[The crowd shouted that they wanted Jesus crucified.] “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
Key Thought
Why was Jesus crucified? He was innocent. He had done no crime. He had not committed a single sin. Mark wanted us to know that the crowd had lost its collective mind and was thirsty for blood — Jesus’ blood. Jesus did not die because he had done wrong. He was crucified because those who hated him had steered the crowd in a horribly wrong direction. Jesus was the righteous victim of a crowd out of control — but only because it was God’s plan to provide for our salvation.
Today’s Prayer
Holy and righteous Father, I am disgusted with myself when I lose my sense of right and wrong because I have become absorbed by the will of the crowd. Please give me the wisdom and the courage to stand alone against the crowd when the crowd is wrong. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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