Jesus' Final Hours: Lenten Devotions

Thursday, March 31

We continue following the story of Jesus’ final hours, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, with Mark 15:6-15 (NRSV).

Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom.

Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”

They shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Are there words or phrases that impact you in this passage?

If you were in the crowd on Jesus’ earthly judgment day, what would you have done? Would you allow the jealous chief priests to move you? Would you join the powerful voice of the crowd?

In the present, when do you raise your voice for sinful reasons? For loving reasons?

When do you raise your voice to communicate with government officials?

How will you raise your voice this day in gratitude for Jesus giving his life for you?

Kate Hagen is Hunger Report project assistant with Bread for the World Institute.