Dec. 15, 2024

Last week we covered the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and his appearing before Pilat. This week we will cover Pilat’s questioning and eventual sentence that was insisted upon by the crowd. Jesus is then taken to Golgatha and crucified on the cross.

Mark Lesson 23 Study Questions

1.    . As the crowd _______ Jesus, they embraced Barabbas – whose name means “son of the father,” and who was a terrorist and a murderer. They accepted a _______ son of the father.

2.    “The severe scourging, with its intense pain and appreciable blood loss, most probably left Jesus in a ___________ state. Moreover, hematidrosis had rendered his skin particularly tender. The physical and mental abuse meted out by the Jews and the Romans, as well as the lack of food, water, and sleep, also contributed to his generally weakened state. Therefore, even before the actual crucifixion, Jesus’ physical condition was at least ________ and possibly _________.” (Edwards)

3.    Clothed Him with purple… twisted a crown of thorns: A king of that day often wore a purple robe and a gilded wreath of leaves. The rag of _______ and crown of _______ mocked this common practice.

4.    Bowing the knee was a standard act of respect to any king. Instead of giving the normal kiss of warm respect, they spat on Him. Spat on Him is better translated _____ _________ on Him.

5.    Led Him out to crucify Him: After a scourging, a man to be crucified was forced to march in a _________, led by a centurion on horseback and a herald who shouted the crime of the condemned. This was Rome’s way of advertising a crucifixion, and to make the people ________ of offending Rome.

6.    To bear His cross: As Jesus was led away for crucifixion, He was – like every victim of crucifixion – forced to carry the ______ of wood He would ______ upon.

7.    Simon probably visited Jerusalem as a __________ pilgrim from his native land (some 800 miles away, on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea). He knew little if anything of _______ and had no desire to be associated with this Man who was condemned to die as a criminal.

8.    Yet the Romans were the law and Simon did not have a choice – they compelled him to bear His cross. We are often __________ by the things we are compelled to do. Simon did not want to carry this cross and probably resented it terribly when he was asked. Nevertheless, it probably became the most special and __________ moment of his life.

9.    . Let the Christ… descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe: It is precisely because He would ____ come down that we believe in Him. Jesus did something greater than come down from the cross – He _____ from the dead. Yet they did not believe even then. But many of the priests did eventually believe: A great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7)

10.    My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Jesus knew great pain and suffering (both physical and emotional) in His life but never knew ___________ from His Father. Now He knew it. There was a significant sense in which Jesus rightly felt __________ by God the Father at this moment.