Lesson 12-Tried and Crucified

Read for This Week’s Study
Mark 15:1-47; Luke 13:1; Psalms 22:18; John 20:24-29; John 1:1-3; Daniel 9:24-27.

Memory Text:
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ ” (Mark 15:34).

Sabbath Afternoon

Five Important Points:

1. Irony in the Passion Narrative: Mark 15 presents the trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus with strong elements of irony, revealing the deeper significance of His death.
2. Jesus’ Kingship: Pilate’s question, “Are you the King of the Jews?” highlights irony as Jesus truly is the King, though mocked and misunderstood.
3. Religious and Political Irony: The religious leaders condemned Jesus for blasphemy, while Pilate saw Him as a threat to Roman authority, but in reality, Jesus was neither.
4. Joseph of Arimathea: His unexpected role in burying Jesus contrasts with the religious leaders’ rejection, adding to the ironic elements of the narrative.
5. Jesus’ Final Cry: Jesus' words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34) highlight the depth of His suffering and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the role of irony in the narrative of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion?
   • Irony reveals the deeper truth that Jesus is the true King and Messiah, though rejected and condemned by both the religious leaders and Roman authorities.
2. How does Pilate’s reaction to Jesus’ trial differ from that of the religious leaders?
   • Pilate shows hesitation and recognizes Jesus’ innocence, while the religious leaders are determined to crucify Him out of envy.
3. Why is the statement “He saved others; Himself He cannot save” (Mark 15:31) so ironic?
   • The statement is ironic because Jesus’ death is the ultimate act of saving others, though the onlookers misunderstand it as weakness.

Sunday: “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Five Important Points:

1. Pilate’s Question: Pilate’s question, “Are you the King of the Jews?” reflects the misunderstanding of Jesus’ true kingship.
2. Jewish Trial Outcome: The Jewish leaders accuse Jesus of blasphemy but bring Him to Pilate with a charge of sedition, fearing Roman reprisal.
3. Release of Barabbas: The custom of releasing a prisoner highlights the crowd’s choice of Barabbas, a criminal, over Jesus, the innocent Savior.
4. Pilate’s Perception: Pilate understands that the religious leaders acted out of envy, yet he ultimately yields to the crowd’s demand for crucifixion.
5. The Irony of the Cross: The people call for the crucifixion of the One who came to save them, revealing the tragic irony of rejecting the Messiah.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why does Pilate ask Jesus if He is the King of the Jews, and what is ironic about Jesus’ response?
   • Pilate asks to understand if Jesus poses a political threat, but Jesus’ kingship is spiritual, not political, making His calm response deeply ironic.
2. What can we learn from the crowd’s choice to release Barabbas instead of Jesus?
   • It illustrates how humanity often chooses rebellion and violence over righteousness and peace.
3. Why did Pilate give in to the crowd’s demand for Jesus’ crucifixion?
   • Pilate feared an uprising and political repercussions, though he recognized Jesus’ innocence, showing how external pressure can lead to moral compromise.

Monday: Hail, King of the Jews!

Five Important Points:

1. Roman Mockery: The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus by dressing Him in a purple robe, crowning Him with thorns, and hailing Him as “King of the Jews.”
2. Physical Abuse: Jesus endured brutal scourging, repetitive strikes to the head, and spitting, all meant to humiliate and shame Him.
3. Repetitive Actions: The soldiers’ continuous mockery (striking, spitting, bowing) reflects their utter disrespect, though it ironically points to His true kingship.
4. Carrying the Cross: Jesus carried His own cross as part of the Roman execution process, further adding to His public humiliation.
5. Significance of Silence: Despite the mockery and abuse, Jesus remained silent, showing His strength, dignity, and submission to the will of God.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the significance of the soldiers mocking Jesus as “King of the Jews”?
   • The mockery was meant to humiliate Him, but it ironically affirmed the truth that Jesus is the King of all, though not in the way they understood.
2. How does Jesus’ silence during His mistreatment reflect His character?
   • Jesus’ silence shows His humility, strength, and submission to God’s plan, even in the face of extreme suffering.
3. Why will the soldiers' ignorance of Jesus' true identity not excuse them on Judgment Day?
   • Their actions, though done in ignorance, were still part of a great moral wrong, and ignorance does not exempt someone from accountability for their choices.

