Mark 15:1-21
Even the work of death must be accomplished straightway (v. 1). Pressed by the approach of the Passover and in their haste to be finished with this prisoner who filled them with fear, the rulers of the people lose no time. They lead the Lord Jesus to Pilate after binding those hands which had healed so many ills and which had never done anything but good. Before the Roman governor, the Saviour again remains silent, the deep motives for which are revealed in Psalms 38:13-15; Psalms 39:9 and Lamentations 3:28. His prayer in that moment is, "In thee do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God", and "because thou didst it".
Under the influence of the chief priests, all the people in blind folly cry out loudly for Barabbas, the murderer, to be set free and for the crucifixion of their King. Then Pilate, wanting to content the crowd, frees the criminal and condemns the Man whom he knows to be innocent. See how far the desire to please men can go! (John 19:12).
The cruel soldiers mock Him, pretending to submit themselves to the One who is in their power (because He has given Himself up voluntarily). And man crowns his creator with the thorns which the earth had produced as a consequence of man’s sin (Genesis 3:18).