Jesus' Passion

 

by Pastor Young Joon Park

September 6, 2009

 

Mark 15:1-20

1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law (scribes) and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

2 Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "It is as you say."

3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.

4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many charges they bring against You!?"

5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

6 Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.

7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9 Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"

10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.

12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"

13 They shouted back, "Crucify Him!"

14 But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!"

15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged (flogged), he handed Him over to be crucified.

16 The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort.

17 They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him;

18 and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!?"

19 They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him.

20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

 

 

 

 

I. Jesus was rejected by His People

 

John 1:11

He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

 

The spirit of rejection

 

He was rejected for a moment by His mother Mary before He was conceived.

He was rejected for a moment by Joseph while He was in the womb.

He was rejected for a while by Joseph and families of Mary.

We do not have any clue how His youth life was since there is no record about Jesus' youth life in the Bible. But the chances are that He probably had gone through some hard times from neighbors who knew His unknown birth story.

When He started His ministry at age 30, He was rejected by His Hometown people.

During His ministry time, many people who used to follow Jesus rejected Him and left from His Ministry.

He constantly faced the major rejection from the Israel leaders.

One of His Disciples, Iscariot Judah, not only rejected Him but betrayed Him.

All of the leaders planed to kill Jesus.

Finally they made a big plan to kill Jesus on a certain day.

They arrested Jesus in the middle of night secretly when there was no crowd with Him.

 

Those leaders are

The chief priests - who stand between God and men

The Elders - who leads God's people

The teachers of the law - who study the word of God and give interpretation,

The whole Sanhedrin - all the operation of the nation

 

Israel leaders' action

1. Very early in the morning,

2. Major leaders in this plot against Jesus

the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law (scribes)

and the whole Sanhedrin,

3. They reached a decision.

4. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

 

It is so sad that no one knows Jesus as their Messiah even among the top leaders of Israel. They were, as the leaders of Israel, supposed to know who the Messiah was and should’ve given the instruction and guidance to the people about the discernment of the Messiah, but they totally missed and did not perform their role for receiving the Messiah. Their eyes were total blind, and the entire Israel was totally blinded about the Messiah, Jesus, because of them.

 

They as the chief priests who were the ones that serve the Lord in the temple and discern the time and seasons for His People should have been able to recognize Jesus as their Messiah.

They as the elders of Israel should have been able to lead His People in the right place and to the right direction.

They as the teachers of the law should have been able to interpret the Word of God with the right revelation from the Lord and teach the Word to His People to guide them to His Will alone.

 

But they failed their function that God assigned for them totally and miserably.

 

They also did not know the real Messiah and they were so blinded.

 

The source of the blindness

10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

 

Israel leaders did not realize what they were doing and Whom they were dealing with, but Pilate who did not know Jehovah God knew exactly

1)     what the Israel leaders' problem was

2)     and he recognized Whom he was dealing with, even if he had a fear of the Lord.

 

The main reason of their so bad accusation against Jesus was the jealousy.

Pilate did realize this jealousy problem against Jesus among the leaders.

 

In general, we believe that jealousy is bad and evil.

This jealousy is to gain the power or satisfaction for one's own selfish reason and destroy other.

 

In history:

Cain - against Abel

King Saul - against David

Jezebel - against Elijah

 

Proverbs 27:4

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

 

The jealousy makes them blind and to brings the destruction instead of life.

 

God's plan is to give life and abundantly, but the enemy's plan is to steal, to kill and to destroy because of his jealousy.

 

Jesus labeled the Pharisee in

Matthew 23:

"Woe to you, blind guides!"

"You blind fools!"

"You blind men!"

"You blind guides!"

"Blind Pharisees!"

 

Last week Pastor Young Sook Park shared about the thirsty.

It is very important what we drink or eat for our life.

One of our brothers asked me that the demons can come to us when we watch the bad movie. Our ears and eyes are our windows and doors. If we open it, then they come into us.

 

I've seen people who fallen away from the fellowship, because they opened their eyes and ears and were fed from the wrong sources.

 

Those leaders in Jesus' time were fed from the wrong sources continually, and they built up their minds as the stronghold by the devil. So their jealousy became very stronghold against Jesus and to kill Jesus.

