Mark 15:6-11 6Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7And there was one called Barabbas among the resurrectionists in prison, who had committed murder in the uprising. 8And coming up, the crowd began to ask Pilate to do what he usually did for them. 9And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10For he knew that on account of envy that the chief priests had betrayed him. 11But the chief priests incited the crowd that he might instead release for them Barabbas.
Pilate makes a surprise move in this passage and attempts to work around the Jews’ desire to execute Jesus. He appeals to a tradition he apparently practiced with the Jews of allowing one of their prisoners go free at festivals. Perhaps this was to show that he was not a bad guy but had some compassion for their plight. As the prefect of Judea, he has the power and authority to release prisoners, or to have them executed. Basically, he was putting the responsibility for the destiny of Jesus in their hands. They could let him go free if they wanted.
Mark gives a brief description of the one the Jews wanted to be freed. His name Barabbas in Aramaic literally means “son of a rabbi.” Matthew adds his given name as “Jesus,” or “Joshua” in Hebrew (Matthew 27:16-17. Pilate was basically giving them a choice between two “Jesuses” and two “sons.” Barabbas was involved in some type of uprising that had killed someone in his insurrection. He may have been a hero to the Jews because of this. One was guilty of murder and the other was righteous and innocent. The Jews had a choice between a political hero or the Messiah who came to save them.
The news had spread, and a crowd of sympathizers had likely gathered or been gathered and headed up to Herod’s palace where Pilate was staying. Pilate taunts the gathered Jewish leaders and those who followed them (the crowd) about their new King. This was their last chance to set Jesus free. Pilate saw through the hypocrisy of the chief priests. He had dealt with them for a long time and knew their deceitfulness. He also wanted to avoid another uprising, especially with so many pilgrims in Jerusalem for Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Mark uses the same word in verse 10 for “betray” (paradedōkeisan) as in the previous passages. The verb tense of this word is a rare pluperfect, which implies that they were continuing in the process that began before; this was their plan all along, and they were finally getting it carried out. It was the same plan Judas had. They were all in it together to get rid of Jesus. Their insistence is evident in verse 11. The chief priests are the ones who got the crowd riled up to choose Barabbas and kill Jesus. They refused Pilate’s offer of an alternative. They chose a convicted murderer over the innocent Lamb of God. Their minds were made up, and their hearts were hardened. They are good examples of what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit’s leading and conviction can do to someone.
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