Denial To This Day!

Monday, October 18, 2021

13-16 Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others and said, “You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge. And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It’s clear that he’s done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. So I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go.”

-Luke 23:13-16 The Message

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

Verse 13: Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

Verse 14: and he said to them, “You brought this man to me on the ground that he is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I have found no basis at all in the case of this man for the charges which you are bringing against Him.

Verse 15: No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.

Verse 16: Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

Verse 15 study: Jesus was tried by the Jewish and Roman authorities six times but was never convicted of a crime deserving death. When he was condemned to execution, he was convicted of no felony. To this day, no one can find fault with Jesus. But people like Pilate, Herod, and religious leaders refuse to acknowledge him as Lord.

Verses 13-25 studies: Pilate sentenced Jesus to death. Although he wanted to release Jesus, he listened to the crowd that demanded him to condemn Jesus to death. He didn’t want to lose his position, which was already shaky because he allowed a riot to happen in his province. Throughout his political career, he understood the importance of compromise. He saw that Jesus was more of a political threat than a human being with rights and dignity. When peer pressure is up, it is the hardest thing to do for many people to stand up for what is right, and easy to see opponents’ problems to be solved than to be respected. If Pilate had been courageous, he would have done what was right, releasing Jesus no matter the consequences. Instead, the crowd roared, Pilate cracker under pressure. Many people are like Pilate, knowing what is right but not making the right decisions. When you have tough choices, don’t discount the effects of peer pressure. Remember that the right decisions will have unpleasant consequences. Social rejection, career derailment, and public ridicule. Think of Pilate and stand up for what is right no matter what other pressure people try to make you do. Uncrack the pressure.

To this day, no one can find fault with Jesus. But, father, I pray that people will not crack under the pressure of conversations such as someone saying false things about Jesus. Let us learn from Pilate and be better than the peer pressure, the pressure of other things, and not doing what is right. In Jesus’ name. Amen!