The Gospel of Mark

Scott Worthington

The Gospel of Mark | Jesus, Pilate, Barabbas, and You

Sermon Only Sermon Audio

Jul 6, 2025

Mark 15:1-15

In this sermon, Pastor Scott Worthington preaches from Mark 15:1–15, where Jesus is delivered to Pilate, Barabbas is released, and Jesus is handed over to be crucified.

Barabbas was a wicked, guilty, and condemned man—yet the crowd chose to set him free and crucify Jesus, the innocent and righteous one, in his place. As followers of Jesus, we must recognize that Barabbas is a reflection of us. We were the guilty ones, and Jesus, the righteous one, became our substitute. That’s the good news of the gospel. May we take the time to sit and reflect upon what Jesus has done for us.

Watch this sermon to learn more!

Sermon Notes

The Gospel of Mark
Jesus, Pilate, Barabbas, and You // Mark 15:1-15

“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?’ For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’ And Pilate said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him.’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” Mark 15:1-15

Scene 1:
A Steadfast Savior (v.1-5)

“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.’” Mark 15:1-3

“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.’” John 18:36

“…after he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, ‘I find no guilt in him.’” John 18:38b

“So Pilate said to him, ‘You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.’” John 19:10-11

How Is This Steadfast and Not Soft?
1. This was fulfilling prophecy from the Old Testament

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter… so he opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

How Is This Steadfast and Not Soft?
1. This was fulfilling prophecy from the Old Testament
2. This was fulfilling the plan from eternity past

Biblical Reality:

God is sovereign over all things

Humans are responsible for our actions

“…this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts 2:23

“‘No one takes [my life] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.’” John 10:18a

“To know that nothing happens in God’s world apart from God’s will may frighten the godless, but it stabilizes the saints.” J.I. Packer

Scene 2:
A Scandalous Substitute (v.6-11)

“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.” Mark 15:6-7

“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.” Mark 15:11

Realities about Barabbas:
1. He was a Wicked Man
2. He was a Guilty Man
3. He was a Condemned Man

1. We were wicked
“None is righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10

2. We Were Guilty
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

3. We Were Condemned
“ For the wages of sin is death...” Romans 6:23a

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus became what we are (sin) so we could become what He is (righteous).

Here’s the raw truth…
You ~~were~~ are wicked
You ~~were~~ are guilty
You ~~were~~ are condemned

Scene 3:
A Shameful Sentence (v.12-15)

“And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him….’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourge Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” Mark 15:13,15

"The final phase of Jesus’ Roman trial ended with a wavering politician caving to the violent demands of a raucous mob....To be scourged was to be whipped with a device known as a flagellum…embedded with sharp pieces of bone and metal designed to rip the flesh to the bone. The victim would be tied to a post, his hands extended high over his head and his feet suspended off the ground so that his body was taught. As the scourge tore into his back, muscles would be lacerated, veins cut, and internal organs exposed. Intended to hasten death on the cross, scourging itself was sometimes fatal." John MacArthur

He didn’t do this because He was guilty.
He did it because we were.

“Without knowing it, the religious leaders and Pilate and Barabbas were all part of a tapestry of grace which God was weaving for sinners. Their actions spoke louder than their words, louder than the cries of the crowds for Jesus' blood. Jesus was not dying for his own crimes, but for the crimes of others; not for his own sins, but the sins of others. He did not die for himself, he died for us!” Sinclair Ferguson

Sermon Notes

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