Mark 15:6–15 (ESV)
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
6 Now at the feast he used to release
for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered
them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas
instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they
shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
I was watching a video
the other day of a little boy with cookie crumbs all over his face. He wasn’t supposed to be eating the cookies. The mother, with video camera in hand, filmed as she led her son over to the cookie counter. She asked him if he ate the
cookies? He replied “No.” She showed him the sprinkles that were gone out of the sprinkles bottle and he continued to deny. The cookie crumbs and sprinkles on his face told other wise. Like a snow ball rolling down a hill
gathers more snow, so do our sins when we try to cover them up and keep piling more sins onto sins. Well... this is what is going on in today’s reading when they have a choice to release a guilty man or an innocent man. They want to release
the guilty man, Barrabbas, and crucify the innocent man. We scratch our heads in shame over this decision, but we continue in our life and in our sins... and we are no better... and just as guilty as they. Jesus however has never changed, he is
going to the cross for all man’s sins... even yours. And he is doing it willingly.
I pray: O Lord, I know I am a sinner and I confess my sins to you. I want to do better. Help
me to turn away from my sinful ways and to walk in your forgiveness. I repent of my sins and humbly and gratefully receive your forgiveness. Thank you, Amen.