Release The Murderer

Release the Murderer

Mark 15:1-15

Good morning.

Last week, the Atlanta first News website reported, “A murder suspect is on the loose after he was accidentally released, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

Zion River Shaka, 30, had been booked in Fulton County Jail since 2020 but he also faced several charges from 2014 in Clayton County.

Shaka was supposed to return to jail after a Jan. 22 hearing, but the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office mistakenly let him go, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

Fulton County deputies are looking for Shaka.”

When we hear of a murder suspect being released because of a human error we can get frustrated.

But what if they released a murderer on purpose and executed an incent man instead, how would you feel about that?

Please open your Bibles to Mark 15, as we continue in that verse-by-verse study.

Last time we learned about some atrocities during Peter’s denial.

Mark 14:65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" NKJV

Being blindfolded meant Jesus could not flinch or guard against punches, so strikes would have been much more destructive.

Isaiah tells us He was beaten so badly He was hardly recognized, but Peter denied he had been with Jesus.

Peter lied and finally he cursed and swore he didn’t know Jesus.

We learned Jesus looked at Peter with love and compassion, not disappointment or anger, which broke Peter’s heart and caused a true repentance in him. Then we saw Peter’s full restoration.

Today, we will learn about Jesus’ false trials before Pilate and how the religious leaders asked for a murderer to be set free and Jesus to be crucified.

I. Jesus’ silence spoke volumes.

Read Mark 15:1-5

At this point it was about 5 a.m. and Jesus had already been brutally beaten at the High Priest’s house.

The Sanhedrin got together to discern what they could do with Jesus after they had beaten Him, i.e., they wanted to discuss what legal avenue they could use to crucify Jesus.

Rome was ruling over Israel so, one of their laws was that capital punishment could only be imposed by their government.

Pilate, as a prefect or governor possessed great power and position in the Empire. But he hated Judea, he hated the Jews, and he had zero concern for them or for their religion.

The Sanhedrin sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor over Judea, to expedite Jesus’ execution, because they did not have the authority to put Him to death.

John 18:31 Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore, the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." NKJV

Why would Pilate consider getting involved in this matter?

Carson said, “Prefects governed small, troubled areas; and in judicial matters they possessed powers like those of the far more powerful proconsuls and imperial legates.

In short, they held the power of life and death.”

Question: Why didn’t Pilate tell the Sanhedrin to get lost?

Pilate was in trouble with Tiberius Caesar because of some of the things he had done while governing Judea.

1. When Pilate first came into Judea, his men were carrying standards of gold and silver with eagles on top which the Jews considered idols which deeply offended the Jews.

So, the Jews rioted, and Pilate ordered the rioters into the amphitheater and threatened to kill them if they continued.

These rioters all laid down and told Pilate if he killed them, 10,000 more would come and take their place.

Pilate ended up backing off and when Tiberius Caesar heard of this, he was mad that Pilate could not handle the uprising.

2. Two years later, Pilate had an aqueduct built for fresh water but he raided the Jewish Temple in order to pay for it.

Of course, this caused another rebellion by the Jews and again Tiberius Caesar heard about it and was mad at Pilate again.

And then a few months before our narrative took place…

3. Pilate ordered new shields for his soldiers and on the front of the shield was the face of Tiberius Caesar and again the Jews considered this idolatry and rebelled one more time.

Tiberius Caesar warned Pilate, if there was one more uprising from the Jews, he would be removed as governor of Judea and would be summoned back to Rome.

The religious leaders had already broken many of their own laws with the trials and beating of Jesus.

They wanted to stone Jesus themselves but didn’t have the authority to do it and they didn’t want Jesus’ followers upset.

The religious leaders went to Pilate, who did not want to upset the Jewish leadership again, for fear of another uprising.