The Word This Week

Mark 15:1…

Man’s wrath is a terrible thing, especially when carried out against an innocent victim.

There has never been a victim of injustice as innocent as Jesus.

It is inconceivable to us what took place in the crucifixion of Christ. The only thing which helps us to come to grips with this great tragedy of humankind is the even greater victory which proceeds from it.

But at that time on that day, Jesus’ followers didn’t comprehend the victory to come. On that day the Chief Priests and elders thought they had won. Satan thought he had won. All the visible signs pointed to a great defeat for anyone associated with Jesus’ ministry.

In the minds of the religious elite, Jesus’ ministry must be eradicated. By all appearances this was taking place right before their eyes…

Even though they lacked the authority to put anyone to death because Rome had previously disallowed it, they had pressured Pilate to agree to kill Jesus. Jesus had made Himself insufferable to the religious leaders because of His opposition to their hypocritical misrepresentations of His Father in heaven, and most of all because He claimed to be God – which was the height of blasphemy in their corrupted minds.

If the Jewish people were to come to believe Jesus WAS their long-promised Messiah, then what He said about their version of Judaism and its great financial bounty would be at an end. There was no way they could allow Jesus’ ministry to continue as it was such a powerful threat to their continued existence. He must die.

They had no idea they were serving God’s purposes in their evil intent. They had no idea they were conspiring to kill their Savior. They had no idea why Jesus had come into this world in the first place.

They had no idea they were fulfilling God’s plan. Jesus knew.

Pastor Bill