Mark 15 shows the perfect Servant rejected, mocked, and crucified. Pastor Poke asked the question that comes when service costs something: Is it worth serving God when people still reject Christ? He answered, “We do not serve the people. We serve him.”
The cry of the multitude
At the feast, Pilate released one prisoner chosen by the people. In Mark 15:6-8, the multitude cried for that custom to be honored. Their desire was set on Barabbas, a man imprisoned for insurrection and murder, instead of Jesus.
Pastor Poke drew attention to the choice. Barabbas never helped them like Jesus did. He had not made the lame walk, given sight to the blind, or ministered to broken people. Yet the crowd wanted Barabbas. Their cry followed the desire of the flesh, not the testimony they had seen in Christ.
Delivered for envy
Pilate knew why the chief priests had delivered Jesus. Mark 15:10 names it: envy. They had seen His ministry and watched people respond to Him, but jealousy moved them against Christ.
Then the chief priests moved the people. The crowd had to decide what Pilate should do with Jesus, and those voices stirred them to cry, “Crucify him.” The loudest voices around them helped turn their desire against the One who had done them good.
A servant cannot control another person’s response. Faithful service may be misunderstood, mocked, or rejected. Christ served perfectly, and the people still called for His death. Rejection does not end the servant’s responsibility because the servant belongs to the Lord.
Confirmation in the mockery
The soldiers clothed Jesus in purple, put a crown of thorns on Him, and bowed before Him in mock worship. The chief priests and scribes called Him Christ and King while ridiculing Him on the cross. Their sarcasm still spoke about who He was.
They mocked His position, His praise, and His power.
They clothed Him as a king because He is the King. They bowed before the One who is worthy of worship. They challenged Him to come down from the cross because they knew the claims of His power. Christ did not need to announce His faithfulness. Even His enemies named what they saw.
Pastor Poke brought that close to home. A Christian should not have to keep telling everyone that he loves Jesus. His life should give that testimony. Faithfulness, worship, humility, and preaching Christ will draw mockery from some people, but they should still be visible.
“Truly this man was the Son of God”
Jesus’ earthly ministry reached its conclusion, but His testimony did not stop. The veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. The centurion watched Jesus give up the ghost and confessed, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).
The women who had followed and ministered to Jesus remained near. Joseph of Arimathaea went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He bought fine linen, wrapped the Lord’s body, and laid Him in a sepulchre. Association with Jesus had become dangerous, but Joseph went public.
That is the testimony Pastor Poke saw through the end of the chapter: in the sanctuary, in the soldier, in the servants, and at the sepulchre. Christ was faithful through death. Those who watched Him could say who He was.
The continuing testimony of a servant
Service to Christ is not a short assignment before life returns to normal. It is a life given to the Lord. Pastor Poke put it this way: “The commencing of the crucifixion ought to be the continuing of my testimony.”
People will look at a Christian’s deeds, demeanor, and finish. They will ask whether his faith was real and whether he stayed the course. Pastor Poke said it plainly: if serving Christ means that much, do not quit. Let the testimony continue to the end.
Watch Commencing of the Crucifixion on YouTube. A power outage interrupted the beginning of the church recording, so the video starts during the Scripture reading. The message continues through Mark 15:6-47.