Daily Devotions

Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 314

Acts 3:24 "Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days." Acts 3:24"

Day 314 – Mark 15

“Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.” Acts 3:24

A SUBTLE HINT

How many were really involved in the condemnation of Jesus at the home of the high priest? Mark hints that the people who made up the Council that night was not the whole Council.

“Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests
held a consultation with the elders and scribes
and the whole council, and they bound Jesus,
led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.”
MARK 15:1

1. The night Council

Mark was careful to note that Jesus was brought to the high priest after He was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane (Cf. Mark 14:53).

2. The morning Council

In the above text, the “whole council” was mentioned, intimating that the first trial of Jesus was conducted without the convening of the full council.

a) Consultation
The dirty work had already been done. There was no need to interrogate Jesus further. There was now only “consultation” as to what should be done next.
b) Decision
The Council had decided that the best course was to bind Jesus and to bring him to be tried by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the land.

THE MAIN REASON FOR GETTING PILATE TO TRY JESUS

The main reason to have Jesus tried before Pilate was obvious.

1. Limited Authority of the Sanhedrin Council

a) They could try all cases pertaining to religious matters.
b) But they did not have the authority to execute anyone.

2. Roman authority

Rome ruled the empire with an iron fist. The authority to sentence anyone to death lay with the Roman governors. Any breach of this authority would put any religious court in jeopardy! If the Sanhedrin Council had executed Jesus, all members of the Council would have been adjudged guilty of breaking Roman law. The Council, knowing this rule, decided that they would have Pilate try Jesus, find Him guilty, and have Him sentenced to death.