Sharing Scripture — September 21, 2024

Texts: Mark 15; Luke 13:1; Psalm 22:18; John 1:1–3; John 18–19, 20:24–29; Daniel 9:24–27

As the Minister of State for Policing, Fire, and Crime Prevention spoke at the annual Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) conference, her purse fell victim to sticky fingers.

Unaware of the transpiring theft, Dame Diana Johnson addressed criticism of Britain’s justice system, informing the PSA and its police officers that she aims to “restore respect for the rule of law on British streets, including respect for the police, which has sadly been eroded over many years.”

In light of the theft occurring at a police-filled conference, Johnson’s efforts to restore the public image of the police backfired. On the other hand, the theft highlights the very heart of what she wants to fix: Britain’s “epidemic of antisocial behaviour.”

It’s the irony of the situation that best proves her point.

Similarly, the ironies which litter Jesus’ mock trial and crucifixion reveal powerful truths about the meaning of Jesus’ death and the fulfilment of prophecy.

One of the most glaring ironies is that an innocent Man was killed under false pretenses, but in His death, believers were figuratively washed clean of their sins (something Pontius Pilate tried to do for himself but in so doing only deepened his guilt)!

Of course, under closer inspection we see many more ironic developments that, at the time the gospels were penned, would have been painfully obvious to Ancient Near-East believers.

Here is just a sampling of more juicy twists pulled from Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.

• Judas, a disciple, venomously kissed Jesus and turned Him in for trial (Matthew 26:48-50)
• The weapon-wielding mob who came to arrest the peaceful Jesus feared Him (John 18:1-7)
• Jesus healed the the injured man who would lead him to trial (John 18:10-13)
• An official slapped Jesus for how He addressed the high priest, even though Jesus is the real High Priest (John 18:19-23)
• Peter, who proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, denied Him – breaking his own promise to Christ (John 13:37-38, John 18:15-27)
• The Jewish Council violated its own laws to condemn Someone it accused of doing the same (Mark 14:1-2, Mark 14:53-Mark 15:1: John 18:28-29)
• Pilate knew the Jews only turned on Jesus out of envy and not because of political insurrection (Mark 15:10), yet he played into the Jews’ hands by asking the crowd to choose between Jesus and Barabbas (Mark 15:6-15)
• The Jews asked for a murderer, a political insurrectionist, to be released instead of the peaceful healer, Jesus (Mark 15:7)
• Pilate, a pagan, wanted to release a Jewish rabbi; the “religious” Jews did not want the rabbi released (John 18:35-38, John 19:11-12)
• Pilate boasted of his power over Jesus and told Jesus he could set Him free – yet it is Christ Who sets people free (John 19:10)
• Despite knowing the truth, Pilate asked Jesus “what is truth?” and proceeded to act against his conscience, symbolically washing his hands of blood but only deepening his guilt (John 18:38, Matthew 27:24-26)
• Nevertheless, Pilate sardonically referenced Jesus as The King of the Jews, which claim is true (Mark 15:2-12, John 19:14, 15, 19-22)
• Following Pilate’s lead, the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus’ kingship, thus fulfilling prophecy regarding the Messiah’s treatment (Mark 15:16-24, John 19:23-24)
• Joining in on the mob mentality, the chief priests who hated Jesus acknowledged Jesus’ ability to save others, yet they claimed He could not save Himself (Mark 15:31-32); other witnesses mocked Jesus’ claim to tear down the temple in three days (Mark 15:29-30)
• However, at Jesus’ death, the temple’s veil was torn and the structure’s purpose made obsolete; this was recognized by a centurion who then acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 15:38-39)
• Most of the male disciples – with the exception of John – were nowhere to be found, but the female believers stayed to support Jesus (Mark 15:40-41, John 19:25-27)
• Instead of the disciples stepping up to help, one of the Jewish Council members, Joseph of Arimathea, cared for Jesus’ body (Mark 15:42-46, John 19:38-42)

In review of all these pivotal, ironic plot points, it’s easy to wonder how the people of Jesus’ time could be so spiritually blind! (Those Pharisees, Sadducees, and leaders of the Jewish law come across more laughable than the PSA officers!)

The Pharisees teased Jesus, claiming that if He could save Himself from the cross they would then believe in Him (Mark 15:32) … nevermind all the miracles Jesus had already performed. And we know they were aware of said miracles because in the same breath they claimed that He saved others (Mark 15:31)!

Funnily enough, in their blatant disbelief they only fulfilled Christ’s prophecy that those who are blind to Scripture truths will be blind to miracles (Luke 16:19-31).

In other words, if we don’t want Satan stealing our lives out from under our very noses, we need to open our eyes to Jesus and the Scriptures.

Sharing: Joseph Arimathea was a member of the Council who prepared Jesus’ body for burial. What, do you suppose, is his eternal fate?

1. He will be saved because we are told he was a disciple of Jesus (John 19:38) who stood boldly before Pilate (Mark 15:43)
2. He will be lost because he feared the Jewish leaders (John 19:38) and therefore likely didn’t stand up against the Council
3. He probably lost faith after Jesus’ death and therefore is lost
4. He probably rejoiced at hearing of the resurrection and repented of his sins, accepting Christ’s sacrifice
5. No idea; we are not told any more about him because his fate was not the focus of the story
6. Other

Applying: In the midst of growing polarization of “us vs. them” mentality, how can we avoid group-think and instead be beacons of light in a broken world?

~ Stefani Leeper

---

The Center for Creative Ministry is fully recognized by the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; it is also a 501c3 nonprofit organization which makes donations tax deductible in the U.S.