Read Mark 15:6-15

 

   Barabbas was arrested for his part in a rebellion against the Roman government, and, although he had committed murder, he may have been a hero to the Jews. The fiercely independent Jews hated to be ruled by pagan Romans. They hated paying taxes to support the despised government and its gods. Most of the Roman authorities who had to settle Jewish disputes hated the Jews in return. The time was ripe for rebellion. 

   This mob was most likely a group of people loyal to the Jewish leaders. But where were the disciples and the crowds who days earlier had shouted, “Hosanna to God in the highest?” Jesus’ sympathizers were afraid of the Jewish leaders, so they went into hiding. Another possibility is that the multitude included many people who were in the Palm Sunday parade but turned against Jesus when they saw that He was not going to be an earthly conqueror and their deliverer from Rome. 
The Jews hated Pilate, but they went to him for the favor of condemning Jesus to death by crucifixion. Pilate could see that this was a frame up. Why else would these people, who hated him and the Roman Empire he represented, ask him to convict one of their fellow Jews of treason and give Him the death penalty? 

 

   Crucifixion was the Roman penalty for rebellion. Only slaves or those who were not Roman citizens could be crucified. If Jesus died by crucifixion, He would die the death of a rebel and slave, not of the king He claimed to be. This is just what the Jewish religious leaders wanted and the reason they whipped the mob into a frenzy. In addition, crucifixion would put the responsibility for killing Jesus on the Romans, and this the crowds could not blame the religious leaders. 
Although Jesus was innocent according to Roman law, Pilate caved in to political pressure. He abandoned what he knew was right. Trying to second-guess the Jewish leaders, Pilate gave a decision that would please everyone while keeping himself safe. When we ignore God’s clear statements of right and wrong and make decisions based on the preferences of our audience, we fall into compromise and lawlessness. God promises to honor those who do right, not those who make everyone happy. 

 

    The region of Judea where Pilate ruled as governor was little more than a hot and dusty outpost of the Roman Empire. Because Judea was so far from Rome, Pilate was given just a small army. His primary job was to keep the peace. We know from historical records that Pilate had already been warned about other uprisings in his region. Although he may have seen no guilt in Jesus and no reason to condemn Him to death, Pilate wavered when the Jews in the crowd threatened to report him to Caesar (John 19). Such a report, accompanied by a riot, could cost him his position and hopes for advancement. 

 

    Who was guilty of Jesus’ death? In reality, everyone was at fault. The disciples deserted Him in terror. Peter denied he ever knew Jesus. Judas betrayed Him. The crowds that followed Him stood by and did nothing. Pilate tried to blame the crowds. The religious leaders actively promoted Jesus’ death. The Roman soldiers tortured Him. If you had been there, watching these trials, what would your response have been?