“So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered Him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of Him today in a dream.’ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.” Matt. 27:17-20
Devotional Thought For The Day
Pontius Pilate was a very tragic historical person, forever identified as the legal authority under whom Jesus was unjustly convicted and brutally executed. The Scriptural record is emphatic that he knew the innocence of Jesus and yet he was too weak for the task that came before him – he chose political and social expediency over justice and the proper exercise of his office. He knew what the legal principles were that applied to the case and yet purposefully avoided them and acquiesced to a verdict that perverted justice. He was even warned by his wife to avoid this mess and yet in the end he appeased the hypocritical chief priests and elders, releasing Barabbas and sending Jesus to the cross. Of course, it was far beyond his power, or that of the religious authorities, to “destroy” Jesus. Rather, Jesus is the One Who can in fact destroy both “body and soul in hell” [Matt. 10:28], as all of these people soon learned.
It is interesting how far hypocrites are willing to go to appease the inner darkness of their own envy, jealousy, anger, hatred, and malice. These accusers of Jesus also knew – somewhere deep within – Who Jesus was. They recognized His power, His miracles, the pull of the Gospel of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and as scholars of God’s Word they should have recognized His preaching and teaching as being in perfect conformity to that Word – rejecting and condemning self-righteousness, calling all people to genuine repentance, assuring all of God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness, and calling all to live in forgiveness and mercy toward others. This is why they were envious of Him – because His ministry exposed them as shameful and hypocritical shams. So they were willing to go to all lengths to get rid of Him, even calling for the death penalty and His “destruction.” And so the case came before poor Pontius Pilate – and as unprepared as he was for his “moment,” he was the authority who had to make the fateful decision.
We see the same principles playing themselves out in smaller venues many times over the course of a lifetime, and there are times when we are the hypocritical assailants, times when we are the “judge,” and also times when we are the one being judged. The sinful motions of our hearts compel the same thoughts and behaviors – hypocritical judgment of others, malicious desires to destroy others, and a willingness to throw others under the bus. In our “judgments” of others we are also often not up to the task – and like Pilate we allow expediency, ease, and other considerations to distract us from the principles of judgment required by God’s Word. So we too may “release Barabbas” and remand the innocent to “destruction.” All because our sinful nature finds the principles of God’s kingdom – repentance, living under God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness, and exercising forgiveness, mercy, and love toward others – to be personally painful and disgusting. It is much easier to just acquiesce to envy, jealousy, anger, and malice – and to the “crowd.”
Thank God that His mercy and forgiveness prevails over all of these dark sins, that “if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9] Without this grace and mercy there would be no hope, no chance, for anyone. Thank God, that through proper repentance, confession, and the experience of His gracious forgiveness, mercy, and love, we are moved away from the dynamics of our sinful nature and enabled to properly love one another. Thank God, that despite our vulnerability to the hypocrisy, accusations, and malice of others He is protecting us and will deliver and vindicate us. Thank God, that although others may falter and fail in their judgment, He will judge us in accord with His Word – and He will surely vindicate us against both false accusations and false judgments. However, the account of Jesus’ trial – the role of His accusers and His judge – reminds all of us of the importance of taking great care and caution in our own lives, for “with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” [Matt. 7:2]
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for all that You were willing to endure from fallen, weak, and recalcitrant sinners so that You might lay down Your life for us and take away all of our sin and guilt. Thank You also for the renewing power of Your love, the clarity of Your gospel of forgiveness, mercy, and love, that informs and moves us to love. And thank You for Your promises to watch over us in all things, so that the evil one has no power over us. Grant us faith and constancy to face all things as You did, with the quiet dignity and power of love. Amen.