Christ, The Heavenly King Before An Earthly Pilate By Pastor W.F. Kumuyi

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MONDAY BIBLE STUDY BROADCAST
DATE: JULY 20, 2020
TEACHER: PASTOR W.F. KUMUYI
TOPIC: CHRIST, THE HEAVENLY KING BEFORE AN EARTHLY PILATE
TEXT: MARK 15:1-15

We have looked at Mark chapters 1 to 14, tonight, we are coming to chapter 15, verse 1 to 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.

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.

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.

6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

You will find two people mentioned in verses 1 and 2: the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews, and Governor Pilate. Who was the Lord Jesus Christ and what were the accusations brought against Him? That He called Himself the King of the Jews, a fact which the word of God has affirmed. Pilate was the governor in Israel at that time. The Jews brought Jesus to him because they had no right or authority to crucify Him. They had decided He was guilty and must be put to death.

1. Christ, The King. Psalm 2:6-12; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:2-6
Right from time immemorial, it has been established that Jesus is the King of the Jews, it was not a new thing. The three wise men from the East testified to this when they were looking for Him at His birth. Herod was troubled by the information that a king of the Jews has been born. The Chief Priests and Scribes testified to this as seen in the scriptures that Jesus is King of the Jews. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

2. Pilate, The Governor. Matthew 27:2; Luke 13:1-3,28; Acts 4:27-28John 19:10-13
Pilate was the governor of the people. In personality, he happened to be a wicked man who killed and mingled people’s blood with their sacrifices. Pilate and some other people ganged up against the Lord but whatever they did were not beyond what God has ordained. From all eternity, God the Father has ordained that His only begotten Son would come to make sacrifice for our sins and evil.

A. THE EMINENCE OF OUR RIGHTEOUS PRIEST. Mark 15:1-5
Pilate was surprised about the calmness and quietness of Jesus in the face of such allegations, slander and false witnesses.

1. The Scorn Against Christ. Mark 15:1-2,32
Despite the fact that they have crucified Jesus, the slander, jesting and ridicule continued, as seen in vs 32.
The reviling, slander, lies and piercing scorn coming to Christ from all directions were not new. God and Jesus Christ Himself knew this would happen (Psalm 2:1-3; 22:6-8).

2. The Silence Of Christ. Mark 15:3
The people dug up all sorts of lies and false allegations against Christ, but He was silent. Why did He keep quiet and did not defend Himself? Let us look at seven things:

i. The Silence Of A Conqueror. Isaiah 53:7
Jesus has conquered death, sin, Satan, evil spirits and all false witnesses, everyone and everything. He has been a conqueror from all eternity till the time of the trial. A conqueror need not fight a battle He has already won (Isaiah 53:7) Isaiah has predicted this about 700 years before Christ was born.

ii. The Silence of Conviction . John 8:9
Christ convicted the people by His silence. They brought a woman taken in adultery to Him, they wanted her to be killed as stated in their laws but Jesus answered them nothing. As they kept on demanding judgment for her, He said a single sentence: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. The people were convicted by their own conscience and went away one by one, from the eldest to the youngest.

iii. The Silence Of Courage
Cowards, fearful and panicking people talk a lot, but when you are courageous and know that you are a conqueror, you will be cool and will not need to talk too much (Hebrews 12:3) Jesus endured all the contradictions of sinners silently and quietly because He was already a conqueror.

iv. The Silence Of Consecration. John 18:11
Jesus knew He must drink the cup given to Him by the Father. He had already consecrated Himself to the will of the Father. He sent Him to shed His blood for our sins and save us. He would not want to get out of the situation.

v. The Silence Of Commitment. I Peter 2:23; I Peter 4:19
Jesus did not throw back the stones thrown by His enemies. This is exactly what some people do. They immediately pick up stones thrown at them and throw them back. When they are reviled, they revile again.

vi. The Silence Of Contemplation. Mark 14:60
All the time Jesus was being tried, He was thinking, meditating and turning around in His mind all the things that were ahead of Him. He knew He would soon die, accomplish the redemption for humanity, that all the suffering and persecution will not continue, and He will say IT IS FINISHED, and bring salvation to the whole world.

vii. The Silence Of Concern. Luke 23:28-31
Christ was concerned for the people as regards the judgment that will come upon them. He knew what will come upon them, so He said they should not weep for Him but for themselves and their children.

Why are we learning about these things? Because all things are written in the scriptures for our learning and admonition, all scriptures are given for our reproof, rebuke and admonition and because the time might come when we will be falsely accused or at a crossroad and we will be able to learn from the example of Christ.

