Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 4:5-6 "And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem." Acts 4:5-6"
Day 320 – Mark 15
“And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.” Acts 4:5-6
AN APPEAL TO THE CONSCIENCE
Pilate was aghast! Could these be the Jews he had been governing all these years? Were these chief priests the keepers of their faith? What kind of men were these that demanded the crucifixion of an innocent man? Once again, he appealed to the multitude- perhaps to their conscience!
“Then Pilate said to them, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’
But they cried out all the more, ‘Crucify Him!'”
MARK 15:14
1. Was it an issue involving evil?
If Jesus had committed great evil, then Pilate would see that He was severely punished! But what evil had He done?
2. Allegations versus hard evidence
Pilate needed to be sure if there were any allegations hurled at Jesus! But surely, the multitudes knew how to distinguish between allegations and evidence! What evidence could the chief priests come up with against Jesus?
3. The danger of having an innocent man condemned
Pilate had found Jesus not guilty of any evil. Why should the multitude request that He be crucified and a man guilty of rebellion and murder be released? It just did not make sense!
THE WAY OF MULTITUDES
The chief priests knew how to counter this move by Pilate. The best way was to tune out the voice of reason of conscience.
1. Crying out
The multitude was virtually chanting this blood-curdling cry, “Crucify Him!” This was one of the most effective way of shutting out anything that could prick the conscience, and bring about a change of decision.
2. “Crucify Him”
There must have been instigators amidst the multitude. If a few people were to shout this slogan, others would pick up this like a chant. Before too long, people could be whipped up into a frenzy, or at least maintain a stubbornness that would brook no tolerance for any possible change of heart or mind.
3. Herd mentality
The chief priests knew mob psychology only too well. People were sometimes like herds of cattle. The herd mentality was easy to manipulate in the hands of experts!