Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

 

 

Mark 15: 6 – 15

 

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

 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.

 

It seems the Holy Spirit uses Mark to give an overview not the full picture of all that took place as he examined Jesus, how his wife told Pilate to wash his hands of the just man, so he sent him to Herod Antipas, who was Pilates enemy at that time, hoping to not have to be part of this act.  You will find that account in Luke 23:5-12 and when that did not work Pilate gave the people a choice as was the custom.  They could free one man each year, this year's choice was Jesus the Christ or Barabbas, who had committed murder during a rebellion.  Mark tells us they chose Barabbas.  It is Mark’s personality to seem to be in a hurry to deal with this matter in his writing, have you noticed how often Mark uses the word immediately?  

 

It has happened before in history that when a group of people in leadership envy a person that they might also fear them and want to have them removed.  That is what is taking place, fear and envy are powerful tools of the enemy of our souls.  You see Satan envies and fears Jesus, for he desires a place of authority higher than Jesus.  When you allow him to control you using fear and envy you have given Satan authority over yourself.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice