59. Mark 15:1-15
Jesus Before Pilate (15:1-5) Brought before Pilate Jesus refuses to answer the prefect’s question not the charges the chief priests brought against him, apart from a non-committal “You say so” to Pilate’s question whether he was the “king of the Jews” (v.2). The change of venue from the Sanhedrin to Pilate’s court accounts for Jesus’ reticence here when he has just robustly affirmed Messiahship to the Jewish leadership. Pilate had no interest in Messiahs; but he had a keen interest in putative “kings”! Even at the 11 th hour here Jesus wants to avoid a dangerous misunderstanding. “The governor could have cared less as long as matters religious did not become matters political. Thus, the high priests reformulate the charge against Jesus in a way that the Roman governor will understand and have to take seriously. Since Pilate’s first question is, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (15: 2), presumably this is the official charge against Jesus (cf. also 15: 12, “the one yo...