.

Praise God!

Bucky

The Answer Of Silence

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.  Mark 15:3-5

A testimony making allegations carries too much weight many times in our world today. Sometimes a person is convicted in the public arena before a trial even comes. A trial is held to determine the truth, but some think that the trial is proof of the crime. But Pilate wasn't the public, and he had dealt with the chief priests before. Jesus, for his part, answered those questions he could not deny, as we studied last week. These accusations then must have been spurious nonsense. Jesus stood silent, refusing to give the allegations weight by his denial. And sadly, those set as watchmen for the coming Messiah, were the ones demanding the death of the Messiah. Jesus gave to them the answer of silence, and the Roman governor marveled. 

May God our Father raise you up this week,

Bucky

Enabled To Believe

Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
-- Mark 15:1-2

Last night I noticed a little stupid fluttering about. So I grabbed it and fondled it a bit. Upon finding out that I had not done what I thought I had done, and that what I was trying to do was doubling the problem, I stopped and corrected the first part and then was able to do the second. Then I let the stupid go on its way. If you are past childhood, but not yet suffering from A.G.E. you will not understand all that.

Meanwhile, back in the scriptures. Jesus has been taken, in restraints, to the Roman authority. Why? The Jewish religious authorities wanted their Roman overseers to take the life of this son of the tribe of Judah. Pilate, perhaps thinking to be smart or funny, asks Jesus one question, "Are you the king of the Jews?" The high priest had asked Jesus a question that Jesus answered similarly, "It is as you say". So, Jesus claimed to be the Christ, the Son of God, and King of Israel. The question is, what does each person believe about that? The priests, Pharisees, scribes, and (nearly) all the Sanhedrin have refused to believe Jesus. What will Pilate do?

Praise God that we were enabled to believe in Jesus!

Bucky