*Mark 15:6-24
Pontius Pilate offers to release Jesus or a prisoner named Barabbas to the crowd, who choose Barabbas.
- Pilate’s Offer to Release a Prisoner:
- During the Passover festival, it is customary for Pilate to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.
- Pilate offers to release Jesus, recognizing Him as innocent and seeing the chief priests’ accusations as stemming from envy.
- The Crowd Chooses Barabbas:
- Stirred by the chief priests, the crowd requests the release of Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, over Jesus.
- Pilate, surprised, asks what they want done with Jesus, called “the King of the Jews.” The crowd shouts for His crucifixion.
- Pilate’s Reluctance and Final Decision:
- Pilate, seeking to satisfy the crowd and possibly avoid unrest, again asks what wrong Jesus has committed. The crowd continues to demand crucifixion.
- Eventually, Pilate consents, releases Barabbas, and orders Jesus to be scourged and crucified.
- The Soldiers Mock Jesus:
- Jesus is taken inside the governor’s palace where Roman soldiers mock His claim to kingship.
- They clothe Him in a purple robe, place a crown of thorns on His head, and mockingly salute Him as “King of the Jews.”
- They spit on Him, strike His head with a reed, and kneel in mock homage.
- The Crucifixion:
- After the mockery, Jesus is led out to be crucified.
- Unable to carry His cross due to the scourging, Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry it for Him.
- Jesus is taken to Golgotha, meaning “Place of a Skull,” where He is crucified alongside two robbers, fulfilling the scriptures.
- Soldiers divide His garments and cast lots for His clothing, fulfilling another prophecy.
Mark 15:6-24 shows us how easily people can be influenced to make wrong choices. The crowd chose to free Barabbas, a criminal, instead of Jesus, and many mocked and rejected Him. This reminds us to stand firm in what is right, even when others go in the wrong direction. We can apply this by not letting peer pressure or fear keep us from following Jesus. Instead of going along with what is popular, we should choose to honor God in our words and actions, even when it’s hard. Staying faithful to Jesus is always the right choice.
Mark 15:6-24 (WEB)
15:6 Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whomever they asked of him. 7 There was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. 8 The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?”13 They cried out again, “Crucify him!”14 Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?”But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”15 Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.16 The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. 17 They clothed him with purple; and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They struck his head with a reed and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. 20 When they had mocked him, they took the purple cloak off him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them that he might bear his cross. 22 They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” 23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it.24 Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.