And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” Mark 15:26 (ESV)
Repeatedly throughout Mark 15, there are references to Jesus as the “King of the Jews.”
And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. Mark 15:1-5 (ESV)
Jesus gives very little response when Pilate asks him if He is the King of the Jews. Even with very little talking, Pilate’s encounter with the Savior of the World leaves him amazed.
Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” Mark 15:6-13 (ESV)
When Pilate talks to the people, He refers to Jesus as the King of the Jews. The crowd was easily stirred up by the jealous and angry chief priests to have Jesus tortured and killed. A man who had healed their sick, delivered those in bondage, and taught them about the kingdom of God. And then they let a known murderer go free.
And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:16-20 (ESV)
The soldiers use the title King of the Jews to mock him and humiliate him while torturing him.
And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. Mark 15:25-32 (ESV)
The religious leaders of the day were making fun of him and saying that if he really was the King of the Jews, he would use that power to save himself. He should be able to just ‘come down’ off the cross if He really was the Christ.
But I say that it is BECAUSE he actually is the King of the Jews that He stayed on the cross. He would not abandon His people to eternal torment. He stayed right there on the cross when He could have alleviated His own suffering. He bore the weight of my sin and yours. He endured the torture and separation from God that we deserve. He did all of that BECAUSE Jesus is the King of the Jews.
A King who loves His people and gave His life for them.
Seeing Jesus for Who He really is comes as a gift from God. He opens our spiritual eyes to see the King of the Jews in all His kingly authority. One who belongs on a throne but submitted Himself to a stable birth, humble upbringing, and difficult life for us. The One who is perfect yet came to live in an imperfect world. The Prince of Peace against Whom the religious leaders waged war.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do I acknowledge that authority in my life or follow the crowd and choose my own ways? Do I allow Him to be my King and Lord or do I just want someone to fulfill my prayer wish list?
I want a life lived in submission to the Kingly authority of Christ. A life with Him at the center, on the throne of my everyday life.
Action Step: Today, I kneel before God and submit to His authority and His way even what I want is in opposition to His desires. I choose His Word, His way, His Kingship over my everyday life.
God, thank you for sending your Son, the King of the Jews, to be mistreated on my behalf. To be put to death in my place. Be King and Lord of my life. Help me to obey even when I don’t want to. Open my spiritual eyes to see Jesus for Who He truly is.