Mark 15:3-5 "And the chief priests
accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. (4) And Pilate
asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they
witness against thee. (5) But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that
Pilate marvelled."
Pilate marvelled. I'm not sure there had been many things in the life of Pilate at which he marvelled, but on this day he marvelled at Jesus. He wondered why Jesus would not answer any of the accusations that had been made against Him. He wondered at why the chief priests and elders held such hatred for this man. Surely, if Jesus had been an enemy of Rome, Pilate would have known about it before this time. But then the wonderment moved toward another aspect. The Greek root word for marvel means to admire. Pilate was actually holding Jesus in admiration because of the way He conducted Himself while facing these accusations. Surely, no one had ever come before Pilate with this type approach.
We know the charges against Jesus were false. We know the chief priests and elders had had to really work at even finding two people who would come before them with the same charges. We know some of them stood together outside the judgment hall and made up a charge, but then as they came individually before the Sanhedrin, they still could not agree on their accusations. That which caused them to bring Jesus before Pilate was the question which was asked: "Art thou the Son of God?" Though Jesus never went about declaring His deity, He would not deny Himself when asked. They could not receive that truth and as a result brought Jesus before Pilate.
Now Jesus remains silent. He is asked many things and accused of many things. He opens not His mouth. I go back to a prophecy concerning this moment that was written about 700 years prior. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) I refer now to Paul's first message to the Thessalonicans. Paul began to speak to them saying, "Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." (Acts 17:3)
As I picture Jesus standing before His accusers and before Pilate, my mind takes me to a place of humility and thanksgiving. As one Gospel writer included, Jesus could have called 12 legions of angels to deliver Him, but He opened not His mouth. Why did He endure all this? The answer comes back simply from my Lord, "My child, I did it all for you." I close this morning with some precious words from the book of Romans.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:31-34)
Pilate marvelled. I'm not sure there had been many things in the life of Pilate at which he marvelled, but on this day he marvelled at Jesus. He wondered why Jesus would not answer any of the accusations that had been made against Him. He wondered at why the chief priests and elders held such hatred for this man. Surely, if Jesus had been an enemy of Rome, Pilate would have known about it before this time. But then the wonderment moved toward another aspect. The Greek root word for marvel means to admire. Pilate was actually holding Jesus in admiration because of the way He conducted Himself while facing these accusations. Surely, no one had ever come before Pilate with this type approach.
We know the charges against Jesus were false. We know the chief priests and elders had had to really work at even finding two people who would come before them with the same charges. We know some of them stood together outside the judgment hall and made up a charge, but then as they came individually before the Sanhedrin, they still could not agree on their accusations. That which caused them to bring Jesus before Pilate was the question which was asked: "Art thou the Son of God?" Though Jesus never went about declaring His deity, He would not deny Himself when asked. They could not receive that truth and as a result brought Jesus before Pilate.
Now Jesus remains silent. He is asked many things and accused of many things. He opens not His mouth. I go back to a prophecy concerning this moment that was written about 700 years prior. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) I refer now to Paul's first message to the Thessalonicans. Paul began to speak to them saying, "Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." (Acts 17:3)
As I picture Jesus standing before His accusers and before Pilate, my mind takes me to a place of humility and thanksgiving. As one Gospel writer included, Jesus could have called 12 legions of angels to deliver Him, but He opened not His mouth. Why did He endure all this? The answer comes back simply from my Lord, "My child, I did it all for you." I close this morning with some precious words from the book of Romans.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:31-34)