Luke 23:13-25
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."
But the whole crowd shouted, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Observation:
- Pilate wanted to release Jesus three times after finding no fault in him
"Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, 'You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.' " He also appealed to them to free Jesus for three times.
- The desire of the Jewish people despite Pilate's investigation
They demanded to take Jesus away and crucify him. "But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed."
- Pilate's final decision?
He released Barabbas to please the Jews and "and surrendered Jesus to their will."
Explanation and application:
1. Pilate the Gentile concluded that Jesus was innocent and wanted to release him. Pilate even attempted to persuade the people to release Jesus for three times. It can be seen that Jesus, who is favored by God and the people, is respected in the eyes of the world. Being perfect man, he is the most influential people the world has ever seen.
2. An incomprehensible thing that occurred was that the chief priests and teachers of the law misunderstood Jesus, who maintained an opposite stance from Jesus for a long time. They judged him with the law which was interpreted by themselves and evaluated him with their limited knowledge, to the extent that they regarded the son of God as a sinner inferior to a murderer.
The tongue is not steel, yet it cuts. There may be collective misjudgments that call a good thing as a bad thing and the collective voice covers the truth. It will even affect the global political landscape and national security. Collective misjudgment often occurs in human history, which can make use of the so-called democracy to hide facts through various voices. Therefore, it is the result of a collective misjudgment that Jesus was abandoned by the Jewish leaders.
Translated by Karen Luo
