Condemned. Mark 15:6-15.
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.
Dear Servants of the Most High,
The Romans gave us the modern legal system. They developed procedures that ensured justice for an accused person, but the trial of Jesus was a mockery of the Roman justice system.
Tradition (v. 6-8). Pilate most likely started the custom of releasing a popular prisoner during the Passover as a way of endearing himself to the people. It failed to work because the Jewish people could not accept a Gentile ruler over them. All the same, the people still demanded this favor of Pilate.
Travesty (v. 9-11). Pilate saw in this request an opportunity to release Jesus. He would have known that Jesus was popular with the crowds because the events of the week, particularly of Palm Sunday, would have been reported to him. He asked the crowd to choose the prisoner to be freed, expecting them to choose Jesus. But the chief priests had the better of him. They got the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas. While as a rebel against the Romans Barabbas would have been popular with the crowds, the chief priests, being tacitly supportive of Roman rule, would have abhorred Barabbas and any other insurrectionist. This picture of the guilty being released while the innocent are condemned should not surprise us. It is through this injustice that a way of salvation is provided for us.
Tension (v. 12-15).Pilate tried to reason with the crowd because he did not find Jesus guilty, but they insisted that Jesus should be crucified. It is typical of crowds that they follow whoever is leading without thinking. The same crowds had praised Jesus only five days before. Fearful of a riot and wishing to maintain order, Pilate sacrificed Jesus. In this one choice, Pilate soiled his reputation forever. It is common for the defenseless to be sacrificed for the comfort of those in power. Have you sacrificed an innocent person instead of defending him?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.