“But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”  Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified” (Mark 15:14-15).

Mob rule is the playground of evil.  When people are not thinking and are driven by a mob, they will side with whatever the politics of the moment are.  Worse, later crowds will mimic the crowd and continue the evil by persecuting others in the name of what a mob did.  The Jews killed Jesus, the Pilgrims killed supposed witches, and the Germans killed the Jews.  History is filled with such wickedness.  Salvation brings you into a righteous mind.

Heavenly Father, I have been guilty of being carried away with mobs.  I am hammered all day long with enticement to become a part of the crowd.  I do not know what or whom to trust.  Turn me from the world to You, for You have given me the words of everlasting life.  Help me to live humbly and trust what You have said above all the noise of this world.  Aid me to think things through, and even if I be the only one in a crowd who does so, keep me holding fast to the truth You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, You know how difficult it is in this world gone mad.  I am constantly pushed to get in line with the mind of the crowd, but there are often things that do not add up.  Help me to learn how to reason and think things through.  Help me to choose the path that You have revealed to be true so that I am not caught up in the insanity of this age.  Lead me to live a life that is true to You as best I can.  Amen.

“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.  Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”  They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:11-13)

Politicians love to stir up a crowd.  In the throng, someone will say, “People are saying.”  Who are these so-called ‘people’?  They are manipulated with the appearance of legitimacy through the mob.  But the Lord deals with each one of us personally.  One with the Lord is an overwhelming majority.  Do not seek to please (or use) the crowd; but seek to humbly walk with Your Creator.

Lord God, You who made all things have witnessed generation after generation sinning with impunity.  Crowds are stirred and used in the name of justice, and have wreaked havoc upon humanity.  Help me to neither be one to stir the crowd, nor one with the crowd, but look to You alone as the source of all goodness.  Strip me of sin and fill me with Your Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus, the world wants to be done with You.  They want You, through whom they and all things exist, to just go away.  But You came to give me a new life through grace.  Guide me to live this new life knowing that in You alone is there hope and a future.  Teach me all that I need so that I live into the life You are giving me.  Lead me in Your righteousness to always be in Your presence.  Amen.

“The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.  Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”  For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy” (Mark 15:8-9).

Pilate is playing a political game.  The accusers are filled with envy.  The mob is stirred up, playing their games too.  Peter has denied the Lord.  Such wretchedness.  Jesus has come into the middle of this to awaken those who could and will be awakened.  We need not become absorbed in the insanity of this worldly way of living.  He did what He did so that we can be at peace with God and each other.

Lord, help me to see how crazy this game is.  In this world, people crawl on top of each other, each for their own reasons.  Help me to live knowing that in You alone is there real life and a future of hope.  You have come to slay sin and raise us to live as life is meant to be lived.  Lead me, Lord Jesus, out of the mire of this world in order that I may live into the life which is eternal.  This new life has come because You died for me.

My Lord and Savior, I am unable to imagine the indignities You suffered for my sake.  You willingly went through this and to the cross in order that I might be set free from sin’s bondage.  You have freed me, Lord.  Help me to live into this new life with gratitude and flee from all that would ensnare me.  Guide me in the Holy Spirit to walk following You all the days of my life.  Amen.

“Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.  The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection” (Mark 15:6-7).

Beware of what this world calls justice.  The wicked go free and the innocent are held captive.  It is politics used for the sake of appeasing the mob.  Insurrectionists murder in an attempt to gain their ideals.  The world is summed up in this passage.  The Savior has come to free us from this injustice and the sin which masks the injustice that has ruled this age.  Do not be led by politics, but by the Prince of peace.

Lord, I have my opinions and participate in civic duties as I should; but help me so that I do not become absorbed in this world’s idea of justice.  You alone are just and You alone are able to dispense true justice.  From the world’s perspective, I am let off because of what Christ has done.  From what the world says, You have reconciled me to You.  Help me to trust You even with these things which I can barely begin to comprehend.

Lord Jesus, You have conquered death by Your death.  You are the source of all justice.  Keep me from the snare of the idea of justice in this world in order that I may live according to the word You have given me.  You are our righteousness.  Criminals may go free, but You grant us new hearts so that we may live in the true freedom which You give by grace.  Guide me to live in righteousness and freedom, which is in and through You.  Amen.

“The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.  Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!”  But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed” (Mark 15:3-5).

Most of us would have an argument to make.  We are filled with self-justification.  Could we even imagine being guilty of nothing and standing trial?  Jesus did not answer.  He took what was given.  We who are guilty were replaced by the One who has no guilt.  He literally took our place!  How great is the love our Lord has for us.  Receive His love and walk in the truth that You are precious to the Lord.

Lord, I cannot fathom the depth of Your willingness to take my place.  You were condemned so that I could be freed from the condemnation of sin.  Lead me in the way of life that I may learn from You, and even if falsely accused, not seek to react as sinners react.  Guide me to defend myself by Your leading, yes, but willing to pay the small price compared to the great price You paid for my eternal freedom.

Grant, Holy Spirit, Your power to pour through me so that I have strength to meet the days ahead.  Guide me in the way of humility knowing that only in You is there sufficient strength to meet with righteousness each situation.  You have come to save, and I need saving.  Lead me in the upward call You have given me knowing that life is in You, Lord.  Help me to live by Your Word and to be willing to share the Gospel through how I live.  Amen.

“Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.  Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say” (Mark 15:1-2).

Jesus is the King of kings.  Humbly submitting Himself to earthly authorities, He speaks truth.  If only the unbelieving would see, but they will not.  Think about the reality that the King of the universe stands before you.  What else matters more than this reality?  In this world, we are distracted and our priorities are all jumbled.  Jesus comes to lead us into all righteousness.

Lord, I cannot begin to imagine the reality of You willingly submitting Yourself to the authorities of this world, but You did.  You, through whom all things have their being, allowed Yourself to be treated like the criminal that we sinners are.  You took our place.  What love is this that You would do such a thing for one like me?  Help me to see and lament over sin and begin to understand the reality of what You have done.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am too often cavalier about the reality of what You have done.  Guide me out of indifference so that I live each day in You, and humbly come into Your presence and dwell with You every moment.  When I am confronted by difficulties in this world, help me to see them in the perspective that You are right here and with me always.  Lead me to humbly be in Your eternal presence.  Amen.

“Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep” (Mark 14:72).

Our Lord brings to remembrance the times when we betray Him.  We are given the opportunity to repent.  We are given grace upon grace to not continue sinning, but to come to the Lord in repentance and live as He directs.  Peter would do this.  The repentant Peter was not the same man Jesus met in the beginning.  He would be transformed by humility to walk in the way of the Lord.  So will we if we repent.

Lord, I too have my share of sinful moments in which I deny You.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, lead me into repentance so that I willingly lay down my excuses and indignation to take up the life You have given me by grace.  Let the shame give way to resolution that I may stand firm in the faith You have given me.  Guide me so that I walk humbly by Your leading, living for the sake of the Gospel.

Lord Jesus, there are so many ways in which I live that, too often, I am not conscious of the things I say and do which hurt the truth of the Gospel.  Lead me to be sensitive so that I willingly repent when You confront me and walk in the way You have established.  You save me daily from myself.  Lead me to see clearly and humbly submit to Your leading.  Guide me in the way I need to go today.  Amen

“But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.”  But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” (Mark 14:70-71)

Cursing and swearing?  How often do we fall into the language of the culture pretending we are one with the world?  Words are words, but they do have meaning.  To take the name of the Lord in vain is to deny His saving power.  It is not just swear-words, but the things that are behind them.  Peter was trying to save himself.  We cannot save ourselves.  The Lord would bring Him to that knowledge.

Lord, there are too many times when I conform to this world because I am afraid.  But am I more afraid of the world which can kill the body?  You are the lover of my soul, but You also are the One who can cast me away from Your presence.  You have said that fear of You is the beginning of wisdom.  Help me so that I see clearly that Your love is greater than anything that can harm me in this world.

Lord Jesus, You gave Your life so that I could truly live.  There are many circumstances that frighten me; but help me in such times to realize that being apart from You should frighten me even more.  Lead me as You led the Apostles to come to the place where I do not fear the world or what it can do to me but love You such that I would be willing to lay down my life rather than deny You.  Amen.

“But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch.  The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” (Mark 14:68-69)

How often do we deny the Lord?  We find ourselves in a hostile environment and do not want to take the chance of losing a confrontation.  Peter has been an example of every failed experience where we could have stood in our faith but chose the coward’s way out.  This may give us solace, but it also has the purpose of encouraging us to move forward and to become willing to stand firm in the truth of Jesus’ salvation.

Lord, I too have denied You.  Maybe not as dramatically as this, but there are many times when I have sinned and not stood up for what is right.  Lead me so that I may have fortitude and stand firm in the truth.  This is easy for me to say when I am not under fire, so help me by whatever means to hold fast to the truth You have revealed, and save me in order that I might be able to stand firm in the time of trial.

Lord Jesus, Your word tells me over and over again to stand firm in the Gospel which You have given me.  Prepare me for the trials that will come so that I may hold fast and stand firm in You.  You went to the cross for me.  Help me to be Your witness and not deny that I am Your follower.  Lead me in the way of all truth.  You are truth.  Guide me into You, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene” (Mark 14:66-67).

Peter has just cut off the ear of the servant in a skirmish during the arrest of Jesus.  He was confused, angry, and combative.  He is confronted by another.  What would you do?  So often we like to think that we will react in a good and godly way, but what is our real reaction in the moment?  In our worst moments, we meet the sinner who still needs to be put to death.  We are often self-centered when we need to put our focus upon the Lord.

You know, Lord, how many times I am self-absorbed with my thoughts and feelings.  When in doubt, I often display who I really am.  I may not let others see it, but You know it is there.  Help me to the core of my being.  You are the One who has come to save me and I need saving.  I know that the transformation of Peter was great, for from the fisherman to the one who fished for men, You transformed him.

Lord Jesus, I often tell others what I would do if I were in Peter’s shoes.  The truth is that I do not know what I would do.  Help me to be honest before You knowing that You know me to the core of my being.  Keep me from becoming caught up in the games I play with myself.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live into the life to which You are calling me.  Aid me to keep my eyes upon You.  Amen.