Mark 15:6-15
Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.
Read Mark 15:6-15 noticing the actions of the leading priests in the story.
Mark does not tell us who this “crowd” is made up of nor does he tell us who assembled them. But from the rest of the story, we can make a reasonable guess that the people in the crowd have been gathered by the same religious leaders who just dragged Jesus before Pilate. At very least they are regular Israelites who have been manipulated and stirred into a frenzy by the ruling religious class.
Such is the nature of a crowd, often. The very presence of a multitude can magnify emotion and cause people to lose their normal sense of reason.
The prisoner Barabbas (literally translated “son of the father”) is an insurrectionist imprisoned for participating in a violent rebellion against the Roman government. In contrast to Jesus’ depiction of the shalom nature of the Kingdom of God, Barabbas sought an earthly kingdom and was willing to fight and kill for it. The contrast is striking. The crowd chooses to support a violent revolutionary rather than the healer, Jesus, whose life and teaching calls for revolutionary love.
Take a moment to reflect on your own choices. Have you ever been influenced in a way you later regretted either by your peers or by people in influential positions of power?
Read Mark 15:6-15 again paying special attention to Pilate’s thoughts and actions.
Pilate knew that the religious leaders arrested Jesus out of envy and seemed to believe that Jesus was innocent of any real crime. But the Roman Governor bends to the will of the angry crowd. Was he fearful of a riot? Was he concerned for his own safety? All we know for sure is that in the end he was willing to turn an innocent man over be tortured and executed rather than take a stand against injustice.
We may not have done something as obviously unjust in our lives, but chances are we’ve all at least looked the other way and ignored injustice of some kind.
Take a moment to talk with Jesus about his heart for those around you who are being treated unjustly. Consider asking him for eyes to see injustice and the courage to step up and object to the injustices you observe.
End this time of meditation sitting quietly with Jesus. If you sense him calling you toward a specific action, take a first step today.
Subscribe here to receive these guided meditations free by email Monday-Friday each week.
Need help discovering new spiritual practices for 2021? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide.
Are you finding these meditations to be helpful? If so, please forward them to a couple of friends.
