1 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” 3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. 6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. 9 Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.
Prayer Focus: In the morning the chief priests decide to take Jesus to the Roman governor Pilate. Pilate asks Jesus if he is a political threat – is he the King of the Jews? Jesus replies, “You say so,” and then refuses to speak again despite the multitude of charges that are made against him. Peter decides to release a prisoner and offers up both Jesus and an insurrectionist and murder named Barabbas. The chief priests stir up the crowd to call for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified. Just as afraid of the crowds as the religious authorities had been, Pilate released Barabbas and handed Jesus over to be crucified. Do you have the courage to stop an obvious injustice or do you stand back and let the will of the crowd destroy the innocent and vulnerable. Pray for courage today.
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