Introduction

Welcome, dear family of God, to this sacred space where we gather in unity, in faith, and in anticipation of what our Father has in store for us today. We are not here by accident, but by divine appointment. We are here to meet with God, to hear from Him, to be changed by Him.

As we gather in His name, let us remember the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon who once said, "A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." This is our guidebook, our road map, our compass, our lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Let it be our heart's desire to know it, to love it, to live it.

Today, we turn our attention to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15, verses 1-20. Let's read together: "Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 'Are you the king of the Jews?' asked Pilate. 'You have said so,' Jesus replied. The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, 'Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.' But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. 'Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?' asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. 'What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?' Pilate asked them. 'Crucify him!' they shouted. 'Why? What crime has he committed?' asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, 'Crucify him!' Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him."

What a powerful passage! What a moment in history! What a Savior we have in Jesus Christ!

Let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for this gathering, for Your Word. We ask You to open our hearts and minds to Your truth. Let Your Holy Spirit guide us, teach us, and transform us as we reflect on the life, suffering, and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we be drawn closer to You and be more like You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Overview. Today, we will discuss three main points: Kingdom's Arrival, King's Adversity, and King's Atonement. Let's prepare our hearts to receive what God has for us today.

Kingdom's Arrival

In the early morning hours, as the city was just beginning to stir, a group of religious leaders gathered. Their hearts were not filled with the anticipation of a new day, but with the darkness of a sinister plot. They had made their plans and now they were ready to act. They took Jesus, bound him, and led him away to Pilate. This was not just any ordinary morning. This was the morning that marked the arrival of a new kingdom.

This kingdom was not marked by grand palaces or powerful armies. It was not established through political maneuvering or military conquest. Instead, this kingdom was established in the quiet, humble obedience of a man who was willing to lay down his life for the sake of others. This was the kingdom of God, brought to earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

The arrival of this kingdom was not met with fanfare or celebration. Instead, it was met with resistance and opposition. The religious leaders, who should have been the first to recognize the arrival of God's kingdom, were instead the ones who rejected it. They were so blinded by their own ambition and self-righteousness that they failed to see the true King standing before them.

But Jesus, even in the face of such opposition, remained steadfast. He did not defend himself or retaliate against his accusers. Instead, he stood in quiet dignity, embodying the values of the kingdom he came to establish - a kingdom marked by humility, love, and self-sacrifice.

The first aspect of this kingdom's arrival that we see in this passage is the confrontation with the powers of this world. Jesus is brought before Pilate, the Roman governor, representing the political power of the day. Pilate, like the religious leaders, fails to recognize the true nature of Jesus' kingship. He asks Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus' response, "You have said so," is not a direct claim to earthly kingship, but a subtle affirmation of his divine authority.

Next is the rejection by the people. The crowd, stirred up by the chief priests, chooses to release Barabbas, a criminal, instead of Jesus. This rejection is a stark reminder of the world's resistance to the kingdom of God. It shows us that the values of God's kingdom - love, justice, mercy - are often at odds with the values of this world.

The third aspect is the mockery by the soldiers. They dress Jesus in a purple robe, put a crown of thorns on his head, and mockingly hail him as king. This cruel parody of royal honors underscores the world's misunderstanding of Jesus' kingship. His is not a kingdom of power and prestige, but of humility and service.

The fourth and final aspect is the sacrifice of the King. Jesus, despite the rejection, the mockery, and the physical pain, does not resist or fight back. He accepts the cross, the ultimate symbol of shame and defeat, and transforms it into a symbol of love and victory. This is the defining characteristic of God's kingdom - a kingdom where the King lays down his life for his subjects.

Transition. In this passage, we see the arrival of a kingdom unlike any other. It is a kingdom that confronts the powers of this world, faces rejection and mockery, and is ultimately established through the self-sacrifice of the King. This is the kingdom of God, brought to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. And it is this kingdom that we, as followers of Christ, are called to embody and advance in our own lives.

King's Adversity

As we continue to reflect on the narrative of Mark 15, we find ourselves face to face with the stark reality of our Savior's adversity ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO