STATION 5: “Jesus Judged by Pilate”
As we continue our walk to the fifth Station of the cross….Jesus is judged by Pilate: Jesus was essentially judged guilty by the chief priests, elders, teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin even before they got to Pilate. What I want you to focus is on the answer that Jesus gave to the question, “Are you the king of the Jews?”.
Focus also on Pilate. He then mentions that Jesus is accused of many things and ask if He is going to answer. Jesus makes no reply and Pilate “is amazed”.
Perhaps Pilate was amazed because he recognized that Jesus was a most unusual person. I believe, that as it was very often reported, Pilate, like so many others, saw something about Jesus and His character, His strength and His presence that would cause a feeling of awe or amazement.(See also Mark 1:22 & 27; Mark 2:12; Mark 5:20; Mark 6:2 & 51; Mark 10:24 & 26; Mark 11:18; Mark 12:17).
Pilate recognized that the chief priests had turned Jesus over to him out of envy and hatred. He hoped to achieve Jesus’ release and thus undo the religious leaders’ scheme. But Pilate’s plan didn’t work. The chief priests incited the emotional crowd to pressure him into releasing Barabbas instead of Jesus.
Mark 15:1-5 & 15 (TNIV)
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Mark 1:22 (TNIV)
The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.Mark 6:2-3 (TNIV)
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?”Mark 10:24 (TNIV)
The disciples were amazed at his words. ……Mark 11:18 (TNIV)
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
I don’t know about you, but I am always amazed as I look at AND APPLY the wisdom of Jesus. Today…..MAY YOU BE AMAZED!
STATION 6: “Scourged and Crowned”
We continue walking and come to the sixth station of the cross; Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns. Pilate probably thought that flogging was a humane alternative to crucifixion. He indeed was avoiding condemning Jesus to death. Yet Jesus suffered terribly and horribly! We must never forget that the source of our joy as followers of Christ was the pain and suffering of our Lord!
John 19:1-3 (TNIV)
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”Over 700 years before the birth of Christ we read these words by the prophet Isaiah….
Isaiah 50:6 (TNIV)
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.Isaiah 52:14 (TNIV)
…his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind–And these words certainly sum up our life as followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ:
Isaiah 53:4-5 (TNIV)
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
