Mark 15:1-5

Mark 15:1 (KJB)
And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

The official sentence of death was pronounced on Jesus early in the morning by the Sanhedrin. The night meeting was the preliminary meeting to try and raise false witnesses and get as much false testimony for the morning meeting. It seems that the night meeting had lasted all night and the morning meeting had dovetailed that meeting. The Sanhedrin was in full session in the morning as they did not want anyone to claim that it was only a select few that sentenced Jesus. In the second set of proceedings, as it turned to dawn the verdict was reached on what had been discussed during the night and brought forward to the morning. The verdict was execution.

Since they had now pronounced the verdict of death upon Jesus, they were not allowed to put anyone to death so what they did was they now brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate the governor. This was the same method of indictment used during the Middle ages when the Inquisition was going on. The Roman Catholic Institution could not put someone to death so what they did was get the local authorities involved and let them legally put some one to death. However, many true believers died in the torture chambers run by the Roman Catholics. So in the same way the Sanhedrin handed Jesus over to the civil authorities, the believers down through history were also handed over to the civil authorities, something Jesus had warned His disciples about. They knew that Pilate was a weak Governor and it would not take much for them to get their way.

Mark 15:2 (KJB)
And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

While there were no official charges against Jesus, one can conclude from the question which Pilate asked Jesus concerning if He was King of the Jews. Anyone who claimed to be a king in an area occupied by Rome without Roman authority for that position can be considered a seditionist and be put to death. Emperor Tiberius had decreed that anyone who claims kingship rivals Caesar and must be executed. Many were executed during the last years of his reign on charges of “pretensions of power.” Pilate asks Jesus the question and Jesus responds in the same manner He responded to the High Priest, “Thou sayest.” This was a response of confirmation of what Pilate had asked. (John 18:36-37 KJV) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. {37} Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. In John, we have the conversation which Jesus had with Pilate stating that His kingdom is not of this world or else His subjects would fight for Him and that He was indeed a King.

Mark 15:3 (KJB)
And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

If Pilate would have heard the words that Jesus was a king of some earthly area, then the sentence of death would have been carried out immediately. Since this was not the case, the Sanhedrin wanted to keep the momentum going because if Pilate declared Jesus innocent, then they would have no more chances to murder Him. So they kept casting accusations at Him. There are none that are recorded but they would have done their best to show how dangerous Jesus was not only to Israel but also to Rome. Jesus did not answer anything concerning their accusations. (Isa 53:7 KJV) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. A fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7.

Mark 15:4 (KJB)
And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

Pilate heard Jesus make one answer to his query but he had never followed up on that question. Pilate knew that Jesus was no threat to the Roman Empire or even to the nation of Israel and had tried his best to set Him free. Pilate continues to ask Jesus about all the things they are witnessing against Him and the amount of accusations coming from them? Are you not concerned about their accusations? Do you not care what they are saying about you? These must have been some of the questions Pilate asked Jesus because normally anyone in this position would be doing anything they can to try and get free knowing the scourge and the cross would await a condemned man.

Mark 15:5 (KJB)
But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Even after Pilate had done his best to try and get Jesus to defend Himself against their accusations, it was to no avail. Pilate marvelled or was astonished at the fact that Jesus kept so silent in the face of all these accusations. He would have been used to someone groveling at his feet for mercy or would be defending themselves vehemently but not someone who was totally silent at all the accusations. I am sure those who threw the accusations at Jesus probably thought that they had Him since He would not answer them.

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