Read: Mark 15:2-20; Matthew 27:11-31; Luke 23:1-25; 22:27-65; John 18:28-19:16
The jealousy of the priests and religious leaders was so great they could think of nothing but killing Jesus. Since their law didn’t allow them to execute anyone, they had to get the Romans to do it. They accused Jesus of causing riots by his teaching wherever he went. Jesus didn’t cause riots, he just drew crowds that they couldn’t draw. To build their case, they told Pilate that Jesus told the people not to pay taxes to the Roman government because he claimed to be their Messiah. This was such a lie since Jesus paid taxes and told the people to pay to Caesar what they owed him and God what they owed Him.
But, it was time for the Lamb of God to be examined by the worldly rulers. Pilate and Herod both met with Jesus and questioned him. John gives us the best account of his meeting with Pilate. When Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, Jesus turned the question back on him. He asked him if he really wanted to know for himself or was he merely repeating what he had heard. Pilate let him know that he wasn’t a Jew so he didn’t understand why Jesus’ own people had brought him to trial. He wanted Jesus to explain what his crime was. Jesus, instead talked about Pilate’s real concern - his kingdom. Pilate wanted to know if Jesus was going to try to take over the Roman government to set up his kingdom. I wonder if he was thinking back to stories of the wise men who had come looking for the King of the Jews that was born 33 years ago. Jesus assured him that his kingdom was not on the earth but in heaven. Pilate was relieved and tried to do everything he could to release Jesus. He picked the most ruthless criminal in the jail assuming they would choose to have Jesus set free rather than him. Pilate didn’t know the power of hatred and envy. The crowd picked Barabbas. Both Pilate and Herod found no spot or blemish on the Lamb of God. The crowd screamed, “Crucify Him!” while Pilate’s wife was begging Pilate to set him free. Pilate brought out a bowl of water and washed his hands in front of the Jews to show them that he was washing his hands of this crime against an innocent man. How ironic that Pilate would use a Jewish ritual of hand washing to show them their sin.
Lord, open our eyes to see the truth and not be deceived by envy or sin.
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