Mark 15:1-15  And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.  [2]  And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”  [3]  And the chief priests accused him of many things.  [4]  And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.”  [5]  But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.  [6]  Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.  [7]  And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.  [8]  And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them.  [9]  And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”  [10]  For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.  [11]  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.  [12]  And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”  [13]  And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”  [14]  And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.”  [15]  So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Despite appearances that Jesus was a helpless victim being "delivered over" by various authorities, He was actually the one in control throughout His crucifixion, fulfilling God's definite plan and foreknowledge for our salvation.  

1. The Character of Pilate - An incompetent, corrupt Roman procurator who got his position through family connections and stayed stuck in Judea for 11 years due to his poor leadership, yet was used by God in His sovereign plan.
2. Jesus as the True King - When questioned about being "King of the Jews," Jesus revealed His kingdom is "not of this world" but spiritual in nature, demonstrating His authority even while appearing powerless.
3. The Choice Between Two Jesus Figures - The crowd chose Jesus Barabbas (a murderous rebel) over Jesus of Nazareth (the innocent Son of God), illustrating humanity's preference for a manageable savior over the true Messiah.

Applications:

• Avoid creating a "manageable Jesus" - Don't cherry-pick only the gracious aspects of Christ while neglecting His truth and justice
• Recognize your similarity to Barabbas - Understand that you have more in common with the guilty criminal than the innocent Jesus
• Live in light of substitution - Let the reality that an innocent man died in your place fundamentally change how you live your life