A Thin Veil of Cover Up

Mark 15:9-10
9"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, 10knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

Pilate knew that Jesus had not actually committed any crime. He did not plot against nor harm the chief priests. It was out of his popularity and the power of God in His grasp that sorely troubled the chief priests. Because Pilate knew that Jesus committed no crime he had to offer up Jesus for release. But the chief priests insisted on covering up their envy for seeking what they thought was Jesus' demise with a thin veil of stirring up the crowd. Now Pilate went along with it because he wanted to continue to have favor with the Jews but he knew it was wrong. The thin veil the chief priests chose involved getting what they wanted from Pilate by stirring up the crowd. They knew it was the only way their scheme would work. But all they did was play right into what God had determined ought to happen and in the end, they looked worse off then they had before Jesus had been arrested because what happened was recorded forever!! The chief priests allowed envy and deceit to be what they are remembered for. What is envy? According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, envy is a painful or resentful awareness of another's advantages. Yes, Jesus had an advantage over the chief priests, being the son of God trumps them all but Jesus has power that no one else possesses. And people were really hungry and still are for the word of God. As a kingdom kid, we will suffer persecutions maybe not to the extreme of Jesus but envy will be at the route in some cases. When we are children of light, we are subject to what Jesus was subject to. Whether it's because we smile, we interact well with others or whatever. Thankfully he still paid it all and in the end Jesus is triumphant and still sits on the throne. This makes us more than conquerors!! Bless the Lord!!!