Matthew 27 - 8.29.24
Matthew 27:19-26
S – 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
O – In this chapter the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. He was given to Pilate who was the governor and who interrogated Jesus personally. No one was able to get Jesus to answer their questions, but Pilate didn’t even need to hear from Jesus to know that he was innocent. His wife had said to him, “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man.” And Pilate himself could not find one crime he was guilty of. It was during the time of The Jewish Passover Festival, and it was custom to release one prisoner that the crowd would choose. The crowds were asking for Barabbas. He was guilty. He had taken part in a rebellion against the Roman government and was a robber, insurrectionist and a murderer. Pilate, knowing Jesus was innocent, attempted several times to get the people to choose Jesus but in the end he was more concerned with his job status and being liked by the people. His job was already in jeopardy because the Jews had threated to lodge a formal complaint against him for his stubborn flouting of their traditions. He chose to save his earthly bacon and not focus on what was to come of his eternity. He chose to make the people happy rather than doing what he knew was right. (Sound familiar-think elections! But I digress) He chose to do the wrong thing to help himself!
A – We are living in a selfish world, with selfish people, who often do what they want to get ahead and care not for what may happen to anyone else in the situation. Pilate tried to get out of owning his responsibility in the killing of Jeus, which was a pretty huge deal! However, “washing” your hands of a situation does not in any way absolve you of your guilt, or your participation in it. I truly believe this is a huge problem for a lot of people, but especially our younger generation. There is a lack of any ownership to the messes created in our/their lives and we all need to own our stuff! We need to take responsibility and not make excuses for WHY we needed to fudge on those taxes, or run that red light because we were late, or lie to the boss about botching up a job at the office. God can certainly give us opportunities for the ways out of tough situations, but also sometimes, He is simply walking us THROUGH something and hopefully we are learning and growing in the process. The saying “if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it,” is not actually in the Bible. However, as believers, we are to trust in the Lord for His care and protection. If we have ended up in a situation of our own creation, we need to repent and ask God for help. Only He can bring you out of it and back to higher ground. We often reap the consequences for our part in a bad situation, but if we OWN it, we will come out of it refined and more like Jesus. And yes, that can be really difficult to do. But if we say we are Christians and we want to be more like Jesus, we have to put in the work and DO the difficult things!
Heed the warnings sent your way! I would venture to say there are always warning signs, even if just the yucky feelings we have when we are about to do something wrong. Pilate certainly saw many red flags. He knew that the religious leaders were simply jealous of a teacher who was more popular with the people than they were. He ignored them all and he reaped what he sowed.
P – Lord I pray today for all of us as your Body of Christ, to look deeply at our own lives and see where we are taking liberties to make ourselves look/feel better. I pray you would point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:24). Lord make us strong in our faith, strong in our courage to confess the areas where we are not owning our stuff and courage to ask for help when needed. Give us the courage needed to come clean with YOU as well as anyone in our lives who may be able to help walk us through those things, and help us be open to correction, teaching and discipline where needed. Lord help us to know when we are trying to “wash” our hands of a situation just because it may seem easier in the moment. Help us to do the difficult things needed to grow in our faith and as good human beings!
In Jesus’ name I pray.
- Crystal Flory
