LUKE’S GOSPEL…WHY? – 57

“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.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was arrested, tried, and found guilty in a Jewish court, handed over to a Gentile, Pilate, to carry out their sentence. Why did Pilate declare Him innocent after questioning Him but sentence Him to death anyway? 

Did Pilate act according to his findings, according to the truth, according to his conscience? Why did he have an innocent man flogged to the point of death? Was that justice? Was that the way the representative of Rome governed in a Roman colony?

Why did Pilate cave in to the demands of the Jewish leaders and the Jewish public? Who was really in charge? Was he afraid of the people, concerned about saving his own skin, worried about  the consequences if he released Jesus…a riot, an insurrection, the collapse of law and order? Was he in danger of losing his position if the situation got out of hand?

So, Pilate’s decision was, in the end, all about himself. 

He was known to be a cruel and ruthless man.

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It seems that Pilate’s dealings with the Jews do not paint a picture of a just man or a wise ruler. So, could anyone expect anything different from him in Jesus’ case? His defence of Jesus was weak and unconvincing… even his wife warned him but he ignored her…and he quickly absolved himself of guilt, and to get rid of his problem, by washing his hands of his own decision. 

Does this mean that Jesus was crucified because of Pilate’s bad judgment ? 

If we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, we will see that the guilt was never Pilate’s alone. We can trace the reason for Jesus’ death right back  to Genesis 3. From the moment the first pair changed allegiance from their Creator to the deceiver, and the whole human race with them, it was for the sin of the whole world that God demanded the death penalty, and the mercy of God that chose to pay the price Himself.  

So, God orchestrated Jesus’ death…and the way it would happen…but, at the same time, He holds humanity responsible for the choices that brought about His Son’s death. 

This is the mystery of God’s sovereignty! Centuries before, Isaiah prophesied…

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and Peter confirmed, on the day of Pentecost…

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why, then, did Jesus suffer in such a terrible manner? Why did Pilate have Him flogged, and condemn Him to death, when he knew that Jesus was innocent? Why did the Roman soldiers drive nails through Jesus’ hands and feet and a sword into His side? Why did the naked body of the sinless Son God have to hang on a Roman cross in the blazing sun for all to see?

For us! We put Him there. The Jews, the Gentiles, the whole world put Him on that cross for one reason… we owed a debt we could not pay…and Jesus chose to pay it for us. 

Those who carried out the sentence were the hands and feet that did it for the whole world so that the whole can share in the blessing of forgiveness and the new life Jesus’ death provides for those who believe. 

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV

To be continued…