Tuesday - The Crucifixion

Key Points:

1. Jesus, the Silent Victim: Jesus, who was once the master of His activities, is now passive, controlled by others as He endures the crucifixion.
2. Excruciating Pain: The method of crucifixion caused immense pain, especially from the nails driven into the wrists, which crushed the median nerve.
3. Mockery of Religious Leaders: The religious leaders mock Jesus, ironically acknowledging His role as a Savior while ridiculing His inability to save Himself.
4. Christological Titles in Mockery: Jesus' divine titles, such as “Son of God” and “Savior,” are used by His mockers at the cross, though they don't understand their true significance.
5. Jesus' Sacrifice for Others: Jesus chose not to save Himself to fulfill His mission of saving humanity, emphasizing His role as Savior.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why does the Gospel of Mark emphasize Jesus' silence during His crucifixion?
   • Jesus’ silence fulfills prophecy and emphasizes His submission to God's will as the Lamb of God, destined to take away the sins of the world.
2. What is the irony in the statement, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself” (Mark 15:31)?
   • The irony is that Jesus could save Himself but chose not to, so He could save humanity. His inability to "save Himself" was essential to His saving mission.
3. How does the physical pain of crucifixion reflect the spiritual burden Jesus carried for the sins of the world?
   • The excruciating physical pain symbolizes the even greater spiritual burden of bearing the sins of humanity, as He experienced separation from God for our sake.

Wednesday - Forsaken by God

Key Points:

1. Supernatural Darkness: Darkness descended over the land from noon to 3 p.m., symbolizing the weight of sin and divine judgment as Jesus hung on the cross.
2. Jesus’ Cry of Abandonment: Jesus cries, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34), reflecting the immense emotional and spiritual anguish He felt.
3. Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus’ cry references Psalm 22, fulfilling Scripture and showing how His suffering had been foretold.
4. Parallel to Baptism: The cross parallels Jesus' baptism, where His ministry began, and the tearing of the temple veil symbolizes the fulfillment of His sacrificial role.
5. Trust in God's Purpose: Despite the evil intentions of men, God's purpose of salvation is fulfilled through the death of Christ, offering hope that God's goodness prevails.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the darkness during the crucifixion signify about the event's spiritual significance?
   • The darkness signifies divine judgment and the somber reality of the sin-bearing role that Jesus took on for humanity’s sake.
2. How does Jesus’ cry of abandonment ("My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?") reflect His role as a substitute for humanity?
   • Jesus experienced the feeling of separation from God, symbolizing the penalty for sin that He bore on behalf of humanity, making Him our substitute in judgment.
3. How does the tearing of the temple veil reflect the culmination of Jesus' ministry and mission?
   • The tearing of the veil symbolizes the end of the old sacrificial system and the beginning of direct access to God through Jesus' sacrifice, completing His mission to reconcile humanity to God.

Thursday - Laid to Rest

Key Points:

