Reflections: Mk. 15:1-15 - March 4, 2010

"1Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

2“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

3The chief priests accused him of many things.

4So again Pilate asked him, “Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

6Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested.

7A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.

8The 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,

10knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

11But 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!”

15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified." - Mark 15:1-15

The very reason why Pilate did what he did is in verse 15: "Wanting to please the crowd..." Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and that the Pharisees had only captured Him out of jealousy. Yet because he knew he had to satisfy the people, he gave them what they wish.

Think about what Jesus may have been thinking. He is the Son of God, yet He was wrongly accused and condemned unfairly. Surely this wasn't the way you treat the King of Kings! It's ironic to think that these were also the very same people who welcomed Him in with palm leaves a few days ago and now they were accusing Him of false crimes. Yet Christ kept silent, kept His eye on the mission, and every step to His death He accepted. Jesus fully surrendered to God;s will and had faith.

How about us? 

 

Do we fully surrender or do we lack faith?

Do we follow despite the circumstances?

Or do we turn away?