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INNOCENT TO THE CORE
SATURDAY, MARCH 19
Mark 15:6-14

Luke 23:13-25

 

“…Why, what evil hath he done?”

 

INNOCENT TO THE CORE
 
Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent, “I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him” (Luke 23:14,15). To appease the Jews, Pilate was willing to have Jesus flogged, and then release Him. Pilate even offered to release a Jewish prisoner to them. It was a custom for the Romans to pardon a Jewish prisoner as a gesture of goodwill during the time of the Passover. He gave them a choice. Would they have Barabbas a robber and murderer or Jesus their Messiah and King? To Pilate, the choice seemed obvious. Surely, any right-thinking man would choose the latter. But alas, these people were not thinking aright nor behaving righteously. Their hearts were filled with hatred. By hook or by crook, they wanted Jesus’ blood. So they all cried out in unison, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas” (Luke 23:18). In the eyes of the Jews, Jesus, who had healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, raised the dead, preached good news to them, was worse than a thief and a killer. What injustice!
 
Pilate apparently did not expect such a response from the Jews. He was also warned by his wife not to have anything to do with this “just man” (Matt 27:19). Desiring to release Jesus, Pilate again told the murderous crowd, “Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him!” But they screamed all the more, “Crucify him, crucify him.” Seeing that a riot was about to break out, and that the Jews were intent on having their way, Pilate took water, and washed his hands before them, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person.” Although Pilate pronounced himself innocent, he was as guilty as the Jews for he had the power to exercise justice, but did not. The Jews told Pilate, “His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matt 27:25). Indeed, Jesus’ blood was on them and their children. God punished the Jews for crucifying their Christ. Since AD 70 (destruction of Jerusalem and dispersal of the Jews) till today, the Jews have had no peace. Peace will come to Jerusalem only when Christ—the Prince of peace—returns.
 
THOUGHT: (Read 1 Peter 3:18.)

PRAYER: (Pray for grace to live for Christ when you are unjustly treated.)

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