Day 16-Satisfying the crowd

My Prayer: Psalm 91:2 (New International Version)
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

The Reading: Mark 15-16
Mark 15:15 (New International Version)
15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

My Thoughts: It's hard to understand why Pilate would think releasing a man who was in prison for murdering during an uprising instead of a man who taught loving your neighbor as the most important commandment was a good decision. He wanted to satisfy the crowd. It's even harder to understand how the crowd got there, but Pilate had a chance to change things. Instead, he went along with the crowd. They shouted louder than Pilate's good reason and he washed his hands of the whole thing. This was all a part of the plan, but it's also a good example of how we make the wrong decision, the easy decision. We make decisions to satisfy the crowd. Instead of being different, like we're supposed to be, we do our best to fit the world.