1. Joseph of Arimathea’s Role: Joseph, a respected member of the Sanhedrin, courageously asked Pilate for Jesus’ body and provided a tomb for His burial, stepping in when the disciples had fled.
2. Verification of Jesus' Death: Pilate verified Jesus' death through the centurion, ensuring there was no doubt that Jesus truly died on the cross.
3. Burial in a Tomb: Jesus was laid in a tomb hewn out of rock, which would later become an important detail in the story of His resurrection.
4. Witnesses to the Burial: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Joses, and Salome witnessed where Jesus was buried, which set the stage for them to discover the empty tomb later.
5. Fulfillment of Prophecy: The burial fulfills the prophecies about Jesus’ death, adding to the narrative's historical and spiritual significance, especially in light of His forthcoming resurrection.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the significance of Joseph of Arimathea’s actions in requesting Jesus’ body for burial?
   • Joseph’s actions show courage and devotion, contrasting the disciples' absence. His intervention also fulfills prophecy and ensures Jesus received an honorable burial.
2. Why is it important that Pilate verified Jesus' death before releasing His body for burial?
   • This verification ensures that Jesus truly died, countering later claims that He merely fainted, and confirming the reality of the resurrection.
3. How do the women witnessing Jesus' burial become key witnesses to His resurrection later?
   • The women’s role as witnesses to Jesus' burial ensures continuity in the resurrection narrative, as they were the first to see the empty tomb and testify to His resurrection.

Friday

Further Thought

Read Ellen G. White, “In Pilate’s Judgment Hall,” pp. 723–740; “Calvary,” pp. 741–757; “ ‘It Is Finished,’ ” pp. 758–764, in The Desire of Ages.

“Pilate longed to deliver Jesus. But he saw that he could not do this, and yet retain his own position and honor. Rather than lose his worldly power, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life. How many, to escape loss or suffering, in like manner sacrifice principle. Conscience and duty point one way, and self-interest points another. The current sets strongly in the wrong direction, and he who compromises with evil is swept away into the thick darkness of guilt.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 738.

“Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all. He was counted a transgressor, that He might redeem us from the condemnation of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart. The wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation of His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with consternation. All His life Christ had been publishing to a fallen world the good news of the Father’s mercy and pardoning love. Salvation for the chief of sinners was His theme. But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot see the Father’s reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So great was this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 753.

Discussion Questions and Answers

1. Why is any theology that downplays the central role of substitution and Christ’s dying in our stead, paying in Himself the penalty for our sins, a false theology? Consider the centrality of substitution in Ellen G. White's writings and the Bible, particularly Isaiah 53:1-12.

ANSWER: Theology that diminishes Christ’s substitutionary role is false because it removes the foundation of salvation. According to Ellen G. White and the Bible, especially in Isaiah 53, Christ bore our sins and died in our place to satisfy the penalty of sin. Without this concept of substitution, the Gospel loses its power to save, as it is only through Christ's sacrifice that humanity can be reconciled to God. If we reduce Christ’s role as our substitute, we undermine the necessity of His death for our redemption.

2. Who or what is the "Barabbas" in today’s world that gets asked for instead of Jesus?
ANSWER: In today’s world, "Barabbas" can represent the things people choose over Christ, such as worldly ideologies, political figures, materialism, or self-gratification. Just like in the biblical narrative where the crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus, people today often prioritize things that offer temporary satisfaction, power, or pleasure rather than choosing Jesus, who offers eternal life and peace. This substitution of worldly values for Christ remains a constant temptation in modern society.

3. What should the story of Joseph of Arimathea tell us about not judging outward appearances?
ANSWER: Joseph of Arimathea was a respected member of society and part of the Sanhedrin, yet he was a secret follower of Jesus. His story reminds us not to judge others by their outward appearances or social standing, as faith can reside in unexpected places. Despite his status, Joseph displayed his devotion by caring for Jesus after the crucifixion. His actions show that inner faith is not always visible and that we should avoid making assumptions about someone's relationship with God based on external factors.

4. Why should you be able to give a Bible study on Daniel 9:24-27 to anyone who asks? Can you?
ANSWER: Daniel 9:24-27 is a crucial prophecy that outlines God’s timeline for the Messiah’s arrival, His atoning death, and events leading up to the end of time. It connects the Old Testament to the New Testament, revealing how Christ fulfilled these predictions. Being able to explain this prophecy is important because it provides evidence for Jesus’ mission and His role in salvation history. If you can present a study on this passage, you can help others see the accuracy of biblical prophecy and understand the significance of Christ’s death and the plan of salvation.