March 26, 2024

Matthew 27:15-31 (HCSB)
Jesus or Barabbas
15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?” 18 For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!” 20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?” They all answered, “Crucify Him!” 23 Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?” But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more.  24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified. Mocked by the Military 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him. 28 They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet military robe. 29 They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spit on Him, took the reed, and kept hitting Him on the head. 31 When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

Patrick Raley
Mob mentality. It seems like we’ve seen an uptick in that in recent years with various political, social, and religious demonstrations and riots constantly on the news. What causes people to get to a point where they resort to violence and destruction in order to share their beliefs? In our passage today, Pilate could see the religious leaders had manipulated the charges against Jesus, and hoped the crowd would agree to free him as was custom. He and his wife wanted to be done with this phony trial and move on. He didn’t realize how much the Sanhedrin had manipulated the crowd as well. As Christians we should be set apart from the world and look to the Holy Spirit for guidance, not worldly influences. As you pray upon this passage today, thank the Lord that it was He that bore the pain and suffering inflicted by the crowd, and not you.