The Howls of Injustice (Part A)

This is a mockery farce scruple going through these proceedings that were so precious to them.

This hypocritical protocol of religious men who are looking to murder someone who is absolutely innocent. There like gangsters murder and destroy one lives and then go donate money to a church or to give back to the community to ease their consciences mockery of what decency is.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the gospel of Mark. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio. Specifically, you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the gospel of Mark chapter 15 as he begins a new message called the howls of injustice.

We are in the gospel according to Mark immediately. In the morning, the chief priests led a consultation with the elders, and scribes. All counsel bound Jesus led him away and delivered him to Pilate and Pilate asked are you the king of the Jews answered and said to him, it is as you say in the chief priest accused him of many things, but he answered nothing. Then Pilate asked him again saying you answer nothing see how many things they testify against you but Jesus still answered nothing so that Pilate marveled now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them whomever they requested and there was one named Barabbas was chained with his fellow rebels. They had committed murder and rebellion, then the multitude crying aloud began to ask him to do.

Just as he had always done for them, but Pilate answered them saying you want me to release to you the king of the Jews were.

He knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy with the chief priest stirred up the crowd so that should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again. But then, do you want me to do with him whom you call the king of the Jews so they cried out again, crucify him and Pilate said to them, why would evil has he done, but they cried out all the more. Crucify him. So Pilate wanting to gratify the crowd release Barabbas to them and he delivered Jesus after he had scourged him to be crucified.

The howls of injustice as to title this consideration.

Like wolves.

One wolf howling over to another one that's with these officers of the law were doing with each other. The fate of Jesus. John writes this in his 18 chapter about this moment, he said. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorian and it was early morning, but they themselves did not go in the praetorian, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover and so what John is talking about is is the Jews of going back and forth trying to get the Gentiles to finally's make a sentence of death on Christ. They did not want to defile themselves by entering the office of of Pilate they could pound holy innocents to its death upon the cross as a felon they could wag their heads in scorn when he hung there dying between the thieves. But they could not venture within a Roman court of law lest their holy feet should suffer defilement and make them unfit to share the sacred feast of the Jewish church known as the Passover. This is this is disgusting hypocrisy that they had no problem with self-righteous religion and these are our religious people. This type of self-righteous religious people are very useful to Satan.

They were then and they are to this day and so we do want to pay attention to the lessons from the Scripture of Scripture to not be like them and also perhaps to be used by God to rescue those who may be we look at verse one immediately in the morning, the chief priest held a consultation with the elders, and scribes, and the whole counsel and they bound Jesus led him away and delivered him to Pilate. So it's gone now. Five.

6 o'clock in the morning sun is just getting ready to come up the chief priest. They are the ones that held a consultation with the elders, and scribes. The whole counsel, the chief priests were the temple overseers a hierarchy of priests that were there, mostly Sadducees that would be the equivalent today of liberal theologians liberal scholars when it comes to the Bible of those who don't believe the Bible is the word of God.

Although sick parts of his word of the word of God and men will decide what parts are from God and what parts are not. It's arbitrary and it with them reject that categorically but this is a mockery there farce scruples of going through these proceedings that were so precious to them. This hypocritical protocol of religious men who are looking to murder someone who is absolutely innocent. There like gangsters who murder and destroy and ruin lives and then go donate money to a church or to give back to the community to ease their consciences. This mockery of what decency is we are all sinners, we all go for there there on their limits.

I mean, when it becomes blatant like this. Mercy is something that is not going to be readily available to people with this mindset. There is no evidence of sorrow or repentance in the hearts of any of them. This blood in their eyes they want death and they bound Jesus and led him away.

They cuffed him.

After all, he had this reputation of healing people. So let's put them in cuffs they might heal somebody just the delivered him to Pilate.

Of course they did. This is the first of two meetings with Pilate. He typically resides to the North West up in Caesarea by the Mediterranean Sea, but he's in Jerusalem for the feast because it is the Passover time and the Jewish leaders they could have said just don't Christ deal even though it was outlawed. They would've gotten away with it.

I mean after all they going to Stephanie Stone, Stephen and Rome look the other way.

But there's more to it than that. They wanted to delivered Jesus to the Romans. So the Jews could shift the blame of the crucifixion on them.

That was one of the thing I want to see the Jews. I don't mean all Jews, of course, but these these particular Jews. The religious leaders who had a big problem with our Christ.

Of course, many Jews did not have a problem with him what they wanted.

Rome especially to execute him to crucifixion was stoning was to merciful compared to crucifying someone it gave them added satisfaction and additionally it put the curse of the law on him.

Paul quoting this passage from the Old Testament and here in the New Testament is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree that's part of what they wanted to go with it. So these these men were particularly evil in their religion we see some of this in parts of the world today just the violence in places like Pakistan and in the name of religion. It's on India even just of the horrors of throwing acid on people and burning people alive and just of the devil is hard at work, which should make us say to ourselves, what am I doing what is my part. What is my role as a Christian.

