“Pilate marvelled” [Mark 15:5]

“Pilate marvelled”. So did the crowd that witnessed His miracles but later supported the cry ‘away with him, we demand the release of Barabbas’. I think Herod marvelled too when he heard how the wise men had been led by a star, but he engineered to destroy the baby born to be King. The inhabitants of Gadara marvelled at the way Jesus healed the demoniac and their pigs were drowned, yet they asked Him to leave their part of the country.
Fascination, captivation, interest are not enough, though they can become steps toward the important act of commitment and trust. Pilate marvelled and then gave orders for Jesus to be crucified. Thank God not all are like that. Peter marvelled at a miraculous catch of fishes and then left all and followed Jesus. We need to do more than marvel.