Time Wasting

Friday, October 8, 2021

Standing Before Pilate

15 At dawn’s first light, the high priests, with the religious leaders and scholars, arranged a conference with the entire Jewish Council. Then, after tying Jesus securely, they took him out and presented him to Pilate.

2-3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

He answered, “If you say so.” Then, the high priests let loose a barrage of accusations.

4-5 Pilate asked again, “Aren’t you going to answer anything? That’s quite a list of accusations.” Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.

-Mark 15:1-5 The Message

We are now going into the book of Mark for his version of events of Jesus’ crucifixion. Most of the reading is repetitions. Most of everything we will read and study is what we already learn, just different versions.

Jesus before Pilate

Verse 1: Early in the morning, the chief priests with the elders, scribes, and the entire Council immediately held a consultation, and they bound Jesus and led Him away and turned Him over to Pilate.

Verse 1 study: The Jewish leaders had to send Jesus to the Roman governor Pilate because the Romans took away the right to give capital punishment. So the plan to conflict with death is to present Jesus to a Roman leader to allow it. The Jewish leaders wanted an execution on the cross, which the Jews believed brought a curse from God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Verse 2: Pilate questioned Him: “So, You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.”

Verse 3: And the chief priests started accusing Him of many things.

Verse 4: But Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You offer nothing in answer? See how many charges they are bringing against You!”

Verse 3-4 studies: Fabrication was massive because they needed to make up something against Jesus when they brought him to Pilate. Blasphemy meant nothing to the Roman governor, so there are three crimes they did pursue.

1. Tax evasion: encouraging people not to pay taxes.
2. Treason: claiming he was a king, the king of the Jews.
3. Terrorism: causing riots over the countryside.

All three of these charges are severe enough for Pilate.

Verse 5: But Jesus said nothing further in answer, so Pilate was amazed.

Verse 5 study: What was the point of Jesus answering Pilate’s questions? There is a time and place for everything, so Jesus felt he had no reason to answer questions, or prolonging the trial, or save himself. This piece of wisdom from Jesus is a reminder and an example of self-assurance and peace, which no ordinary criminal could imitate. Nothing stopped Jesus from completing the work he had come to do (Isaiah 53:7).

Father, let us be aware of wasted time in explaining things to people. There is a time and place to do it. Let us be wise in our time of talking and having our meditation time. In Jesus’ name. Amen!