Mark 15:9 Meaning and Explanation
“But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Pilate offers to release Jesus, calling him the King of the Jews.
What Does Mark 15:9 Mean?
Pilate sees a possible exit. If the crowd will choose Jesus for the Passover release, the governor can be rid of an awkward case without rendering a verdict, so he holds out the title that the priests resent: the King of the Jews.
There is irony in a Roman mouth speaking more truly than Israel's leaders: Jesus is the King. But Pilate wields the title as leverage, not confession, handling truth as a tool rather than bowing to it, and truth used that way saves no one. Still, the question he poses is the Gospel's own question. Will you have this King? It has outlived the governor who asked it, and it still waits for an answer from every hearer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 15:9
What does Mark 15:9 mean?
Pilate offers to release Jesus, calling him the King of the Jews.