Pleasing the Crowd
Opening Prayer
Loving Jesus, may I focus on pleasing You today in all of my thoughts, attitudes and actions.
Read Mark 15:1–15
[1] Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. [2] “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. [3] The chief priests accused him of many things. [4] So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” [5] But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. [6] Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. [7] A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. [8] The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. [9] “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, [10] knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. [11] But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. [12] “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. [13] “Crucify him!” they shouted. [14] “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” [15] Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
When was the last time you were tempted to please men rather than God? Whom did you choose? The trial of Jesus has moved from the religious authorities to the political authority, Pilate. Asthe Roman governor, Pilate had the power to crucify the guilty. The Romans had alreadycrucified thousands of Jews rebelling against the Roman authorities, and this seemed just anothercase.As in the earlier trial, Jesus refuses to challenge the false charges brought against him. He onlyspeaks to confirm that he is “the King of the Jews.” Here is his strength in contrast with theweakness of Pilate, who seeks to please the crowd. Pilate knows that he can pass responsibilityfor Jesus’ death to the crowd who wants to release Barabbas, the murderer, and send innocentJesus to the cross.Pilate, despite his political power, was morally weak. Jesus, despite his physical weakness, wasspiritually strong, determined to fulfill his Father’s will. Few understood that Jesus, the innocentand sinless, was suffering and dying for the guilty. Few understand that Jesus was willing to diefor the crowd who shouted, “Crucify him!” Many around the world today still don’t understandthat.The trial of Jesus has moved from the religious authorities to the political authority, Pilate. As the Roman governor, Pilate had the power to crucify the guilty. The Romans had already crucified thousands of Jews rebelling against the Roman authorities, and this seemed just another case. As in the earlier trial, Jesus refuses to challenge the false charges brought against him. He only speaks to confirm that he is “the King of the Jews.” Here is his strength in contrast with the weakness of Pilate, who seeks to please the crowd. Pilate knows that he can pass responsibility for Jesus’ death to the crowd who wants to release Barabbas, the murderer, and send innocent Jesus to the cross. Pilate, despite his political power, was morally weak. Jesus, despite his physical weakness, was spiritually strong, determined to fulfill his Father’s will. Few understood that Jesus, the innocent
and sinless, was suffering and dying for the guilty. Few understand that Jesus was willing to die for the crowd who shouted, “Crucify him!” Many around the world today still don’t understand that.
Apply
Do any of your family or friends still not understand the true message of Good Friday? Place them in God’s hands now.
Closing prayer
Loving Savior, help me to understand what it meant to You, the Holy One, to bear away my sin.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.