*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.
15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 15:19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
15:22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
15:24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.