Day 18 - Mark 15-16

The account of the "trial" of Jesus has an interesting foreshadowing of the future significance of the death of Christ. Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd demanded Barabbas. Barabbas was guilty of many crimes, one of which being murder (15:7). Jesus was innocent, though falsely accused. So, the one who deserved physical death was allowed to have his physical life prolonged, while the one who deserved to live was sentenced to physical death in the place of the guilty one. Likewise, we who deserve spiritual death can receive eternal life because the one, in whom was life, died in our place.

Another irony is found in 15:29. The fact is that Jesus' "temple" was being destroyed, and He would "rebuild" it in three days!

There is debate as to whether the last 12 verses of chapter 16 were part of the original Gospel of Mark. As such, we must be careful not to build any doctrinal case on things that are recorded only here and nowhere else in the Bible (for instance, the handling of snakes). However, there is a statement that has caused some controversy in 16:16 concerning the erroneous teaching of baptismal regeneration. What is interesting to note is that the mention of baptism is only in the first part of the statement regarding salvation, but is not in the second part regarding condemnation. The point is this - baptism is a necessary part of the obedience that follows salvation, but is not necessary to avoid ultimate condemnation. The key component in receiving salvation or avoiding condemnation is believing in Jesus Christ - that is what is clear not only from this passage but also from the rest of Scripture.

I would be remiss if I closed comments on the Gospel of Mark and did not make mention of the resurrection of Jesus. This doctrine is so central to the Christian faith that I cannot refrain from pointing out its significance. The resurrection of our Lord occurred on "the first day of the week" (16:2), and that is the very reason that we Christians gather together for corporate worship on the first day of the week - Sunday! In actuality, it is not only on Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, that we celebrate our resurrected Lord and Savior, but every Sunday is a celebration of the victory of Christ over sin, death, hell and the grave! I love the triumphant words of 16:6 - "He has risen; he is not here." This is the Christian hope - that because our Savior was raised from the dead, so too shall we! All glory to the risen Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ!