Luke 23:13 says, And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Verse fourteen adds, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: After Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate to be judged, Pilate called the chief priests and religious leaders of the people of Israel to Him. Pilate said they had already brought Jesus before him, and he did not find Jesus guilty of anything they were accusing Him of. Still, Pilate really didn't say that Jesus wast totally innocent. In order to be saved, we must acknowledge that Jesus Himself was innocent of any sin, but died for ours. Verse fifteen continues, No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. Pilate said that Herod likewise said Jesus was guilty of nothing deserving death. No matter how many authorities examine the life of Jesus, they will never find any sin in His life. Verse sixteen states, I will therefore chastise him, and release him. Pilate did the say that he would chastise Jesus, though he had found no fault with Him, and then release Him. There are still people today who attempt to discredit Jesus, even when they find no fault with Him. Verse seventeen adds, (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) Pilate was going to release Jesus as the person who was released for the Feast of the Passover, even if they were guilty. Jesus should have been released simply because He was innocent, but Pilate was attempting to get around simply releasing Him because He was, because those who brought Him there wanted Him dead. We cannot work around deciding Who Jesus is. We either declare Him to be innocent, or we declare Him worthy of death. Verse eighteen declares, And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: The religious leaders and those there with them cried out for Jesus to be killed and for Barabbas, a very bad man who was offered as a choice to be released instead of Jesus, to be released. People today still choose to put others, sometimes even bad people, ahead of choosing Jesus. Verse nineteen adds, (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Barabbas was actually guilty of sedition and murder as well, but the Jewish religious leaders still chose to have him set free instead of Jesus. Verse twenty says, Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. Pilate still wanted to release Jesus, so he spoke to the people who were demanding His death once again. Pilate was the authority and did not need the permission of anyone to set Jesus free, in whom Pilate had said he found no fault in. We can never sidestep the decision about Who Jesus is. Verse twenty-one declares, But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. The people still cried out for Jesus to be crucified. Verse twenty-two adds, And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. For the third time, Pilate said he could find no cause to put Jesus to death, so he would chastise Him and set Him free. This was still not what he should have done. Pilate was trying to please the religious leaders, but he should have taken responsibility and done what he knew was right. By ignoring his responsibility, Pilate was just as guilty as those crying for Jesus to be crucified. We can either accept Jesus or give in to the world, but everyone will make the decision one way or another. Verse twenty-three states, And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. The people continued to cry out for Jesus to be crucified, and the people and the chief priests prevailed. No matter how loudly people may cry out against Jesus, He will always be innocent, and we certainly don't need religious leaders who claim to be Christians attempting to discredit anything that Jesus teaches us. Verse twenty-four adds, And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. Pilate gave in to the crowd and said it should be as they required. He was willing to send an innocent Man, Jesus, to the cross simply to appease the religious leaders and the crowd. Anytime someone rejects Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord, they are in effect wanting to send Him to the cross to stay. Verse twenty-five continues, And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. Pilate released Barabbas, a guilty man, and turned Jesus over to the will of the people. If anyone is to be saved, he or she must accept Jesus above any other person or any other thing in this world.
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