Gospel

Saved By A Custom?

by Roland Crim
01/05/20
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Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest 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 15:6-11 NIV

Pilate understood what the chief priests, Sadducees, and teachers of the law were trying to do. And, Pilate thought he had an out for the situation, the custom of releasing a prison to the crowd at their request. The problem was that the Jewish leaders were one step ahead of Pilate, stirring up the crowd to ask for Barabbas. This man was a murderer. How could all of this take place? It was all part of the heavenly Father’s plan. The trial and crucifixion of Jesus was totally unjustified, yet it was required as the price to be paid for the forgiveness of man’s sin. God’s Only Son, innocent and without sin, had to die for us. It is the only way through which salvation could be received. And, through it all, our Lord remained obedient to the will of the Father. We are blessed beyond belief by our Savior and the price He paid for our redemption.