Also Read: Maintaining The Courage For Holiness In A Corrupt Community By Pastor W.F. Kumuyi

3. The Standard For Christians
There are things that will happen to us, and we will be accused wrongly, we need to learn from His example (I Peter 2:21) Since you are born again, sanctified and baptized in the Holy Ghost, they will definitely persecute you. The standard is the one Jesus left for us, He did not need to tell any lie because He did no sin, but some people tell lies to escape some repercussions, and still need to cover such lies with bigger lies. when He was reviled, Jesus reviled not again. When He suffered, He did not complain but committed himself to Him who judges rightly.

Psalm 39:1-2. My brothers and sisters, the easiest sin to commit is through the tongue. Look at the case of the Israelites who murmured, complained, castigating Moses and asking questions about everything. They did not learn the spiritual lesson of being quiet, neither did they know that there are times one needs to keep quiet and say nothing. Let us borrow an idea from the Covid 19 season, that we need to cover our mouths and noses. How about imagining that the mask is still there after the pandemic has gone, and you think before you speak?

vs 2. There are many good deeds Jesus would have reminded these people of. He did so many things for them, healed the sick, raised the dead, and delivered the oppressed, yet, He did not bring any of these things up when they were accusing or mocking Him.

Luke 2:19. We see Mary did not make a case for herself even when she was wrongly accused of immorality during the pregnancy of our Lord. She kept quiet, not arguing or defending herself until the Holy Spirit spoke to Joseph on her behalf. Even when she heard about what would happen to Jesus when He would be of age, how He would sacrifice His life for the sin of the whole world, she said nothing, but only pondered those things in her heart.

Here is what our attitude and disposition ought to be. Let the lion inside that always want to come out, pounce on and tear people apart die. Let all that thing that always want to talk, defend, thrash or argue things out die. We are saved and sanctified, Christ lives bigger on the inside, we are filled with the Holy Ghost and He comforts us and gives us peace, purity, power and control (I Peter 4:19). This is the standard laid down by Christ. This should be a standard and pattern for us.

B. THE ENVY OF THE RELIGIOUS PRIEST. Mark 15:6-11
Pilate had the duty to release someone for the Jews every year.

1. The Perception Of Envy By Pilate (Mark 15:6; Matthew 27:18; Proverbs 27:4
Pilate knew that the Jews were envious of Jesus. There are times there will be envy and people tell lies against a righteous saint of God. Other times it is between a couple where a husband can accuse a wife who is more successful of using witchcraft against him. He will call the children and instigate them against her, accusing her of hindering his progress.

How about in the office environment, where there is envy against the one who is very favoured and successful, getting one promotion after the other. They will be asking when did he or she come even though they themselves are not pulling their weight. At times, envy is seen in an extended family where the more successful child is ganged up against. There might be diabolical powers employed to bring him/her down by all means, that he or she will fall sick during exams all because of envy. Envy is very cruel and will be judged by the Lord.

2. The Preference Of Envy In The Priest. Mark 15:6-11
Every year, during the feast of Passover, Pilate has the responsibility to release a guilty one to the Jews. Between Jesus and the thief Barrabas, they chose the thief to Jesus.
Some people intentionally withhold jobs and positions from people whom they see as potential threat to their popularity and position and choose a dull and slow person instead because of envy. They fear the better person would outshine them. The Jews would rather choose Barrabas who is a potential threat to society than peaceful, loving and Saviour Jesus, all because of envy. They refused to see His innocence, righteousness, perfection and blamelessness.

As believers, we need to be very careful and ensure we do not behave like these people in our preferences. We must ensure that we are very careful in the decisions we take about people, the ideas we project about people in the family, in the church, in the sections where we work. What influences your decisions? Who do you prefer and why do you prefer that person? Are you fair or is it because of envy? (Isaiah 5:23). We have to be very courteous, careful and committed to the standard of holiness and righteousness so that our preferences and choices are not made based on personal ideas, envious disposition and we are not taking the righteousness of the righteous away from them to justify the wicked like Barrabas in any way.

3. The Punishment For Envy In Any Person. Mark 15:10
We who are leaders need to have perception as members of a particular committee or among a group of people, and when we have to take decisions. You take decisions about individuals, young people, intending couples with some people wanting to take advantage over the others. Leaders must ensure that they are careful in their perceptions in choosing and appointing people to do this or that and what people are saying about them so that they do not make decisions on envy and sentiments. We need to be careful to consider what they are saying, who is saying what, and why they are saying so. We must also ensure that we do not enforce our will and decisions when we know that it is based on envy.

