Did You Know?
The New Testament writers quoted or alluded to the words of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 about the suffering servant more than any other Old Testament passage. It was strongly in Mark’s mind as he wrote about Jesus' trial, abuse and condemnation. Reading it will deepen your understanding and appreciation of today’s GPS Scripture passage.
Mark 14:66 Meanwhile, Kefa was still in the courtyard below. One of the serving-girls of the cohen hagadol 67 saw Kefa warming himself, took a look at him, and said, “You were with the man from Natzeret, Yeshua!” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about!” He went outside into the entryway, and a rooster crowed. 69 The girl saw him there and started telling the bystanders, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it. A little later, the bystanders themselves said to Kefa, “You must be one of them, because you’re from the Galil.” 71 At this he began to invoke a curse on himself as he swore, “I do not know this man you are telling me about!” — 72 and immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Kefa remembered what Yeshua had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.” And throwing himself down, he burst into tears.
15:1 As soon as it was morning, the head cohanim held a council meeting with the elders, the Torah-teachers and the whole Sanhedrin. Then they put Yeshua in chains, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate put this question to him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “The words are yours.” 3 The head cohanim too made accusations against him, 4 and Pilate again inquired of him, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many charges they are making against you!” 5 But Yeshua made no further response, to Pilate’s amazement.
6 Now during a festival, Pilate used to set free one prisoner, whomever the crowd requested. 7 There was in prison among the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection a man called Bar-Abba. 8 When the crowd came up and began asking Pilate to do for them what he usually did, 9 he asked them, “Do you want me to set free for you the ‘King of the Jews’?” 10 For it was evident to him that it was out of jealousy that the head cohanim had handed him over. 11 But the head cohanim stirred up the crowd to have him release Bar-Abba for them instead. 12 Pilate again said to them, “Then what should I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Put him to death on the stake!” 14 He asked, “Why? What crime has he committed?” But they only shouted louder, “Put him to death on the stake!” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the mob, set Bar-Abba free for them; but he had Yeshua whipped and then handed him over to be executed on the stake. (Complete Jewish Bible)
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Reflection Questions
Why would Mark (and all four gospels) tell the story of Peter denying Jesus? We’re used to a famous person’s rivals telling negative stories to damage that person. But “early Christian tradition claims that Mark wrote down the apostle Peter’s memories.”* It’s more likely that Peter told this story himself, offering his hearers (and all of us) the forgiveness and new hope he’d found in Jesus. Pontius Pilate asked, one last time, “What wrong has he done?” The crowd (stirred up by the chief priests) didn’t answer; they just snarled, “Crucify him!”
- In Mark 8:34-38, Jesus said his followers needed to “take up their cross.” He added that if his followers were ashamed of him, he would be ashamed of them when he came in glory. What are some ways in which you could be ashamed of Jesus in the pressures of your daily life? Is there a difference between being “ashamed” of Jesus and being tactful or tolerant toward those who do not share your faith?
- Pilate, pragmatic and morally weak, chose to sanction a clear injustice rather than stand up to a crowd. This part of the story may be most disturbing, not because it is strange, but because it feels too familiar. Pastor Hamilton asked, “What happens when you are faced with doing something you believe is right but which will cause a large number of people to be upset with you, maybe even turn against you? ... When have you said or done things aimed at satisfying the crowd? When have you remained silent when you should have spoken out?”**
Lord Jesus, I don’t want to be Pilate, cynically okaying an innocent’s death to further my own position. And I don’t want to be Peter, loving you yet terribly afraid of saying so in the face of opposition or ridicule. Grow my courage to follow you at all costs. Amen.
* Suzanne Watts Henderson, Introduction to Mark in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 65 NT.
** Adam Hamilton, 24 Hours That Changed the World: 40 Days of Reflection. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2009, pp. 122-123.
Ginger is a graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology. She and her husband Rob have a son, a daughter, and a high energy dog. She loves writing, conversations over coffee, and teaching spiritual classes.
When Mark tells us that Pilate “wanted to satisfy the crowd,” I think Mark is pointing out that Pilate chose to give in to his fear rather than find courage to do the right thing.
We are told in various ways that Pilate was struggling with the decision. But, ultimately, he made the choice to deny his heart and instead follow the path of his fear--fear of a riot, fear of losing power, fear of telling the truth, fear of being unpopular, fear of displeasing the crowd. He listened to the crowd shouting “crucify him” rather than his soulful intuition that said, “free him.”
I am intrigued by how many times Pilate tries to do the right thing, but then makes a different choice. He gets so close, and yet misses the mark. He appears to be listening to God, to seeing the loving thing to do--release an innocent man--but instead fear takes over and he chooses the path with the least resistance.
Pilate is an archetype for all of us. He illustrates to us a universal human struggle.
How many times do we know the right thing to do, consider the challenges of going that direction, and then allow fear to guide our choice?
This Easter could be a new beginning for us to consider how often our decisions stem from fear. We can practice pausing to consider if God is calling us to do the loving thing, but our human fears cause us to choose what satisfies the crowd.
Maybe there is a big thing you need to find courage to do. Start with the small things. Find courage to say ‘no’ or ‘yes’ in small doses first. Make it a daily practice of building your “do the courageous thing” muscle until releasing fear becomes more natural. Had Pilate been honing this skill all along, maybe he would have had the courage to stand up to the crowd. What will be our defining moment when our courage will be tested? Let’s be ready.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
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