Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified. - Mark 15:15
Perhaps I am a little guilty of over-spiritualizing this text, but I do believe there is a lesson here for us all. For here we see a leader who desired to gratify the "crowd" or "mob," but he had to crucify the Savior to do it.
In every organization, church, or ministry you can find a "crowd", "disciples", and the Holy Spirit. The good leader is conscious of the "crowd's" existence, but he listens to the disciples as they are led and influenced by the Holy Spirit. It seems to me that most errors are made in leadership when decision-makers mistake the voice of the crowd for the voice of God.
God speaks through His Word, His Church, and His Spirit, but He rarely speaks through the "crowd." Leaders must be certain who is speaking lest they be guilty (by following the crowd) of crucifying the Savior (or at least His purposes) all over again.
For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, tasted God's good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt. - Hebrews 6:4-6
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