Now that it's daylight, the Jewish leader's pretend to follow the law. They take Jesus to Pilate. As we will see, Pilate literally washes his hands of the matter. He, rightly so, does not want to get mixed up in the religious leaders hatred. Pilate was only concerned with protecting his own political interest and was cautious to not upset the masses by making a decision that would hurt himself in the end.
Pilate was a ruthless, sadistic man who generally wouldn't care who he sentenced to death. Yet, he hesitated with Jesus. Was it the influence of his wife? Was Pilate starting to believe Jesus was the Messiah? The first time Jesus was presented to Pilate, he sent them to Herod hoping to avoid being involved. Now Jesus was back again. Pilate had to think quick. He will wash his hands but it won't cleanse his soul.
Matthew 27:1-2; 11-26 NLT
1 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound Him, led Him away, and took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the King of the Jews?” the governor asked Him.
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against Him, Jesus remained silent. 13 “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against You?” Pilate demanded. 14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent Man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about Him last night.”
20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?”
The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”
23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has He committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify Him!”
24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”
25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”
26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
Blessings, Cecilia
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