Why Did Jesus Die?

Info

Series: Mark

Title: 8. Why Did Jesus Die? Mark 15:1-15

Preached:

  • 2016-01-09: White Rock Lake

  1. Introduction
    1. Setting:
      1. Jesus has been arrested. In an overnight trial before the Sanhedrin, many efforts are made to invent some charge worthy of the death penalty, but despite Jesus’ refusal to defend Himself, nothing holds up.
      2. Finally, the High Priest directly asks Jesus whether He is the Messiah, the Son of God. When Jesus says Yes, he is immediately charged and convicted of blasphemy.
      3. The Jewish leaders then hand Him over to the Romans since they have no authority to execute anyone. Mark skips over most of the details of the trials before Pilate and Herod, but he gives us the most important details.
  2. The Story
    1. Mark 15:1-5
      1. Many charges are made against Jesus, chief of which involved treason.
      2. Under Roman law, if a person charged with a crime didn’t give a defense, the law required that he be convicted by default.
      3. By remaining silent, Jesus accomplished two things:
        1. He took control of His destiny
        2. He chose to be convicted and to receive the penalty for treason, death.
        3. Although Jesus’ enemies were motivated directly by Satan, although there can be no defense of their actions, yet they were unable to control whether Jesus lived or died. He could have effectively defended Himself, yet He didn’t.
      4. When Jesus came to the earth, it was no accident. When He lived a sinless life, it was no accident. When He died for us, it was no accident.
        1. John 10:17, 18—No one took Jesus’ life; He laid it down.
    2. Mark 15:6-15
      1. The insurrection: This event must have been known to readers in Mark’s day, but we no nothing about it.
      2. Pilate offered a choice: A murderer (Barabbas) or the King of the Jews.
      3. Aside: Jealousy, envy, and hatred lead to all sorts of bad decisions
  3. Why did Jesus die?
    1. Matthew 26:27, 28: Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins
    2. 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15: Jesus died so that we could live for Him
    3. Titus 2:11-14: Jesus died “to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works”
  4. What does this mean for us?
    1. Romans 5:8—Jesus didn’t die as an innocent victim of intrigue; He chose to work His plan of salvation while we were still sinners to save us from that sin
    2. 1 John 2:1-6—Jesus’ death shows us that we are now, by grace, to live as Jesus lived.