In The Word
Read: Matthew 27:15-31
15 Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.
19 And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. 21 And the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all *said, “Crucify Him!” 23 But he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” Yet they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”
24 Now when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; you yourselves shall see.” 25 And all the people replied, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!”26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Romancohort to Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a red cloak on Him. 29 And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on Him, and took the reed and beat Him on the head. 31 And after they had mocked Him, they took the cloak off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
As true followers of the Word of God, we have come to the understanding that the Word will not always feel good to us, even though it is good to us. During this arduous account, we read in the text that the Jewish people were faced with the opportunity to have Jesus released, or Barabbas, who was incarcerated for crimes against the Roman government. The irony in this event is that Yahshua was brought before the Roman government for being a threat to the current regime. Although the evidence against Barabbas was clear and the accusations against Jesus were doubtful, the people still chose to release Barabbas.
The excerpt of scripture is a great example of our Christian walk. The world is so consumed with the way they have been living outside of the will of the Father that the world’s view of what is right is far off from the truth. Just as in the text, the world has made Christ the enemy because His teachings challenge the lifestyle of our generation. We want to be massaged with a non-convicting gospel instead of a gospel that draws a line in the sand of our lives. This shows the world the same kind of love that our Lord and Savior demonstrated by coming from heaven to earth to put the Father’s heart on display before men.
So, don’t look for an easy way out and accept the world’s standard, but take a righteous stand and choose Jesus over the world; no matter what persecution that may come your way, choose Jesus.