Wishing to Satisfy the Crowd

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Scripture:

Mark 15:12 Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Observation:

Pilate knew that Jesus was not really guilty of anything deserving death. He assumed that the crowd would want Jesus released. Probably he referred to Jesus in a very sarcastic way as “the King of the Jews.” He did not view him as a threat to his authority, and even asked the people to tell him what Jesus had done. The chief priests had been busy doing their work and had worked the crowds into a frenzy, leading the cheer “crucify him!” Wanting to remain popular with the people, Pilate gave in to the crowd and handed Jesus over to be put to death. 

A rebel goes free, while the Messiah is sent to die. None of it makes sense, but Pilate is not motivated by the truth, but by his own grandiose ideas of success.

Application:

We have been living life with the crowds. The noise of the day pulls us along and into a life that is defined by outside sources. Most people are busy, busy, busy, while constantly on the go. Without realizing what we have been doing, we may have been satisfying the crowd. This includes the church, which in many ways, has jumped right in and adopted the frenetic pace of the world. 

And then the world stopped. 

There were no more crowds. 

There was nowhere to go. 

With no one to please, we have been given the gift of quiet and time. Suddenly we have the opportunity to see Jesus for who he really is! He is the “King of the Jews.” It’s not a joke. He’s done no evil, but has done everything possible to catch our attention and to welcome us to his side. 

There’s no crowd to please now — It’s just you and Jesus. What will we do with him? Will we allow this time to transform us into his true disciples? 

Prayer:

Lord, in the stillness, may learn to follow you as never before. Amen. 

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