Thursday, July 18, 2013

Mark 15:15-21 comments: Pilate's political compromise


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

 

Proverbs 29:25 ¶  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

 

Pilate is a typical politician, pandering to the people. Even though he was not elected but appointed he is afraid of the people rising up damaging his position. All of them lie and are afraid of the people. Rarely do they have the courage of their convictions and usually too late after a long line of cowardice. It is very hard to be a Christian and a politician if you want to get re-elected. Politics is the art of compromise. Compromises can be good but many compromises, such as this one, are just hideous.

 

Scourging is a hideous whipping with a whip with bone and glass intertwined in it.

 

Christ was to be crucified. It was a bloody death but without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

 

Hebrews 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

Blood is life.

 

Genesis 9:4  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

 

Blood made atonement for the soul.

 

Leviticus 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

 

He, God in the flesh, paid for us, those who believe and trust Him, with His own blood, not a sacrificial animal.

 

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 

Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

 

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

16  And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17  And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

 

The Romans put this robe on him. The robe is to make fun of him, a mockery of his kingship.

 

18  And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19  And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20  And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

 

Notice the mockery of Jesus.

 

Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

 

Isaiah 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

21  And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 
Alexander and Rufus must have been important Christians eventually. Rufus is mentioned in Romans 16. There are a couple of Alexanders mentioned. But the one in 1 Timothy 1:20 might be him.

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