MARK 15:06-15
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH
Text – Mark 15:6–15
6 Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested.
7 A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion.
8 The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed.
9 Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”
10 For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.
12 Pilate again said to them in reply, “Then what [do you want] me to do with [the man you call] the king of the Jews?”
13 They shouted again, “Crucify him.”
14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.”
15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified.
Historical and Jewish Context
The custom of releasing a prisoner during the Passover was a Roman gesture to appease the Jewish population during their most sacred feast. Barabbas, whose name means “son of the father,” was a violent insurrectionist involved in rebellion against Rome. Pilate presented the crowd with a choice between Jesus—the true Son of the Eternal Father—and Barabbas, the false “son of the father.” Motivated by envy, the chief priests incited the people to demand Barabbas’ release and Jesus’ death. Pilate, though convinced of Jesus’ innocence, yielded to political pressure to preserve his position and avoid unrest. The scourging that followed was a brutal Roman punishment involving whipping with leather thongs embedded with metal and bone. This scene fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy: “By his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Catholic Theological Perspective
This moment reveals both human injustice and divine mercy. The crowd’s choice of Barabbas over Jesus symbolizes humanity’s recurring preference for sin and violence over holiness and peace. Yet, through this rejection, God’s redemptive plan unfolds. Jesus silently accepts the unjust sentence, transforming condemnation into salvation. Pilate’s moral weakness reflects the tragedy of compromise: knowing the truth but lacking the courage to defend it. Theologically, this passage expresses the doctrine of substitutionary redemption—the innocent Jesus takes the place of the guilty, just as Barabbas goes free. The scourging prefigures the atoning suffering of Christ, whose wounds bring healing to all who believe. In every Mass, the Church remembers this exchange, proclaiming, “Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.”
Parallels in Scripture
Matthew 27:15–26 – Emphasizes Pilate washing his hands as a sign of false innocence.
Luke 23:13–25 – Notes Pilate’s repeated attempts to release Jesus.
John 18:38–19:1 – Adds Pilate’s declaration, “I find no guilt in him.”
Isaiah 53:5 – “He was wounded for our transgressions.”
1 Peter 2:24 – “By his wounds you have been healed.”
Key Terms
Barabbas – “Son of the father”; symbolizes sinful humanity freed through Christ’s sacrifice.
Scourging – Brutal Roman punishment prefiguring Jesus’ redemptive suffering.
Crucify – The Roman method of execution reserved for slaves and rebels; here, the instrument of salvation.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This passage is central to the Good Friday liturgy, when the Passion of Christ is proclaimed. It also appears in the Stations of the Cross (Station I: Jesus is condemned to death and Station II: Jesus is scourged at the pillar). The crowd’s cry, “Crucify him,” invites personal reflection on the ways sin continues to reject Christ. The Church meditates on the scourging as the mystery of redemptive suffering—Christ bearing humanity’s pain to redeem the world.
Conclusion
Pilate’s moral compromise, the crowd’s blindness, and the priests’ envy together represent the sin that Jesus came to overcome. The release of Barabbas and the condemnation of Christ reveal the heart of the Gospel: the innocent dies so the guilty may live. In His silence, Jesus fulfills the will of the Father, transforming injustice into mercy and death into life.
Reflection
Each time we choose sin over grace, we echo the crowd’s cry for Barabbas. Yet, Christ continues to offer Himself for us, forgiving and redeeming. His scourging calls us to repentance and gratitude for a love that suffers to save. Let us stand firm in truth, never compromising justice or faith for human approval.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, innocent Lamb of God, You accepted condemnation in place of sinners. Forgive us for the times we have chosen the world over You. Strengthen us to stand for truth with courage and humility. May Your wounds heal our sins and renew our hearts in love. Amen.