Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 4:2 "Being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." Acts 4:2"
Day 318 – Mark 15
“Being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” Acts 4:2
SHREWD VERSUS SHREWD
The chief priests were shrewd enough to know that the wily Roman governor hoped to steer the multitudes to ask for Barabbas’ release. There was little love lost between Pilate and the Sanhedrin Council.
The Council had brought Jesus to be tried by Pilate, in the hope that he would accede to their request to condemn Jesus. Instead of acceding to their request, Pilate played to the multitude and sought to steer them towards requesting the release of Jesus. Setting the two prisoners side by side, Pilate sought to move the multitude to choose the release of the dignified Jesus. To ask for the release of a known rebel-murderer would be just unthinkable! Who in his right mind would ask for the release of a known felon like Barabbas!
WORKING THE MULTITUDE
Pilate however had underestimated the cunning and the venom of the chief priests. They knew how to work the multitude. They were masters at this game.
“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that
he should rather release Barabbas to them.”
MARK 15:11
How did the chief priests manage to stir up the multitude, so that they demanded the release of a known rebel-murderer?
1. The religious sentiment
The chief priests must have played up the religious sentiment to the hilt. What were some of the things the chief priests could have said to persuade the multitude?
a) Declare Jesus a blasphemer
That would cause the multitude to think the worst of Jesus. A blasphemer was deemed worse than a murderer!
b) Suggest that Jesus was an imposter
The chief priests could suggest to the multitude that Jesus was not the true Messiah. Many had claimed Messiahship and had been proven to be false. Was Jesus the true Messiah? The chief priests did not think so! They would not endorse Him.
2. Play up the role of the Sanhedrin Council
Were they not the chief priests, elders and scribes? Were they not entrusted with great responsibilities? They were only doing their duty to warn the multitude that Jesus was by far the more dangerous of the two!
Barabbas could be given a second chance. Perhaps he would make good if he were to be released. In their considered opinion, the multitude should clamor for the release of Barabbas over Jesus. It did not take long to persuade the multitude.