PILATE thought he had found a way of saving the Lord Jesus without offending the Romans. It was the custom that at the feast of the Passover he should set some prisoner free, whomsoever the Jews asked for. And he thought, as the people loved our Lord, that they would ask for Him.
But there was a robber and murderer in prison named Barabbas, and the enemies of our Lord went about among the people, stirring them up to ask for him to be set free; so that the poor, foolish people all broke out with a great shout to ask that this murderer Barabbas might be set free.
JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS.—Mark 15:16-19.
Pilate asked them what he was to do with Jesus, and then there was a great roar from all the people, "Crucify Him! crucify Him!"
Now, crucifying was a very horrible and painful punishment, that had never been allowed among the Jews, but was chiefly used by the Romans themselves for slaves and for robbers; so that their savage cry was for Jesus to have the punishment that belonged to Barabbas.
CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.—John 19:14-16.
Pilate's soldiers were very cruel, and they laughed at a poor man being called a king; so when they had beaten the blessed Jesus till He was bleeding all over, they took one of their old red soldiers' cloaks and threw it over Him; and they platted a crown of sharp thorns, and forced it upon His head; and they put a reed in his right hand, instead of a sceptre; and they bowed their knees, mocking Him by pretending to do Him honor.