Reflections: 12-6-2007

All Scripture citations are taken from New Living Translation (http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/).

• Leviticus 11
  
  

  Enumeration of animals that is ceremonially clean and unclean were shown here. Note the word "ceremonial". Elsewhere in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter was shown by God what is it that truly defiles a man. It's not on anything that enters man, but on what comes out of him.
  

  
  

  • … You must be holy, because I am holy. (v. 45)
    
    
    • The call for holiness is a command. Must follow this nevertheless even when we are sanctified by the blood of Christ. If we truly love Him, the desire to be holy compels us to be holy.
      
      

      
      

• Leviticus 12
  
  

  Guidelines on purification after childbirth are shown here.
  

• Mark 15
  
  

  Jesus' trial before Pilate, the mocking of soldiers, and His crucifixion, death and burial are shown in this chapter. The whole deal about sacrifice and atonement culminated on the death of the Messiah.
  

  
  

  • "Would you like me to release this 'King of the Jews'?" Pilate asked. (For he realized by now that the lading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) (vv. 9-10)
    
    
    • Not only this, Pilate realized that they are about to suffer an innocent man.
      
      

      
      

  • Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!" "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?" But the mob roared even louder, "Crucify him!" So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, and then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. (vv. 12-15)
    
    
    • Pilate demanded to know the charges against Jesus. But the frenzied crowd still wanted Jesus to be crucified. Pilate doesn't really want to crucify Jesus, but it is possible he does this to appease the crowd. One must notice that rebels against the empire are held prisoners, so rebellion must have been happening at that time. To prevent these from going out of hand, Pilate, as a faithful Roman citizen and governor, had to concede to prevent them from rebelling.
      
      

      
      

  • As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. (Joseph was an honoured member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) Pilate couldn't believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for he Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. (vv.43-45)
    
    
    • Two men, who believed that the innocent man did not have to die, met to remove Jesus' body and have proper burial. Will that tomb remain occupied after a few days?
      
    • Joseph is a member of the Jewish high council, but he secretly watched for signs of the coming of the Messiah. He must have believed Jesus is now the Messiah.
      
    • Pilate does not really want to have Jesus died. He could not believe that an innocent man really should be hung on the cross gruesomely.