Pilate, the Prisoner, The People and the Punishment

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Further digging into the punishment that brought us peace.

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Is 53

Isaiah 53:2–3 ESV
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
This is the OT prophecy for the Messiah
This is where we pick up in our narrative today
We will look at Jesus’ encouter with 3 people or groups of people and the outcome of those encounters.
Pilate (Vs11-19)
Vs 11- Jesus is taken to Pilate for sentencing
-the Jewish right to execute capital punishment was taken over the Romans
Just another way Roman kept control and another reason why the Jews hated them
The question he poses is similar to that of Caiphas
Same response is given by Jesus- “you have said so”
Im not the King you think I am but I am the true King
Vs 12- Consistent ridicule and accusation by the RL
Luke 23:2 ESV
And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
Pilate has no choice to investigate with these remarks
Vs 13- Jesus doesnt say a word
Any person would know they are out for blood and any innocent person would defend themselves
But Jesus is silent
John 18:32 ESV
This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
John 19:10 ESV
So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”
Vs-14- Pilate stands amazed- this man must have a death sentence
The longer it goes on- the more pressure is applied to Pilate
John 18:38 ESV
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
Pilate remembers something that may give a glimmer of hope
Vs15- the governor would release a prisoner of whom the choose free of charge each Passover
So Pilate sees his opening and what a gamble it is
In custody was Barabbas- a known murderer from the insurrection of Rome
You can see examples of this in Acts 5:36-37
The Prisoner emerges
Vs 16-18
-what makes this so ironic is that as I was reading for this week, a couple commentators made mention that some early manuscripts have the prisoners name to be Jesus Barabbas
-Jesus- Yeshua, Joshua, was a very common name
-Supports why Pilate says “Jesus who is called Christ”
The name Barabbas means “Son of Abbas”--- Bar-”son of” Ex- Bartimeus= Son of Timeus
Sproul notes-
The choice Pilate proposes to the crowd (v. 9) is unwittingly ironic: Jesus Barabbas, the would-be political savior of Israel, or Jesus of Nazareth, the true Savior of the world.
We said from the out set of the Passion story- we should feel dirty as we read this and it only gets worse
Vs 19- Pilates wife has a dream about Jesus and sends a message to Pilate to leave him alone
3.The People Pressure
Vs 20- The priest are in the ear of the crowds
-those who shouted hosanna to Son of David have now chosen the political zealot
Vs 21-22- Pilates questions falls on seared ears
Who do you want me to release? “Barabbas!!
But what to do about Jesus who is the Christ? Crucify him
Vs23- Pilate is disgusted- what a shame- a man who cares nothing about the Jews can see the hypocrisy but the Jews want none of it
John 1:11 ESV
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
They dont answer Pilates question, they just get louder
They dont want to reason, they only want him dead
Vs 24- Pilates concern in these proceedings has only been himself
-Nothing to gain here but a riot
-Roman kept peace by force- 2 million Jews are in the city
-Thats a problem
-Jerusalem was a hotbed for controversy- it would be like someone governing the Gaza Strip now
If Pilate doesnt keep peace, Caesar will find someone who can
So his move its to wash his hands
Public mark of his dissatisfaction and trying to remove his responsibility
Vs 25- As fast as Pilate tried to distance himself from Jesus, the people willingly accept it
Matthew 23:35 ESV
so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
Jesus already told the RL this very truth as they have willingly killed the prophets, now they willingly desire the death of the Messiah
Regardless what they RL say- guilt and responsibility isnt theirs to determine
Each person is responsible for their own sin- so to are you and I
Vs 26- So the murderer is sent free while the innocent takes his place
In the same way- This is us- We all have sinned and earned the punishment of death
But it is Christ who took our punishment so we could be free
What would be a most damning thing would be for Barabbas to leave the judgement seat unfazed
We have no further record of Barabbas after this
How heartbreaking to think he would be unfazed
But how telling it maybe of you today, if you sit hear today listening to the gospel and walk away unchanged
Condemnation is building and judgement will be even more severe
Hebrews 3:15 ESV
As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Punishment received
End of vs 26- he was scourged and then taken to be crucified
Scourging was the typical practice before crucifixion
Multi lashed whip with metal and bone
Josephus spoke of one named “Jesus, son of Ananias” who was “flayed to the bone”
Many died from it but not our Lord
Crucifixion awaits
Vs27- He is brought back into the battalion where is the object of mockery
Vs28-29 He has clothes taken off of him and put a royal robe on him
Crown of thorns put on his head and a reed put in his hand
Absolute scorn
As I read through this passage, the reenactment in the Passion of the Christ of this scene kept coming to mind
Men bent on stripping pride from others
They hail him king of the Jews
Beloved, may these verse permeate our being this morning
That Jesus would condescend to our level and subject himself to absolute derision and shame for our sake
May we view our sin in the same way we view his the stripes
The purple robe of shame was for our redemption
The crown of thorns was our condemnation
Every blow, every derogatory word, every drop of spit and blood was all because of sin
Our sin
We cringe at the stripes but at times never flinch at our sin
Vs 30-31
-He is lead away as the bloodied, ridiculed Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
Three types of unbelievers in this group
Pilate- has some interest in Jesus Christ but he is too risky to get close too
Its gonna cost to much to take a stand with him
So you hope you can do enough good to cover the bad
You wash your hands so to speak and move on
But no amount of water can wash the stain of complacency and indifference off
John 3:18 ESV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Prisoner (Barabbas)- no doubt concerning his heart
His is known by his actions
Maybe you to are known by your action not from the past but that you are in
You are not alone
Romans 3:23 ESV
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Every person in this room and every person watching fit was or is in the same boat
Good news is
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Barabbas was set free from prison so every man who will believe can be set free from the prison of sin
The People(easily swayed) and Priest- outwardly religious but died inside
This is quite possibly the most dangerous
The crowds were just worked into a frenzy of praise 3 days ago and now they are worked into a frenzy of death
They go with popular thought and movements
Sadly this could be were many of the church is today
Benji and I discussed this very thing this week
He said he thought the Parable of the Sower was the parable that we see most accurately played out now
4 types of people present- 1 genuine believer
Its the Rocky and Thorny soil that can easily be considered good dirt for a time in the church
Seed in rocky soil grows quick but it doesnt have any room for the roots to grow and cant stand the heat
So it dies-many in the church have done the same
Quick growth, leave and back to old life but will hold on to a walking an aisle or baptism
Same for the seed in the Thorny soil- it grows for a while but eventually the things of the world choke them out
There just isnt time, apparently they forgot 6 days you work and the 7th you rest
Or this toy or this trip or this you start putting in the box whatever you want and then before we know it its been a year since we have seen them and then so onward
It appeared to be alive but the other stuff got it
They are swayed but the world, stuff and altogether dead in their sins and trespasses but will most likely respond that they are members of a church or even saved when asked
Priest- they check all the boxes of religious works but thats as far as it goes
Is relationship based on attendance, or serving in the nursery or SS or whatever
You check the boxes and thats got to be enough
Matthew 23:27–28 ESV
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
This is very easy for a believer to fall into the trap of
Diluting our relationship to duties rather than pursuit of Christ
Which is why on our Church ministry questionnaire we specifically put down the need to be actively attending church
You cant serve and walk away til next time
Just fulfilling the obligations isnt faithfully serving
Before we know it, our basis of our relationship becomes defense of what we do, not the pursuit of whose we are.
Because the reality is the Punishment was ours
Isaiah 53:4–5 ESV
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Thanks be to God for Christ
Who stepped left glory for the grave, so he could pay the punishment for the Pilates, the Prisoners and the People.
Which are you?
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