Oh the contrasts in this passage! We see a quiet and calm Jesus, in control and willing to do what God has asked of Him for the love of the people—some of whom are, at the moment, being cruel to Him. Contrast that with the mob, tumultuous and loud, whipped into a frenzy by the priests. They are shouting! They are angry! Some of them probably aren’t even sure why! Mobs are scary. People stop thinking wisely, as individuals and just blindly go along with the emotion of the moment. (Father God, keep us from being stirred up by anyone but You!)
We see Pilate as the reluctant accomplice here. He is not swept away by the mob, but he does choose pragmatism over justice. He knows Jesus is not guilty of a crime. There is no valid reason to crucify Him. However, Pilate also knows his job depends on him keeping the peace. And so, he saves his own skin at the cost of another’s.
And then there are the soldiers, hardened by a hundred or more crucifixions. Forced in their job to watch men die torturous deaths. Forced in their job to do the killing. Is that why they mocked Jesus and tormented Him? Did they have to make Him look less human in order to stomach the job they had to do? Jesus had such sympathy for them, didn’t He? Luke tells us that, as they were nailing Him to the cross and hanging the other two beside Him, His words were: “… ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke23:34).
We serve a Savior like no other. His compassion and love are beyond our comprehension. His heart for His wayward people is stupendous. Every day we should be humbled when we remember what He did for us!
My recorded verse: Mark 15:15 “So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to Roman soldiers to be crucified.”
My response: Pilate cared more about peace in the city than about justice! Too often, this has happened in our land as well. Father, help me to care about justice, and not love peace so much that I’m willing to watch the innocent suffer!
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Vs 5a- “But Jesus said nothing.” Lord, with one word You could have stopped the beatings and mocking and shown everyone Who You are in a magnificent display of glory. Instead, You staying quiet and took a punishment You didn’t deserve, for me. I can’t say “thank You” enough.
May we never, ever “get over” this sense of wonder of all He did for us!