Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 4:3 "And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening." Acts 4:3"
Day 319 – Mark 15
“And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.” Acts 4:3
PILATE AT A LOSS
The Roman governor had lost the edge. He had lost the multitude to the chief priests! But he would not give up the fight just yet. Once again, he appealed to the multitude.
“Pilate answered and said to them again,
‘What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call
the King of the Jews?'”
MARK 15:12
Pilate was testing the mood of the multitudes as He spoke to the people. He certainly did not have to raise this question to them.
1. Did he hope that they might change their mind?
It would be good to see the multitude change its mind, especially against the vicious chief priests. Multitudes had been known to change their minds.
2. Did he hope to stir up the multitude in favor of Jesus?
The chief priests had hoped that Pilate would convict Jesus on the charge of treason. That would have merited the death penalty. But they had not reckoned that Pilate could be so shrewd!
Pilate was essentially saying that he did not find Jesus guilty of the charge of treason. Since Jesus was practically innocent of all charges, would they not like to have Jesus released rather than Barabbas. He who has murdered was capable of taking more lives! Would they want to run the risk of a known rebel-murderer being released into society?
3. Did he hope that there would be a double request?
The multitude had requested the release of Barabbas. Of course, he would have to grant that request. He would honor this custom that he had introduced and practised diligently. But what if they were to make another request, similar to the first one?
No Roman law would be contravened if Pilate also released another prisoner, namely Jesus. The worst case scenario would be that from henceforth, Passover would see the released of two prisoners instead of one. This was a local custom that Pilate himself had created. It was well within his power to grant special requests!
AN UNEXPECTED CRY FOR BLOOD
Pilate was taken aback when the multitude roared its answer.
“So they cried out again, ‘Crucify Him!'”
MARK 15:13
No one who had witnessed a crucifixion could have possibly requested that this ultimate means of execution be carried out. But there was no mistaking the hideous and insistent cry of the multitude. The chief priests had done their work thoroughly!