Like as Jezebel tried to kill the God's prophet Elijah.

This jealousy issue has always strong control issue, and this is the issue of the evil spirits, the spirit of Jezebel.

 

Even today, satan is controlling and polluting the US Government leaders in politics and even church leaders in spiritually.

So we have to be careful and guard ourselves from the enemy's deception.

 

They worked so diligently to destroy Jesus even early in the morning.

Even today he and his demons are doing the same among the churches.

 

The blindness brings the wrong decisions and actions.

They bind Jesus instead of the devil.

 

German Christian leaders supported Hitler, but he became world's worst evil man in human history, because German Christian leaders bound Jesus instead of the devil.

 

A. We were faced with the rejection issue, are facing and will face, but always remember Jesus was rejected for us.

Bring all your rejection from your parents, family, relatives, friends, jobs, society...even from church to the Lord and lay them down under the feet of Jesus right now, because He was rejected for us.

 

B. We need to keep out from the spiritual blindness.

Watch out, what kind of food is feeding you from your listening and watching.

Watch out, what kind of stronghold is building up in you.

 

II. Jesus was accused by His People

 

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth;

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,

So He did not open His mouth.

The spirit of accusation

 

1. Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

2, Jesus answered him, "It is as you say."

 

Jesus answered the world ruler's question about Himself very clearly.

It is against the Romans's law for anyone to claim himself as a king other than appointed one or recognized.

Jesus answered to him right away without any hesitation even for the accusation.

But it seemed that Jesus' Claiming was not illegal or bothered Pilate at all.

 

3. The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.

4. Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying,

1) Aren't you going to answer?

2) See how many charges they bring against You!"

5. But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

Jesus did not defend Himself from the chief priests who are His Servants for Israel people, and did not reply them at all. He seemed that He had no interests in answering them at all even when Pilate questioned Him.

 

 

Jesus knew all the charges were not true at all, but it could be critical damage for Jesus' Life, and Jesus was not interested in the damage of His Life at all, because that's the reason He came.

 

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

 

So it made Pilate wonder why Jesus did not want to defend Himself at all.

 

We died on the Cross with Jesus Christ, so we no longer live, but Christ lives in us.

We do not need to concern ourselves regarding the useless matter.

We are upset if someone makes a false accusation, but Jesus did not care, because there is no need for any defense.

 

We need to have the kingdom mind. Whatever we do we need to do for the glory of the Lord.

 

I Corinthians 10:31

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.

 

We have to stand for the Kingdom of the Lord and for the Glory of the Lord alone, other than that there is no need for us to concern ourselves about it at all.

Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus... endured the cross, despising the shame...

 

A. Jesus was accused with false accusation for us.

Matthew 5:11-12

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

12 "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

B. The spiritual blind people

They are always against godly people, because satan does not like God's servant, and they always try to make the maximum damage against our life. They are not doing just on their alone, but make use other people against us as well.

 

The major problem among the people what satan steals from Christian's heart is all kinds of gossips. Satan uses the all kinds of gossip technique behind people to bring the confusion and the division. The gossip is not from the Lord, but from satan. When you keep getting involved in the gossip you will be polluted by it, and you are going to be in confusion or in the bitterness.

 

The Lord warned us in this area, and to be corrected as soon as possible.

Hebrews 12:15

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

 

 

III. Jesus was handed over to be crucified

 

The spirit of bitterness

 

1. Pilate tried to release Jesus

1) "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?"

2) For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

2. But the chief priests

1) They stirred up the crowd

2) to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.

3. Pilate said to them,

"Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"

4. They shouted back, "Crucify Him!"

5. But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?"

6. But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!"

7. He was wishing to satisfy the crowd,

1) Pilate released Barabbas for them,

2) After having Jesus scourged (flogged),

3) Pilate handed Him over to be crucified.

 

Jesus died on the cross - the chief priests (all of them) encouraged the crow to put the sin of death on Jesus (verse 11 as lay on their hand on the Lamb by themselves and by the crowd). Jesus became a sinner and was condemned as a sinner

 

In this time, the chief priests' bitterness was spread out to the crowd and even to Pilate.