Judgment will come on all envious persons (Isaiah 26:10-11) Favour was shown to Barrabas who was a thief and has killed people. Pilate and the chief priests did not see the power of God upon Jesus who was quiet in their presence. They shall be ashamed when their judgment comes. There is judgment, punishment and damnation by reason of envy (Romans 1:29,32) Envy is unrighteousness and sin, and it will bring people to judgment. Envy does not reside in the heart of a saved, sanctified spirit-filled person.

C. THE EVIL OF REPROACHFUL PILATE. Mark 15-12-15
All the people with their envy could not take the final decision, the last decision still rested with Pilate. He asked the people what he was to do, and the people cried the more, crucify him! They were not concerned about the outcome. Pilate asked them what evil He has committed, they did not answer but cried the more exceedingly, crucify him! And Pilate, willing to please the people, not looking at the law, not bothering about the previous warning of his wife, or the fact that he did not find any fault in Him, released Barrabas to them and condemned Jesus.

1. The Confession Of Mindless Pilate. Matthew 27:24; John 18:38
Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty of any offense. He was faultless yet he surrendered Him to the people.

John 19:4-6. Why would he release Jesus to them despite the fact that He was innocent? Pilate was mindless, he did not have a mind of his own. How about the decisions you take, are they always from your mind? Do you act on facts or contradictions like Pilate? How about your actions to the persons close to you, people who are good, loving and righteous? You are to have your own mind, not the mind of the people. You are to have the mind of Christ so that you do not do everything like mindless Pilate.

2.The Conciliation Of Mischievous Personalities. Mark 15:15
Pilate wanted to smoothen his relationship with the Jews, so he released Jesus to them. Pilate used the suffering of Jesus as sacrifice to conciliate and calm the people down. So he was unrighteous and unjust to Him.

Luke 24:6-9,12. Herod, having heard so much about Jesus and wanting to see Him perform miracles asked Jesus about many things but He answered him nothing. Pilate used the misplaced judgment on Jesus to make peace with Herod because before this time, they were at enmity with each other. Think about that. Pilate was a weak, wicked, sinful, despicable personality. He made friends with Herod on the issues of the trials of Jesus.

John 12:43. Pilate, Herod, and many religious people, priests and pastors today love the praise of men more than the praise of God. They would do anything, take any decision they believe will make the powers-that-be and great personalities happy and be their friends.

Acts 24:24-27. Felix wanted to hear the word concerning faith and the Kingdom, so He called for Paul. On hearing Paul, he trembled and at the end, he told Paul to go his way, that he would call him at another time. He was not ready to surrender his heart and life to God yet. He did not want anything to inhibit his freedom to do whatever he liked. He also assumed that Paul would give him some money in order to free him. Bribery and corruption did not start today. It has been from ages.

So do some men of God today in order to get unmerited favour, get out of unfavourable situations, get lands and properties for their ministries and church, etc. So, Felix sent for Paul often, not to hear the word of God but for monetary gains. After two years, Felix, willing to show the Jews favour and please them, left Paul in bonds.
All such people are condemned by God, His word and society.

3. The Condemnation Of Miserable Men Pleasers. Galatians 1:10
In your activities, and decisions in life, in judgments, the messages you preach, the counsel you give, and the way you deal with people, do you seek to please men or God? Are you like Pilate, Herod, Felix or the Jews? Are you like the Saul of the Old Testament who preferred to please the people more than God?

Do you seek to please men or God? If you still please men or yourself and accuse and condemn the innocent like Pilate, you are not a child of God. If you do the same thing, instead of pleasing God, you hurt, oppress, persecute people, and envy them of their rights in order to please other people or yourself, you are not yet saved.

We have the responsibility to ensure that we recollect and re-gather ourselves, we must apply all the lessons we are learning into our lives and know that whatever we do, preach or whatever decisions we make, we are out to please God at all times, in all things, with and concerning anyone and ourselves.

If you please men over God, you are not a child or servant of God, you will not be a candidate for heaven and you will not be a faithful steward of the kingdom and of the treasures of the Lord.

The Lord wants us to examine ourselves and look at all the stories and see where we fit in, whether we are on the side of Christ, having the same mind and nature and disposition with Him or the same mind with Pilate.

Prayer:

Rise up and seek the face of the Lord, call upon Him and let Him apply His words to your heart. Think about all you have heard and pray to be more like Christ in disposition and in the way you treat others.

Pray for our Pastor, that God be with him. May he not be tired or weary. May his strength be renewed everyday. Amen and Amen.