Daily Devotion for March 30, 2006

To Jerusalem with the ComPassionate Christ
Day 30

 

Stirring Up Trouble

 

"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.  Mark 15: 9-11

 

Putting his trust in the common sense of the crowd, Pilate asked them whom they would like to have released from prison, as his contribution to their celebration of the Passover. We can sense some sympathy for Jesus in his words, and he obviously realized that the chief priests and the scribes and Pharisees had something serious against this preacher from Galilee. Pilate called Jesus, "The King of the Jews," echoing the accusation. There may have been an element of sarcasm in his voice, but maybe not. Perhaps even he had heard of a parade where Jesus rode a donkey and they threw palms before his feet. If Pilate was jesting, he was more likely to have been having a joke at the expense of the Sanhedrin. "Look," he seemed to say to the crowds, "do I really have to put to death this poor, harmless preacher? Look at him! Those bullies in the Sanhedrin, who always know better than anyone else, are just picking on him. How about giving them one in the eye by releasing this Jesus?"

 

Pilate, for all his background in politics, did not realize that he was being blindsided by the chief priests. Even as he hatched his plan to get Jesus away from the clutches of the Sanhedrin, they were ‘stirring up trouble’ by manipulating the crowd. ‘Envy’ had brought them thus far, Mark tells us, meaning that they were envious of Jesus’ popularity and power. What better way to defeat their rival than by having the crowds choose someone else instead? Who else? Why, Barabbas, of course. And, by their own rights, the chief priests were right. Barabbas might have been the worst scoundrel in the nation, but, to them, he was far less dangerous than Jesus.  Barabbas wasn’t threatening their business, the Temple, the religious enterprise of Caiaphas and company!

 

Prayer:
Lord, life is full of choices.  I can make choices that may seem right for today, for my immediate situation, and not think of the implications they will have down the line.  Help me to have Your vision, help me not think of myself in making choices, but to think of YOU in my choices and plans.  Amen

 

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