Gospel

The Crowd Turned Against Him

by Roland Crim
07/14/18
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Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. Matthew 27:15-18 and 20-21 NIV

Pilate knew that it was out of self interest that the leaders handed Jesus over to him for execution. But, he thought he had an answer: the tradition of releasing a prisoner to them. Certainly, they would choose to receive Jesus over Barabbas. The leaders had already taken care of this though by convincing the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be freed, rather than Jesus.

Isn’t it interesting that this crowd, many who had either seen or heard of the good deeds that Jesus had done, would ask for Barabbas to be freed, and Jesus to be crucified.

How is it today that we turn against Jesus? We do so when we give in to sin rather than following our Lord. We give in to the temptations of the flesh, seeking for self, rather than for the kingdom of God. Those who belong to Christ, though, feel the guilt of the sin they commit, and return to the Lord with a repentant heart, seeking reconciliation to the Master.

We are so blessed to have a loving, merciful, and forgiving Lord.