FAITH CAPSULE: Today, there is more Pilate inside and outside of the church.
 
MARK 15:15-41
The book of Mark 15:1 recorded, “Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.” (Mark 15:1) At what hour of the day do you start to bind Jesus? The chief priests and company started in the morning hour. It is written, “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.”(Mark 15:15) Any man’s attempt that is made to satisfy man instead of the truth of God, man is positioned to miss the mark of glorifying God. How often have you been missing the mark? How often do you scourge Jesus like those that crucify Him in His days on earth did? Can you be honest with yourself? The Bible says, “…For the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by him actions are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:3) Consciously or unconsciously, have you been scourging the Lord just as Pilate did? What is it that is causing man not to satisfy the truth and glorify the Lord? Thousands of years ago, Pilate wanted to satisfy man. He wanted to make them feel good so he decided to give the Lord Jesus up for persecution and crucifixion. Today, there is more Pilate inside and outside of the church. Many acclaimed Christians cannot identify with the name of Jesus outside of their church building. Carrying the Bible from home to work or from work to home can be challenging to hold onto in the presence of the man.
Jesus came to give it all on the cross of Calvary and He gave it more abundantly that we may have life. (John 10:10) He gave it all for us and we are to take it all and stop giving Him up in the face of the wicked world. After Jesus was release by Pilate to the soldiers that led away till the hour of crucifixion, mockery was placed upon Him, Mark 15:16-20, “Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.  And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.” Jesus paid it all for us on the cross so that we will not have to pay it all over again.

Prayer for today: Ask God to endue you with grace and all that it takes not to gratify crowds and not to scourge Jesus in every area of life.