Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1-15
We speak of Christ’s trial before Pilate. Really it is Pilate’s trial before Christ that is described in our Scripture. The narrative holds up the Roman governor in such a blaze of light that all the world can see him. The story of this trial begins in the early morning, when Jesus was led to Pilate. During the night the rulers had informally condemned Him to death, but they could not carry out their own sentence without bringing their prisoner to the Roman governor. This was one of the humiliating conditions of their subjection to the Romans. Meanwhile Jesus had been kept under guard during the morning hours, and had been cruelly mocked by the soldiers. It was during this time that Peter’s denial occurred, and the pain of the disciples’ words as they fell upon Christ’s ears was more severe than all the mockeries of the heathen soldiers. As the first streaks of dawn appeared in the east, the members of the Sanhedrin were together again to hasten the formalities, so as to get Jesus on the cross at the earliest possible moment.
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