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Wednesday, April 16, 2025 |
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Scripture: Mark 15:15 (RSV) – “So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” Message: As I read this passage, the thought came to me of how dangerous pleasing the crowd can be. Most of us only want to fit in, but fit in where? Even today we can see what going along with the crowd can do. That’s how riots begin, and we’ve all seen what harm they can do. Pilate knew deep in his heart that Jesus was innocent. If he had any doubt of that, he would not have gone to such efforts to release him, but he didn’t want to go against the crowd. Oh, we can say this was all part of God’s plan, but I think there is something else that Jesus is trying to teach us. Pilate didn’t have to be the betrayer. Jesus didn’t want to lose even one soul, but Pilate was more afraid of the crowd than the truth he saw in Jesus, and it cost him. What about us today? Are we following Jesus’ example or are we still swept up in the crowd? Instead of looking to other denominations, friends, leaders who think they have the right answers; shouldn’t we be asking, “What would Jesus do, what would Jesus say about this?”. We know He is the Path, the Way. Instead of looking around, why don’t we look up? Prayer: Father/Mother God, You came not only to pay the price for our sin, but to show us how to live and love. Help us to pay as much attention to the 33 years You walked this earth as we do to the last 6 hours You spent on the cross! We are thankful for both. Amen. Teresa Cunningham 2 of 2 |
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