Pilate

[ The Believer's Freedom ] "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23

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Mark 15:1-15 NIV

Jesus Before Pilate

¹Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
²“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
³The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
⁵But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
⁶Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
⁹“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, ¹⁰knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
¹²“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
¹³“Crucify him!” they shouted.
¹⁴“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
¹⁵Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

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For Pilate, there was never a doubt about Jesus' innocence.  Three separate times he declared Jesus not guilty.  He couldn't understand why these people wanted to kill Jesus, but he also feared.  His fear of the Jews' political pressure made him decide to allow Jesus' crucifixion.  The charge had to be ordered by the Romans, this is something the religious leaders couldn't do on their own; so this gives us a clear view of how hard they actually thought about this plot on Jesus.  In desperation, Pilate chose to do wrong.  Pilate gave a decision that would please everyone while keeping himself safe.  

When we ignore God's clear statements of right and wrong and make decisions based on the preferences of our audience, we fall into compromise and lawlessness.  I admit, I've fallen into this trap time after time.  Abusing myself to make others happy; as those I compromised for honestly didn't care about what I was truly setting myself up against.

We share a common humanity with Pilate.  At times we know what is right but choose what is wrong.  God promises to honor those who do right, not those who make everyone else happy.  How are you going to choose to make a change in your choices today to do what God commands?  What are we going to do from this point on, with our opportunities and responsibilities, that fall in line with what God declares is right?

I have found this to be a constant struggle in my life, but I declare today that I'm stepping in the way of righteous change.  How about you?  Is compromising the values of our Heavenly Father really worth it?

Prayer: For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Romans 2:13).  LORD, I receive Your law every day; through hearing and reading.  I nod my head in agreement, then go out and do nothing; or even worse the opposite.  Worship is over, devotion time is complete; and I feel good about my faith.  I got what I came for; I am saved, I took some required time out for you, and that's enough.

How amazingly false this is.  A total lie.  In my heart I know better.  I am aware that my personal salvation comes at great cost to You; I must not wrap it up and hide it safely in a closet.  Instead, I should wear it boldly across my shoulders for all to see.  I should wrap it around someone suffering in the cold; I should use it to feed the hungry and demonstrate Your love to all.  I should walk in it, as I make every decision of the current day.  As I ask You to make me a doer of the law, Father, and not just a hearer; I purpose to change my mind and my ways to work in accordance to Your anointing over my life.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

- All prayers provided by TGN are just starters; please allow your heart and the Holy Spirit direct your words to God; and pray in the Name of Jesus.  There is power in that Name!  Amen!