Mark 15-16; Luke 1

Mark 15

Jesus Before Pilate

• In the early morning chief priests deliver Jesus to Pontius Pilate
• Pilate asks:“Are You the King of the Jews?”
• Jesus:“You have said so”
• Leaders accuse Him butJesus remains mostly silent

Jesus or Barabbas

• It is custom release one prisoner at feast
• Crowd chooses Barabbas (a rebel/murderer)
• Crowd cries: “Crucify Him!”
• Pilate:
  • wanted to satisfy the crowd
  • He releases Barabbas
  • And delivers Jesus to be crucified

Jesus Mocked by Soldiers

• Soldiers lead Him into the praetorium
• Mock Him as king:
  • clothe Him in purple
  • place crown of thorns
  • salute: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
• They:
  • strike Him
  • spit on Him
  • kneel in mock worship

The Crucifixion

• They lead Him out to crucify
• Simon of Cyrene carries His cross
• At Golgotha (“Place of a Skull”) offered wine mixed with myrrh (for painkilling) but He refuses
• They crucify Him:
  • divide His garments
  • cast lots
• Sign above Him: “The King of the Jews”
• Two criminals crucified with Him

Jesus is Mocked

• Passersby mock Him
• Chief priests: “He saved others; He cannot save Himself”
• Even those crucified with Him insult Him

The Death of Jesus

• From noon to 3pm darkness over the land
• Jesus cries “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”
  • Aramaic: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
• He gives a loud cry and dies
• Temple veil is torn in two (top to bottom)
• Centurion declares “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Women watching from a distance:

• Mary Magdalene
• Mary (mother of James & Joses)
• Salome (perhaps mother of James on John?)

The Burial of Jesus

• Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body
• Pilate confirms Jesus is dead
• Joseph:
  • wraps body in linen
  • lays it in a tomb
  • rolls a stone against entrance

Mark 16

The Resurrection

• After Sabbath Mary Magdalene, Mary (mother of James), Salome bring spices
• They wonder “Who will roll away the stone?”
• They arrive and stone already rolled away
• Inside is a young man in white robe (angel)
• Message:
  • “Do not be alarmed”
  • “You seek Jesus… He has risen”
  • “He is not here”
  • shows empty place
• Instructs women to tell disciples and Peter
  • He will go before them to Galilee
• Women flee trembling and astonished

[[Earliest manuscripts end here]]

Jesus appears to:

• Mary Magdalen
• two disciples walking
• the eleven
• Initial responses are disbelief

The Great Commission

• Jesus says:
  • “Go into all the world”
  • “Proclaim the gospel to the whole creation”
• Promise:
  • salvation to those who believe
  • condemnation to those who reject
• Believers will:
  • cast out demons
  • speak in new tongues
  • be protected (serpents, poison)
  • heal the sick

The Ascension

• Jesus is taken up into heaven
• Sits at the right hand of God

The Disciples Sent Out

• Disciples go out and preach everywhere
• The Lord works with them and confirms message with signs

Luke 1

Written by Luke, a physician (cf. Colossians 4:14) and close companion of Paul

• Addressed to Theophilus (“lover of God”), likely a real person 
• Written ~AD 60–62 (before Paul’s death, since Acts ends without it)

Luke is only Gentile author of a Gospel

• Audience: primarily Gentile believers
• Seemingly highly educated as best Greek style in NT
  • uses eyewitness accounts
  • investigates everything “from the beginning”

from https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-1/: The first four verses of Luke’s gospel are one sentence in the original Greek. They are written in refined, academic, classical style. But then, for the rest of the gospel, Luke didn’t use the language of scholars but of the common man, the language of the village and the street. Through this, Luke said to us, “This account has all the proper academic and scholarly credentials. But it is written for the man on the street.” Luke wrote so that people would understand Jesus, not so they would admire his brain and literary skill.

Prologue to Theophilus 

• Many have undertaken to compile accounts of Jesus
• Luke:
  • investigates everything carefully
  • writes an orderly account
  • So that Theophilus may have certainty about what he has been taught
    • Unsure who Theophilus is – “most excellent” implies Roman government official

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold 

• priest: Zechariah and wife: Elizabeth
• They are:
  • righteous before God
  • childless (Elizabeth barren, both advanced in years)
• While serving in temple Zechariah is chosen to burn incense, and an angel Gabriel appears
• Delivers a message that Elizabeth will bear a son named John
  • he will:
    • be great before the Lord
    • filled with the Holy Spirit
    • turn many to God
    • go in spirit of Elijah
• Zechariah doubts and asks for a sign
  • Because of this he is made mute until fulfillment
• Afterward:
  • Elizabeth conceives
  • hides herself for 5 months
  • praises God for removing reproach

Birth of Jesus Foretold 

• In sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Gabriel sent to Nazareth to Mary
• Angel’s message:
  • “Greetings, O favored one”
  • she will conceive and bear Jesus
• Gabriel gives description of Jesus:
  • great
  • Son of the Most High
  • throne of David
  • reign forever
• Mary asks: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
• Explanation:
  • Holy Spirit will come upon her
  • child will be called Son of God
  • Elizabeth also miraculously pregnant
• Mary responds “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord”

Mary Visits Elizabeth 

• Mary travels to hill country of Judea
• Upon greeting her, baby (John) leaps in Elizabeth’s womb
  • Elizabeth filled with Holy Spirit
• Elizabeth declares:
  • Mary is blessed among women
  • calls her “mother of my Lord”
  • blesses her faith

Mary’s Song of Praise 

• Mary glorifies the Lord
• God:
  • exalts the humble
  • brings down the proud
  • fills the hungry
  • helps Israel
  • Merciful across generations
  • Fulfills promises 
• Mary remains for 3 months, then returns home

Birth of John the Baptist 

• Elizabeth gives birth to a son and neighbors rejoice
• At circumcision:
  • relatives want to name him after Zechariah
  • Elizabeth insists: “John”
• Zechariah writes: “His name is John”
  • Immediately his speech returns
  • he praises God
  • people ask “What then will this child be?”

Zechariah’s Prophecy 

• Zechariah filled with Holy Spirit and prophesies
• Praises God for:
  • visiting and redeeming His people
  • raising a horn of salvation in David’s line
• Speaks of salvation from enemies and fulfillment of covenant promises
• About John:
  • will be prophet of the Most High
  • will prepare the Lord’s way
  • give knowledge of salvation
  • light to those in darkness
  • guide into the way of peace
• Child grows strong in spirit and lives in wilderness until public ministry

Application

We see the beautiful story of Jesus taking the cross for our salvation. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end in chapter 15. In chapter 16 we see His powerful resurrection. Luke then retells these events, giving us new angles and a deeper perspective on what Jesus has done.