The last “amazed” of Mark’s gospel is rather surprisingly not great teaching or great miracles, but silence. In Mark 15 Pilate is amazed, because Jesus keeps his mouth firmly shut as accusations fly.

Pontius Pilate was a nasty piece of work.A harsh man, blasphemous and brutal – sacked a few years later for it and exiled to Gaul where he committed suicide in shame.

The passage starts “Very early in the morning” – the late hour of Jesus arrest and early arrival at the governors places show this has been an illegal kangaroo court by the Sanhedrin.

Jesus only confirms that he is as Pilate asks – the King of the Jews. even that was sneaky by the Jews – they had dropped the blasphemy charge in front of the Roman governor, going with the claim to be King. As more unwarranted charges fly from the mouths of the Chief Priests, Jesus says nothing.

It reminds me of the words in Mark 13:11 “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand what you are to say. Just say whatever is given to you at the time. For it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”

Here – the Spirit guides Jesus to say nothing. And Pilate is amazed. In doing so Jesus is fulfilling a prophecy some 700 years before by Isaiah – “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Jesus really is amazing!