13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people. 14 He said to them, “You brought me this man. You said he was turning the people against the authorities. I have questioned him in front of you. I have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Herod hasn’t either. So he sent Jesus back to us. As you can see, Jesus has done nothing that is worthy of death. 16-17 So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill this man! But let Barabbas go!” 19 Barabbas had been thrown into prison. He had taken part in a struggle in the city against the authorities. He had also committed murder.
20 Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he made an appeal to the crowd again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 Pilate spoke to them for the third time. “Why?” he asked. “What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to have him put to death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”
23 But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people’s shouts won out. 24 So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. 25 He set free the man they asked for. The man had been thrown in prison for murder and for fighting against the authorities. Pilate handed Jesus over to them so they could carry out their plans.
Read Luke 23:13-25 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
In Jesus’ trial before Pilate, each of the gospel writers focuses on the event in a slightly different way. In Luke’s gospel, we see Pilate trying to give a judgment that tries to balance his belief in Jesus’ innocence and the crowd’s demands for death.
Luke tells us that Pilate called everyone together and said to them, “You brought me this man. You said he was turning the people against the authorities. I have questioned him in front of you. I have found no basis for your charges against him. Herod hasn’t either. So he sent Jesus back to us. As you can see, Jesus has done nothing that is worthy of death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go.” (v. 14-17)
Luke tells us that Pilate kept trying to convince the crowd, but he was ultimately unsuccessful. “But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people’s shouts won out. So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted.” (v. 23-24)
Pilate really wanted to release Jesus, but keeping peace in the region, especially with this irrational and angry crowd, was more important than the life of an innocent Man. Pilate bends to the pressure of the people and gives them what they wanted.
I wonder if Pilate ever looked back on this decision with regret. We may never know, but in our own lives, each of us faces the pressure to do what we know isn’t right. Pilate clearly stated that Jesus was innocent of the charges, but even though Pilate tries to distance himself from the crowd’s demands by washing his hands (which Matthew includes in his event), Pilate cannot avoid responsibility for Jesus’ death.
The crowd’s demands won out because Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. In this action, Jesus’ death was not only at the hands of the Jewish leaders and the Jewish people, but also at the hands of the Roman leaders. When Pilate caved in, he symbolically brought Rome (representing all non-Jews) into the group of those responsible for Jesus’ death.
In Pilate’s decision during Jesus’ trial, we can learn a valuable lesson: The only way to truly live a life free from regrets is to always do what we know to be right in the time – regardless of the consequences. Pilate failed to do so in this trial, and this event likely clouded the remainder of his rule in Judea. We don’t have to make the same mistake he did. In our own lives, even when it is difficult, we should choose the option that we know in our hearts is right.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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