Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.
Pilate questioned Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And He answered Him, "It is as you say." - Mark 15:1-2
This morning, I was reading through the book of Mark, specifically, chapter 15 which leads us into the crucifixion.
(Image by Mark does a fantastic job of setting the scene for this dark day in history. I can't help but visualize what that afternoon could have looked like. It plays out like a movie in my head. Many movies have tried to capture this moment; I imagine none have even come close. It wouldn't be pretty and that's putting it mildly.
I picture it to be loud and complete and utter chaos!
There would have been quite a large crowd, most of them there to see Jesus, not all with the best of intentions. Some would have been there to see Him killed and be rejoicing at the thought, cheering on the events, mocking Him and saying things like we find recorded in Mark,
"Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself and come down from that cross!"
"He saved others; He cannot save Himself!"
Some would have been there as His followers, completely distraught and screaming out in pain, hearts breaking as they watch Jesus go through this.
Others were part of the brigade that brought Him to the hill.
Then there would have been (I imagine this to be the biggest part of the crowd) the onslaught of "lookers"; simply there to see the event unfold, unsure of what to make of it or what to really believe.
It's not difficult to put ourselves there, even in modern times, is it? In my head, this could have happened the exact same way in 2022, just like Mark wrote it down. The only difference is it would have been live streamed for all the world to see.
He would have been mocked, beaten, jeered and taunted with hateful remarks. Some would have stood by in silence. Others would have been screaming for His release. Some people would have just been "doing their job" as I picture the soldiers to have been doing. Even if they thought it was wrong, if they dared to go against their orders, it was their head. Not many people have that kind of conviction and in those days, certainly not for a Jewish man who's own people didn't even care about.
What stands out to me in chapter 15 is what I started this post with and what Mark started the chapter with and that is Jesus saying, "It is as you say."
It makes me ask the question, "Who do you say Jesus is?"
As you picture all that Mark wrote down, what part of the crowd are you in? Most people, if they're honest, are in the "lookers" group. They watch, silently, unsure, scared, confused...not ready to declare one way or the other.
That's a dangerous group to be in.
(Image by When even on the day that Jesus died, only some came to know the truth of who He really is...
When a centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" - Mark 15:39
...there will come a day when ALL will know who Jesus really is! You don't want to be in that group on that day.
So I challenge you, if you're a believer, declare it loudly! Don't deny Him. Tell the world that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world and He is the Lord of all!
"It is as you say"