"So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified." -- Mark 15:15

The crowd or Christ; such is the choice of all eternity. From our earliest days we are pressed by crowds. We face the influence of fellow students, neighborhood kids, college groups, workplace peers as well as community activists. In contrast to Christ there will always be "the crowd", but who will we choose?

People come and go in our lives, so why are we so inclined to "satisfy the crowd"? Why are we willing to support those who deny the Lord and in turn reject Him ourselves? Barabbas and the crowd disappeared off the pages of history, while Jesus has marked both history and all eternity. Pilate made the wrong choice.

Be careful my friend and choose wisely. Consider the words of Acts 4:19-20, "But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Choose wisely... for all eternity hangs on your choice.