Mark 15:6-15

In their accounts of the trial of Jesus before Pilate, both Luke and John specifically record - Luke 23:4, John 18:38, that Pilate was fully convinced that Jesus was innocent of any crime in the sight of Roman law. To let Jesus go free, however, would be to incur the bitter enmity of the Jewish leaders. That could very well mean political suicide for Pilate. What, then, could he do? Suddenly a idea occurred to him.

Apparently it was the custom of the Roman governors in Judea, in deference to Jewish sentiment, to recognize the Passover season by granting release to a notorious Jewish prisoner, allowing the people themselves to name the individual who would thus be granted clemency. In fact, it appears that at that very moment a crowd had gathered at the palace gates demanding that this annual custom be observed and that a prisoner be released.

It so happened that there was at that time a well-known insurrectionists lying in prison. His name was Barabbas. Evidently, this was the man the crowd had chosen for release on that occasion. Their request played right into Pilate's hands. He would condemn Jesus and thus satisfy the Jewish leaders, and then release him in accordance with the annual custom and thus ease his own conscience. But, under great pressure from the chief priests, the crowd would not hear of any such proposal - Mark 15:11.

Hardly knowing what to do next, Pilate lamely asked the people, What shall I do, the, with the one you call the king o/the Jews? ~ Mark 15:12. What a question for a judge to ask the public! That was his decision, not theirs. In a wild frenzy they shouted, Crucify him! ~ Mark 15:13.

One of the saddest statements in this altogether sad story then follows: Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified -Mark 15:15. Matthew points out that Pilate then washed his hands of the whole affair ~ Matthew 27:24. Did he? Or ill he be held accountable on the day of judgment for failing to take his stand for truth as he clearly saw it? Indeed, he was already been judged throughout the centuries as a man who willfully did what was wrong because he did not have the courage to do what he knew was right.

There is a vital lesson in this incident for all of us as Christians. The follower of Christ dare not see evil having its way and do nothing about it. Whatever they cost to us personally, we must take side with God; we must stand up and be counted.