Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 4:7 "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, 'By what power or by what name have you done this?'" Acts 4:7"
Day 321 – Mark 15
“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?'” Acts 4:7
A DRASTIC CHANGE
Pilate seemed to have run out of options as he listened to the baying of the multitude. He made a sudden and most drastic change.
“So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd,
released Barabbas to them;
and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him,
to be crucified.”
MARK 15:15
1. Wanting to gratify the crowd
What kind of a governor was Pilate that his main concern was to gratify the crowd? At any time, Pilate, backed up by the power of Rome, could have upheld justice as he knew it. Jesus was innocent! But that day, justice was not in the mind or heart of Pilate. He was weary of this particular trial, if one could even call that a trial.
2. Released Barabbas to them
The release of Barabbas was done with mixed emotions. He did not really care whom he released. If the people wanted a known murderer to be released, then it was their look out if Barabbas killed again. He could always order the arrest of Barabbas if he engaged in further acts of rebellion and murder. He must have despised the crowd even as he wanted to gratify them.
3. After he had scourged Him
Scourging of a prisoner was nothing short of torture. A prisoner is whipped most severely for a number of reasons:-
a) To extract information
b) To elicit a confession
c) To break the spirit if not the body of the prisoner
d) As a display of Roman might and authority
4. Delivered to be crucified
One moment Pilate seemed to have been on the side of Jesus, pushing for his release. The very next moment, Pilate was the inflexible judge, ordering the scourging of Jesus and consigning Him to die by crucifixion!
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WERE PLEASED THAT DAY
The Sanhedrin Council members, hidden behind the angry, howling mob, could not have been more satisfied. They had succeeded in their plot at last! Jesus was condemned!