The chief priests stirred up the crowd to against Jesus, and Pilate ended up yielding himself to the chief priests' jealous desire and handed Jesus over to be crucified.

The bitterness is spread out quickly to all of the people.

 

The Jewish major leaders' bitterness defiled the crowd to against Jesus and drove Pilate to make a decision to hand over Jesus to be crucified.

 

This bitterness spirit was working among the Jewish leaders and built up the stronghold of bitterness to defile people whoever around them.

They led people in to the bitterness, and they were defiled by their leader continually, also they led the entire nation in to the blindness to reject their Messiah and to kill Him.

They worked against Jesus one heart with the devil to reject Jesus Christ who was their Messiah.

 

Even this bitterness environment Jesus' Love was never changed and He took all the suffering for us.

 

Barabbas was released because of Jesus.

 

Barabbas, according to Greek texts (Yeshua Bar Abba or) Jesus bar-Abbas, (Aramaic: בר-אבא, Bar-abb? "son of the father"]), was the insurrectionary whom Pontius Pilate freed at the Passover feast in Jerusalem.

 

Jesus Barabbas - son of father

Jesus Christ - Son of God

 

Barabbas was ready to be executed because of his crime, but Jesus took his place and took over his execution position. Barabbas was released and his execution was abolished because of Jesus Christ.

Jesus took our sin and we are released from the death.

 

Barabbas is a symbol of all human beings, and his sin and death penalty was passed onto Jesus. Barabbas was released from his sin and death, because Jesus took his place on the cross.

 

We were in Barabbas position waiting to be executed for the crime, but we are not going to be executed any more and we are released from it completely because of Jesus.

 

There is no more death for you.

 

John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

 

You need to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, if you did not give your life to the Lord yet.

 

 

 

IV. Jesus was mocked by the soldiers

 

The mocking spirit

 

Psalm 35:21

They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."

  1) They dressed Him up in purple,

  2) and after twisting a crown of thorns, they placed on Him;

  3) and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

  4) They kept beating His head with a reed,

  5) and spitting on Him,

  6) and kneeling and bowing before Him.

 

The Roman soldiers' life style is to kill and to cause maximum damage the government and the people at whatever the cost, so their heart is full of violence to against one another. They had been involved in the killing and had seen the blood from their sword. They were not living the normal life, but opened the doors to the evil spirits. They were captured by many evil spirits in their lives.

Especially at this time they were captured by the mocking evil spirits against Jesus.

This mocking spirits were not just to mock casually, but causing the maximum damage to Jesus with mocking as their only purpose.

 

Roman soldiers did not care about Jesus wound, because they knew that Jesus will be crucified right after the torture. So they played with Jesus' Physical Body and Soul as bad as they possibly could.

 

The mocking spirits from satan had a special assignment to push down Jesus as far as they could with maximize evil spirits.

 

Jesus was tortured severely at this time with worst possible torturing. Every whip and violence was given to Jesus with mocking.

 

Jesus did not respond to the mocking, but received it with pain.

 

They mocked Jesus' Kinghood.

The Lord did not allow any one who vain His Name at all.

 

In this time, Jesus received all the mocking because of us and sin of all human beings.

They were, Roman soldiers, mocking His Kingship by insulting purple robe and a crown of thorns instead of golden crown.

 

But my Lord Jesus took all the mocking from the enemy for the earthly kingship with human made purple rope and a crown of thorns.

 

Whatever they did was just mocking Jesus only.

 

Jesus' crown of thorns

Our mind is full of evil and it comes from our mind through our brain that is a head.

Every evil mind should flee with Jesus crown of thorns.

Every evil mind has to be put to death by each thorn of Jesus.

 

Also the evil mind is our thorn to bring the pain.

Every single thorn of Jesus' Crown is a cause for the entire evil mind in us to flee.

 

They kept beating Jesus' Head with reeds, and in actuality they did it to cause more pain to Jesus.

 

Whatever they did to Jesus was, the only purpose was mocking and death.

They put the purple robe on Him, and they took it off from Him when they finished their purpose.

They put on His Clothes on Him again.

They put the false purple robe to pretend Him as a King; also they put the false crown on His Head.

 

All the purpose of Jesus pain is for us.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin

 

Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.