Pleasing the crowd

“Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.” Mark 15:15
We all know how Jesus appeared on trial before Pontius Pilate (the last of six trials that He was subjected to on the night after the Last Supper). Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent (Luke 23:14-15). He knew that Jesus had only been brought before him by the Sanhedrin because of envy (Matt. 27:18). His wife had sent him a message, saying, “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him” (Matt. 27:19). So why, if Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, did he hand Him over to be crucified?
The answer is what is commonly known as mob mentality. The vocal majority threatened him, even though his initial judgement was right. Pilate was in a difficult situation. Despite washing his hands in front of the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this Man’s blood’ (Matt. 27:24), Pilate was still responsible for making the decision to have Jesus crucififed. Apparently Pilate was on a short rope from his superiors in Rome, having previously brought disgrace upon the Empire. The riot that would have ensued if he had released Jesus, would have seen him demoted from his position as governor. So Pilate gave in to the crowd.
If we are trying to fit in with the crowd, to please people, to go along with others for fear of rocking the boat (or getting thrown out of the boat!), we will ultimately compromise and make wrong decisions. We need to make up our minds in advance what we will do when that time comes. It may not be as major as Pilate’s decision here, concerning life and death, but no matter what, our decisions should always be made in alignment with what the Word of God says.