13th Sep 26 | 04:00
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Sat
📖 Luke 23:16-17
Sat27Nov2021 – Counting the cost - Luke 23:06-17 - THE LORD WATCHES (13) - Bible reading: Job 29:12-17
We are weak and we vacillate, yet our Lord reaches out and strengthens us. The Lord desires for each of us to grow into our full potential.
Luke 23:16-17 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” (17) (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).
Pilate was keen to release Jesus. This was what he communicated to the Jews, repeatedly. There was a custom for the Governor to release a prisoner, whomever the people desired, at the time of the Passover feast.
John 18:39 “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"
Pilate was trying his very best to get Jesus released. He is posing this question to this crowd, hoping that they would come out of their madness, in wanting Jesus crucified, and allow Pilate to release Him.
Remember, the trial was prolonged. Early in the morning, when the Jews were in a frenzy that Jesus should die because He was a blasphemer, that craziness should have subsided. Hopefully, sense should have returned. Pilate knew that the Jews had handed over Jesus to him because of envy.
Mark 15:9-10 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" (10) For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy .
He hoped that rationality would have returned and they would allow him to release Jesus.
Pilate presented Barabbas to them hoping that the comparison between Barabbas and Jesus would appeal to the public mind. The contrast between Barabbas and Jesus would be striking. He was hoping that some decency would descend on this angry crowd and they would come to their senses and say, “Not Barabbas. Release Jesus”.
Matthew 27:20-21 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. (21) The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"
The crowd was determined to destroy Jesus, whereas, Pilate did his best to release Jesus. He was hoping to hear voices from the crowd that would request for Jesus to be released. But there was not a single voice, from the crowd, that requested the release of Jesus .
This was happening at about 9.00 AM when the decision was taken by Pilate to crucify Jesus. The Jews wanted to have Jesus crucified, early in the morning, before the public would stir from their beds.
The trial prolonged and it was now the time when everyone in the city was fully awake and aware of what was happening. This was now no more a secretive matter of having Jesus arrested, tried and crucified. This was now in the open.
Everyone in Jerusalem was now fully conscious that the Jews, with evil intentions, were wanting to have Jews crucified and were building immense pressure on Pilate to give the orders.
The Jewish leaders were afraid of the crowd. They did not want the crowds to be present when they went about their wicked plan. Now, all those of whom the Jews were afraid of, were fully present, when Pilate was being compelled to order Jesus’ crucifixion.
This was the crowd, who, just a week earlier had shouted Hosanna and welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as the King. This was the crowd that had listened with rapt attention to the teachings of Jesus throughout the week, as Jesus taught in the temple courts. This was the crowd that was so excited with the teachings of Jesus and they could see the hollowness of the Jewish leaders. This was the crowd of whom the Jewish leaders were frightened about.
What happened to this crowd? Was not there even one person amongst them, who dared to stand up to the Jews and tell Pilate, “Please, release Jesus”? Not one person from this crowd, of whom the Jewish leaders were terrified, who showed much enthusiasm about Jesus, dared to open his mouth and speak up for Jesus when it mattered.
Friends, this is who we are. We are those who will ultimately think only from the perspective of our own safety and security.
Consider the testimony of Job.
Job 29:12-17 Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper. (13) The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. (14) I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. (15) I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame. (16) I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know. (17) I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.
We ought to be people who will count the cost and speak up for justice and truth in any context in which God has placed us. We cannot be those who speak of our relationship with Jesus only in, convenient environments, but close our lips and refrain from speaking and taking action when we must.
Proverbs 31:8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Not one person from the crowd was willing to open his mouth for Jesus, who was appointed to die. Jesus did not have a single friend on His side, before Pilate .
We did not speak up of Jesus but Jesus is our advocate before God, always .
Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us .
Thought to ponder
Be a person who can be counted for Jesus.
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