Every Christian should be asking that of God. What am I supposed to be doing with this Christianity that I have am I supposed to just be joining the enjoying these outrageously magnificent sermons Academy Chapel, Mechanicsville, or what am I supposed to do it myself as a Christian I think even those who from time to time.

Those who know what they're supposed to be doing have to go back and again get calibrated with God, Lord, am I still where I need to be well-versed to, and Pilate asked him are you King of the Jews, he answered and said it to him.

You said it. That's exactly how it transfers from the Greek. It is as you say a Pilate did not bring up the charge that the Jewish high priests indicted Christ with which was blasphemy because he would not recognize a that's a religious matter. As you know, I went on to kill anybody over that here unless you know you start biting into the Roman gods that could become a problem, but he doesn't bring that up because the indictment that the Jews had to get against Christ had to be something that Rome would be particularly adverse to, and so they manipulated the charge they charged him with treason against Caesar so they could say to a pilotless and you have a Jewish man under Caesar's authority going around with the following saying that he's a king. Well, if Rome did not sanction him as a king, and he must be a treasonous and this is what was happening. Pilate of course didn't take it serious at all because his spies hidden for his informants were out there and is yeah precrisis these great large crowds, but he's love your neighbor and his healing people and so he was no threat to them.

So here the Jews are bringing a Jew before Roman court that they hated they hated the Roman Courtney probably never did this ever did this ever before, and they probably never would again bring a Jew to Roman court on the charge of treason. They celebrated those kind of men is as you know, liberation fighters, which Barabbas was likely one of them. That's why it's mentioned his rebellion and so their hypocrisy again surfaces and Pilate he's going to see this island is making an effort in these early stages to administer Roman law because Romans were big on law but of course he's going to fail. He is not equipped to face the Satan that is prevailing in the hearts of men on this. He continues here in verse two he answered and said to him, it is as used you say you got that right, Pilate.

I am the king of the Jews in the Scripture of the Old Testament Scripture had declared Messiah would be king Micah 52 Zechariah 99R are verses that make that announcement and so he's in the Lord is not going to say no that's false. He's admitting without hesitation. Yes, I am is nothing I'm guilty saying I am King is no guilt belonging to that because he is worried well will laying of course the foundation for this so you you teenagers are you younger ones like these are important little facts that have to be in place. These things are out of place in the story becomes, you know, it is not what it is intended to be legal loopholes in it for critics to attack it so we have to set the story up by reviewing what is actually going on.

So try to keep up.

If you can some of you may find it easier than others. Verse three and the chief priest accused him of many things, but he answered nothing.

So there is and coughed standing before them and that there early. All these charges against him, any other felon would be saying of July oh yeah you what did you know they would be defending themselves Lord simply ignores them, which irritated the them even further to him to ignore. Somebody was self-important is a very noticeable significant in fact speaking of significance so significant is their fabrication that no one bothered to record the other things they were saying we have no record of what what what what they say cares. God said that that in the Bible. Anyway, by verse 19 again. Pilate will see through this, but it it won't help. And this is why it's one of the a difficult story to read if you love the Lord is seeing this injustice. On one hand you know he's got a die for our sins as Peter tried to stop at Caesarea Philippi with you know, being far from you in the Lord rebuked him for that, get behind me Satan because you mindful of the things of men not the things of God were mindful of the things of God and the plan of salvation is being worked out here. We're watching it, but it is painful, while sin causes pain.

Everything it touches it. It hurts verse four then Pilate asked him again saying do you answer nothing see how many things they testify against you.

So again Pilate trying to have a proper proceeding following the protocols, but he is surprised again that a prisoner is not interested in what his accusers have to say of him noticing. Why should I answer is. He knew that evil again would prevail in their hearts.

Isaiah the prophet, all almost 900 years before these events took place speaking about the Messiah in Isaiah 53 said he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.

Pilate could look at Christ standing there and tell that he had been abused physically, but they had knocked him around some and so… You know part of this process is what we are looking at this and saying yeah because he is afflicted is oppressed, and he is afflicted willfully so he doesn't have to go through this for us, but he does a repeat this in a moment. Sinners should understand those who have not repented Christ suffered took out of love. He could've just made more people you could just bypass the sinners and let them go to hell. Let them suffer and not suffer in their place. Just make more people, but he does not God's plan of redemption is going forward, precisely as announced on schedule with the men know it or not all like it or not. Verse five but Jesus still answered nothing. So Pilate marveled yet they were all marveling at the lesser things they were missing the greater things they marveled at lesser things because they did not receive the greater things of Christ. John tells us entered into dialogue with with Pilate's concerning truth and saying I am the king. But my servants are going to fight from ecosystem.

This is not my kingdom here telling Pilate that he and he has come to announce the truth about God, about men and about God's plan to reconcile man to himself and Pilate with a smirk says what is truth and doesn't wait for the answer and people still doing this. To this day. Luke writes this about the people who did marvel at the right things about Christ and they were astonished at his teaching for his word was with authority, because all the rabbis describes the Pharisees to set all the others simply repeated each other they they just, you know that they didn't come up with anything from the heart. John the Baptist certainly did the prophets did Christ did with an authority that was on match and we we look at the New Testament and we never hear Jesus say, for example, thus says the Lord.

He says I say which is a profound. It's a profound revelation coming out of the Scripture about who the identity of Jesus Christ. Because if you get the identity of Christ wrong. What camp does that put you in all false religions have the identity of Jesus Christ wrong. That's what makes them cold from false and heretics etc. false teachers, so the Lord continues to ignore the religious frauds at this point Pilate is going to send him to Herod God because he learns okay Jesus is from the region of Galilee. That's Herod's territories that he shuffles him off to her on they become friends.

Herod and Pilate. They weren't friends before and Christ will ignore all them all when he gets to Herod's court.

Gerard is the one that killed John the baptizer and his father that wrath of a human being slaughtered. The little boys of Bethlehem, because he was afraid somebody else may claim to be king. And so you know that these are the type of people that Christ is is facing. He's given all of them a chance to step up to find their higher self and to submit to the truth about him. But none of them did you how I mean how do you be a governor or ruler, and you hearing about multitudes telling you about this person healing people and what he's teaching and his miracles and not look into it and submit to.

How do you just dismiss it. A wicked heart doesn't want that wants humanity to prevail and not the Lord. Well anyway, after Jesus is finished ignoring Herod and his group. They shuffled him back to Pilate. Verse six now. Now this is Christ going before Pilate 1/3 time, so he has six hearings, one with the high priest over at Anniston. The high priest in the Sanhedrin Council one with Pilate, one with Herod and a second with Pilate.

So three with the Gentiles. Three. With the Jews and beatings, and in both of them. He hasn't gotten the one from the Gentiles that's coming the bigger one that is verse six now at the feast. He was a custom that is Pilate to releasing one prisoner to them whomever they requested the feast. The celebration of God passing over his people because they obeyed him and put the blood on the passageway to their homes as the angel of death went through Egypt taking the firstborn but not of those who had the blood on the door threshold so they were supposed to be on that night freed from being slaves and they were they were supposed to be taken to a promised land. We know as Canaan and their live free to worship the Lord and be a light to the Gentiles in the they did not do well, God is not impressed with religion, religiosity, or rituals you can do a lot more than burn candles and and and and throw money into a plate then reviewed to get God's attention. Even the Proverbs where you wouldn't expect to such or maybe you would such a short profound statement about hypocrisy and in religion. Proverbs 21 three because the prophets were all over this in here.

Proverbs to do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh, then sacrifice stop playing religion stop acting like you know you can do without something and somehow get God's favor when you're passing by. The essential thing that you need to not do to abstain from sin, and so here these men they want to have it there ever these people not just the men. This element of the Jerusalem society that is so against Christ.

They want their religion they want their Passover just don't want to be righteous same time.

This is an appeasing tradition of the Romans at this feast will let one criminal go free. I don't find appeasement to work as it's a bad idea and we going to see it here because they going to let Barabbas run free and crucify the innocent verse seven and there was one name Barabbas who was chained with his fellow rebels.

They had committed murder in rebellion the part of rebellion policies, a political prisoner to but not unjustly so it rebelled against Roman authority. John says Barabbas was a robber or robber. The difference between a thief and a robber is a thief typically will take from you when you're not looking. A robber will take it right out of your hand looking or not overpower you by force.

And that's just to split the hairs there but again the guilty one is going to be set free, treated as though he is innocent because Jesus will die in his place will cover that because that's the big part of this section. This latter section of the gospel of Mark, the crucifixion of Christ for sinners and resurrection, and then the book of acts is and this is what believers did with verse seven.

Still they had committed murder in rebellion.

This again put them in the minds of some of the Jews us patriarchs even if they didn't agree with them so some view Barabbas as a liberation fighter.

The fact is, we've all sinned. No revelation there.

I don't know.

Have you ever met anybody who honestly says I've not sin. I actually met someone claim to be a Christian.

With the twisting of the from the first John letter. You know that diet is insisting that he couldn't have said and I simply said is sitting now by lying what you talking about you don't have said anyway.

The we all sin.

We rebelled against the throne of God. Barabbas rebelled against Rome sinners rebel against the throne of God. Sin means I broke something that is very precious to a holy God. That's just a short meaning of sin purity has been sustained and therefore made impure before the presence of a pure God. Why should again God let me go unpunished when he can just make more people make better people. Perhaps while said the perhaps because is that free will thing free will means that with us that you have to make that choice, and God knew what was going to happen. He has every right to have a people that choose to follow him even in the midst of a curse world, people may object to God's processes to which the Almighty God can say right to them and he does to his word. Bottom line, I don't care. Think you are against what I am off because you will be judges, the hard side of the gospel move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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