Could you imagine hating someone so much that you wished they were beaten senselessly and publicly put to death by suffocating on a cross? Well, take a look at today’s account and understand that what Jesus was proclaiming was the most intense, challenging, and opposing teaching to the Jewish people (and often us every day), and ultimately led them to believe and demand these very words: “Crucify Him!”

What we claim to believe today–being that Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross and rose again three days later–is of massive substance. As Paul states in his first letter to the Corinthians speaking of the resurrection: “15.19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

The weeks surrounding Easter tend to really challenge my belief system and uncomfortably force me to see how deep the Father’s love really does go in my heart.

[Mark 15.6-15]

15.6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What does Pilate show to be feeling during this entire encounter? Does he really want to do anything to Jesus? Let alone crucify Him?

+ Who was fueling the crowd to respond the way they were?

+ Did Pilate want peace for Rome or to satisfy the Jews?

+ What does it show of the Jews that they wanted Jesus crucified and Barabbas set free? Did Jesus teach anything to reveal this in their hearts?

+ How do these 10 verses feed into the fact that Jesus is the Passover Lamb? When did this account take place?

+ What role did you and I play in these 10 verses? [Think of Jesus being where He was, the crowd shouting, Jesus being silent…]

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Am I amongst the ones rioting that Jesus be crucified? Or, am I knowing, trusting, and believing the words Jesus taught through His entire ministry and just spoke of the night before this account at the Last Supper?

+ How do my everyday thoughts, words, and actions align with how I answered the last question?

+ Read I Corinthians 15 over the next few days and allow the weight of it to rest in and become meat to eat, rather than milk of the elementary teachings this Easter [Hebrews 5.12-14]

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Does anyone in my life hold a watered down version of the Gospel and resurrection of Jesus? Do any of them only show up for the “big” yearly gatherings? How can I lovingly walk with them through this? [Think again of Hebrews 5.12-14]