Mark wrote how, “Peter was beneath in the palace” when “there came one of the maids of the high priest. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And you also were with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what you say. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely you are one of them: for you are a Galilaean, and your speech agrees thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom you speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, you shall deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept”, and in chapter fifteen and verse one of his book, Mark shared how the religious leaders, “delivered” Jesus “to Pilate” where we read:
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 verse reads, “And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, ...”. Mark began with the words, “and straightway” which means “and immediately and forthwith” “in the morning” or “in the early morning or the fourth watch of the night which was from three o'clock in the morning until six o'clock approximately” “the chief priests” which refers to “the high priests” “held a consultation” or “made ready and prepared an assembly of counsellors or persons in consultation who were assessors or advisers with whom they took council before rendering judgment” “with the elders” which means “alongside the advanced in life, seniors, forefathers and members of the great council or Sanhedrin” “and scribes” or “and the men who were learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings and served as interpreters and teachers” “and the whole council” which refers to “the complete and all together session or assembly of people deliberating or adjudicating”. Mark shared how very early the next “morning” the “high priests” and all the “religious leaders” were assembled together.
The verse goes on to say, “... and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.” Mark continued with the words, “and bound Jesus” which means “and tied and fastened Jesus with chains”, “and carried him away” or “and brought Jesus off”, “and delivered him” which means “and gave Jesus into the hands to be in custody, for judgment, condemnation, punishment, scourging, torment and eventual death” “to Pilate” which refers to “to Pilate who was the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified and whose name means armed with a spear”. Mark shared how the entire “council” of “religious leaders” “fastened” Jesus in chains and brought Him to “Pilate” so he could judge, punish, torture and eventually kill Jesus.
When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see at least two sides to this horrific event. First, the “religious leaders” thought themselves right to put Jesus, the Son of God, in chains and deliver Him to the ruling governor and judge named Pilate. Secondly, Jesus permitted all these things to happen to Him. Though He possessed the power to eliminate every person involved in this process, Jesus restrained Himself and permitted them not only to “bind” Him, but also to deliver Him to suffer and die. This was allowed only because there was no other way for the “salvation” of mankind. Jesus lived a perfect life, and only a perfect sacrifice for the “sins” of people would be accepted by God for the forgiveness of “sins”. This is the story of “Redemption”, and because people sinned, they separated themselves from God. Only by Jesus allowing this process could there be a way whereby people may not only be forgiven of their sin, but also to be granted “everlasting life” with God. May all who read these words know and understand to what great lengths Jesus went so that they might be saved.
Next time Mark shares how Pilate asked Jesus”, “are you the king of the Jews?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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