Scripture Reading : Mark 15:1-32
Theme : The Trial & Crucifixion of Jesus
- The Romans Tried Jesus. The Jews did not have the legal authority to carry out capital punishment. Therefore, after condemning Jesus to death (Mark 14:64), they still had to obtain a final conviction by Pilate. Pilate found Jesus to be innocent, but he gave in to the pressure of the Jews to crucify Jesus. Barabbas was involved in an anti-Roman insurrection, common in Jesus’ day because the Jews would revolt against the foreign oppressors, the Romans. The Jews did not want a peaceful King, and would rather have someone perceived to be brave to fight for them.
- The Romans Beat Jesus. In those days, purple was the colour worn by royalty. The soldiers also made a crown of thorns to mock Jesus. Condemned prisoners were made to carry the very tool of their execution, the cross, to the execution site. The beating and scourging (flogging – Mark 15:15) severely wounded Jesus, and He was physically unable to carry the cross. The soldiers made Simon carry Jesus’ cross. Simon likely became a believer and his son Rufus was active in the church at Rome (Romans 16:13).
- The Romans Crucified Jesus. Wine mixed with myrrh acted as some kind of anesthetic to lessen the pain. Jesus refused to take it and showed that He was all ready to bear all the pain on the cross. Jesus was crucified in the third hour, which is equivalent to 9am in the morning. The cross was a tool designed to torture criminals, lasting up to days before the victim died. The victim had to push with his feet and pull with his hands in order to breathe, tearing the flesh and inducing more pain at the places where the nails were. In the end, the victim would die of suffocation due to inability to breathe.
Praying the Scripture
- Pilate was a coward and he gave in to the pressure of the Jews. As the governor, he had the authority to set Jesus free and quell any unrest with his army, but he did not. Simply being neutral is not the same as saving faith, resulting in condemnation at the final judgment. Let us pray that we will be committed to following Jesus, and not remain “neutral”.
- Simon likely became a believer, along with his family (Romans 16:13), through this contact with Jesus. Simon was not ashamed of identifying with a crucified “criminal”. Let us pray that we would not be ashamed of Jesus.
- Jesus bore our sins on the cross, suffering physical pain. Let us thank Him for dying for us, and commit ourselves to living for Him who died for us.
经文：马可福音15:1-32
主题：耶稣受审与钉十字架
- 罗马人审耶稣。犹太人没有合法权判人死刑。因此，当他们断定耶稣该死之后（14:64），他们仍需要彼拉多下最后的审判。虽然彼拉多认为耶稣是无辜的，但他因犹太人施压要将耶稣钉十字架而屈服了。巴拉巴曾参与反罗马起义；那在耶稣的时代是普遍的，因为犹太人会反抗异国的统治者，即罗马人。犹太人不要一个和平君王，而是要一个能勇于为他们作战的人。
- 罗马人殴打耶稣。那年代，紫是皇族所披上的颜色。兵丁又用荆棘编做冠冕来戏弄耶稣。被判的囚犯要背他们受刑的工具，即十字架，到刑场去。耶稣被兵丁的殴打和鞭打伤得很重，而祂实在无法亲身背起那十架。兵丁就叫西门背起耶稣的十架。西门很有可能后来信主，而他的儿子鲁孚是罗马教会积极的成员（罗16:13）。
- 罗马人钉耶稣。没药调和的酒是某种用于减轻疼痛的麻醉药。耶稣不肯服用它，表示祂预备承担十架的一切痛楚。耶稣在巳初的时候被钉，相等于早上九点钟。十架是为折磨犯人而设的工具，让受害者受尽折磨数天才死。受害者必须推动双脚，又撑起双手才能呼吸，从而拉斯自己的肉体，在被钉的地方制造更大的疼痛。最后，受害者会因窒息而死，因为他们无法再呼吸了。
用经文祷告
- 彼拉多是个胆小鬼，易屈服于犹太人所施予的压力。身为巡抚，他有权力释放耶稣，并藉着兵士平息任何暴乱，可他却没那么做。处于中立与得救是有别的，因为它在最后审判中也会遭到谴责。让我们祷告我们会委身跟随耶稣，不要保持“中立”。
- 藉着与耶稣的接触，西门一家很可能后来信主（罗16:13）。西门并不为自己被视为被钉的“犯人”而感羞愧。让我们祷告我们不会以耶稣为耻。
- 耶稣在十字架上承担我们的罪，遭受肉身的疼痛。让我们因祂为我们而死感谢祂，并决意为祂而活。
