Matthew 27:15-26
New
International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the
Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At
that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who
is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who
is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s
seat, his wife sent him this message:
“Don’t have
anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream
because of him.”
anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream
because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders
persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have
Jesus executed.
Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to
release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is
called Christ?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked
Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere,
but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and
washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am
innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your
responsibility!”
As of late, I have said many
times, “If it doesn’t make sense to us, then God must
be at work”. This passage makes that very clear to me. In the correct system,
Pilate should never
have taken a popular vote when deciding what to do with Jesus.
He should not have even asked the people what His punishment should have been.
In today’s society there is a list of crimes and then a list of what the sentence for
that crime should be. A judge never really makes that decisions the judicial system does.
I am sure in those days it was much the same. The punishment should have fit the crime,
yet Pilate asked the crowd what the punishment should be.
He should not have even asked the people what His punishment should have been.
In today’s society there is a list of crimes and then a list of what the sentence for
that crime should be. A judge never really makes that decisions the judicial system does.
I am sure in those days it was much the same. The punishment should have fit the crime,
yet Pilate asked the crowd what the punishment should be.
The people had seen the miracles
of Jesus and heard Him teach. Many were
amazed including some of the Pharisees.
It would make more sense if they all
said how wonderful He was and would
have turned on the religious leaders who
falsely accused Him. But that is not how it happened becauseGod
had a plan and
in order to bring victory later there had to be pain presently.
Often times I have the thought, “What
did I do wrong?” I hash over in my head
the “what ifs?” or I begin to think that I must have done something wrong to be
in the position that I am in. Jesus is a
perfect example that sometimes God’s
will means that we suffer for the greater
good. There was no sensible reason
why
Jesus was in the position that He was in except for the jealousy of the
religious
leaders who thought they were about to be replaced. They rather
enjoyed their comfortable
positions. They liked being recognized
and now
someone greater was here and they didn’t like being upstaged. So true in
this life we live today. Yet God had a greater plan. He took the bad of this
world and made it possible
for the bad to turn into good. Only God
can do that!
If you find yourself in a
place that you don’t think you deserve, first examine
yourself and make sure
you are in the center of God’s will, if you are, then
think of Jesus. When nothing made sense, He remained true to
who He was,
the Son of the Living God.
I find it interesting that the
people were willing to have His blood put on them
and their children if this
innocent man was killed. Yes indeed, if
only they
would repent and believe in the Son of God, His blood would cleanse
them.
The same is true today. Jesus did not die an innocent death, even
though He
was innocent. He had the sins
of the world on that cross with Him.
Anyone
who will believe upon His name, call upon His name, and repent of
their sins
will be able to say that Jesus had their sins on that cross. Yes, He died not only
for the people of that
time but for us too! There is no sin too
great for God to
forgive. Even after the
Jews had Him crucified, the disciples preached to the
Jews and Gentiles
alike. Even those who drug Him to Pilate
could be saved
if they chose to.
If you do not personally know the
Savior who died for you, seek after Him
and when you find Him, repent of your
sins and ask Him to become a part of
your life as your Savior. Stop living for yourself and live for
Him. Seek Him
and find Him with your
whole heart.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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