Mark 15:6-15

Pilate Hands Jesus Over to be Crucified Easter

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 envy 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.

Pilate Hands Christ Over to His Enemies

There are several different ways to look at this passage.

Who's fault was it that Jesus was sentenced to death?

a) Pilate, the one who gave the order?

b) The Jewish leaders, who stirred the crowd into a frenzy?

c) The crowd who yelled, "Crucify him!!"?

d) The disciples, who went into hiding?

e) Peter, who denied ever knowing Jesus?

The answer is all of the above. The crucifixion followed a chain of events and there are many angles to this story. However, a short lesson I received from this is a lesson for teenagers (and adults).

Pilate caved when the pressure was on him because he was afraid that the Jewish leaders would report him to Caesar, not to mention a possible riot of the crowds.

This is a clear lesson as to what sometimes happens when we give in to peer pressure or do the wrong thing because we are afraid of the consequences of doing what we know is right. Let's think about this the next time we're tempted by the "crowd".

About Barabbas

The priests stirred up the crowd into releasing Barabbas instead of Jesus knowing that Christ would be crucified. And, that is exactly what happened.

The irony of this lesson is that, even before His death, Jesus took the place of a condemned man. By dying on the cross, Jesus also took our place - knowing that we would be condemned for our sins. This gesture of pure love can't be ignored.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Mark 14:53-65 - Easter - Caiaphas Questions Jesus