Freeing Barabbas

Mark 15:1-11

Jesus stood before Pilate, accused of wrongdoing by the religious elite. According to our gospel reading for today Pilate would customarily release a prisoner according to the wishes of the people. Pilate wondered if the people would like to have Jesus released, “But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead” (Mark 15:11). Barabbas was a murderer and a rebel who had been jailed during a recent insurrection and stood in stark contrast to Jesus. But because of the crowds it was Barabbas that Pilate released.

While the vast majority of us will never commit murder or insurrection, there is a rebellious streak in all of us. How often we “release” that aspect of our personalities instead of the goodness that God seeks from us all! Where we could be of great comfort to others we too often think only of ourselves and our own needs. When there is something that needs saying we have a habit of remaining silent, and when we should be quiet we sometimes say too much. “Serve the Lord with gladness; come into his courts with praise,” is what we should say. Too often, though, our murmuring sounds more like “free Barabbas!” We need to make better choices, and we need to allow ourselves to be led by God and not by the culture around us.

Prayer: Lord, help us to serve you by serving others and thus to bring glory to your name. Amen.