The One Year New Testament

May 9

Mark 15:1-20

Mark 15:1-20

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.

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?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 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.

Reflection

Having been accused by the religious authorities, Christ is now condemned by the irreligious authorities. In the presence of the Roman official Pilate, Jesus does not defend himself; he is like an innocent lamb being slaughtered (Isa. 53:7; Acts 8:32; 1 Pet. 1:19). The generous Son of God makes no effort to escape his assignment. Out of love for his people, he holds his tongue.

Though Pilate cannot find a genuine reason to harm Jesus, the crowd demands that he release the criminal Barabbas instead of Christ. In Barabbas we see a sobering picture of ourselves: though he is guilty, he is released from judgment and Jesus is judged in his place.

Galatians 4:1-7

Galatians 4:1-7

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Reflection

When the time was right (Gal. 4:4), God sent his son to rescue his people from the curse-producing law (v. 5; 3:13). He has now given us his Spirit, and adopted us as sons and daughters —we now call him “Abba! Father!” (4:6). God’s rescue, adoption, and Spirit are his gracious gifts to all who are in Christ (3:28, 29), regardless of our ethnicity, social status, or gender.

Reflecting on these truths, our hearts cannot sit still. God has sent forth both his Son and his Spirit —the Son rescued us from the penalty of sin, and the Spirit applies this rescue to our daily lives by changing our attitudes and actions. The work of the Son is “outside in”: he accomplished our salvation for us, apart from our involvement. The work of the Spirit is “inside out”: he implants Christ’s salvation into our lives, causing new life to flourish from within us.

Psalm 18:16-19

Psalm 18:16-19

16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Thoughts For Prayer

Take some time to put yourself in the shoes of Barabbas and ask God to help you grasp the significance of being rescued from the penalty you deserve. How will this gift impact the way you live your life today?

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • May 20, 2024

    Supported Workers: Neri (& Karina) Rivera, Edgar (& Lety) Rivera

    Country: Mexico

    Pray that God would give Edgar wisdom in assembling a Mexican Board for the MAF work in Mexico. Pray for the three ESI groups that he is leading in Oaxaca and for the Bible study he recently started with a new believer in the town of San Lucas, which has been traditionally closed to the gospel. Pray that their ministry in a local church would bear fruit. Pray for continued rehab for Edgar’s shoulder. Pray that God would provide open doors for their son, Juan, and his wife, Amy, as they prepare for missions in a closed country. Pray that Neri will have wisdom as he leads ESI groups in Chiapas. Pray for continued growth of the church plant. Doctors are cautiously optimistic about Neri’s prognosis after his chemotherapy treatment. Pray for healing and for the whole family during this difficult time.

    Burundi (Africa). Population: 13,591,657 Believers: 27.0%. The socio-political situation is one of cautious hope, due to the decades-old enmity between Tutsi and Hutu that boiled into a violent eruption claiming 300,000 lives in the 1990s. Pray for genuine respect and cooperation as these two peoples build Burundi’s future together. Due to the past violence and current poverty, leadership for the churches is in short supply. Ask the Lord for financial provision for those who wish to equip themselves for the Lord’s service. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org