One Prisoner to Release - Mark 15:6

Mark wrote how, “in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, Are you the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, You said it. And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answer you nothing? behold how many things they witness against you. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled”, and in chapter fifteen and verse six of his book, Mark shared how “at that feast he released unto them one prisoner” where we read:

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

The verse reads, “Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, ...”. Mark began with the words, “Now at that feast” which means “at the time of festival and holy day” “he released unto them” or “Pilate set free and dismissed to the people of Israel” “one prisoner” which means “a certain or particular person who was bound, in prison and a captive”. Mark referred to the tradition of “setting free” one of the “prisoners” during the “passover feast” time.

The verse continues, “... whomsoever they desired.” Mark added the word, “whomsoever” which means “whatever person whether male or female” “they desired” or “the people wanted, craved and required”. Mark shared how Pilate would “set free” whatever “prisoner” they wanted.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we discover one of the traditions afforded to the people of Israel by Pilate during each “passover feast” time. Pilate would allow the “release” of one of their people who had been arrested and was in “prison”. Once again we are seeing the set up for Jesus to fulfill another portion of prophesy concerning the Messiah. God provided proof after proof that His Son Jesus is the “Christ”, and those who examine even the “release” of this prisoner as one of the factors concerning the “Messiah” will know that Jesus is the “Savior” of the world.

Next time Mark shares how, “there was one named Barabbas”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".