This morning, Mark 15, just happened to be one of my devotional chapters to read. I read of the chief priests stirring up a crowd (swaying public opinion – creating a false narrative) against Jesus. They accused Him in a court of law of being dangerous to people. Yet, they were the ones who requested a known murderer and leader of rebellion to be released in His stead. They won the battle of swaying public opinion for the moment. They got Jesus crucified even though all evidence and scrutinization by cross examination declared Him not guilty...
“Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
There was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.”
Pilate: “Do you want me to release to you [Jesus] the King of the Jews?”
He knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
The chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
Pilate: “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
They: “Crucify Him!”
Pilate: “Why, what evil has He done?”
They (more emphatically): “Crucify Him!”
“Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.” [1]
There’s a saying, “You can’t keep a good man down.” Jesus was no exception! On the third day after His death, He arose from the dead. He was seen by over 500 witnesses alive. He ate, drank and conversed with people for 40 days, and then, ascended to heaven.
After His ascension. He sent His Holy Spirit upon those who believe in His Name. A little less than 2,000 years later, His movement is still spreading all over the world. Some people, a few, might remember the names of Caiaphas the high priest and Pilate the Roman governor... the authorities who sentenced Jesus to death for insurrection... but multitudes remember and know of the Name of Jesus, believe in Him, confess Him and worship Him every day!
Better yet, we learn from a divine vision given to the Apostle John by the risen Jesus, that the best is yet to come. Right up until the end of time multitudes of people are believing in Him...
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb [Jesus Christ]!’” [2]
Glory to God!
[1] Mark 15:6-15
[2] Revelation 7:9-10
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