Matthew 27:22 / Mark 15:12-13 / Luke 23:20-21 / John 19:4-7…
Pilate once again acknowledged that he thought Jesus was innocent and that He wished to release Him. He tried to appease the crowd that he might appease his conscience. It was similar to Judas, who had declared Jesus’ innocence and tried to give the money back to the priests.
But no matter how hard he tried, Pilate could not get the leaders or the crowd to settle down. He could not change the course of redemption, because this was the plan of God, that both Jew and Gentile would have a hand in the death of Jesus (Acts 2:23, 4:27-28).
Pilate may have been upset by this dilemma and convicted by his conscience, but he was not innocent. He was unwilling to listen to his convicted heart, listen to the voice of his wife (Matthew 27:19), listen to the objective evidence, or listen to Truth Himself (John 18:37, 19:11).
Pilate could have done what was right. He had the power to let Jesus go. But his “repentance” was only remorse that he had to choose or face trouble. This is only going half way, and it isn’t enough. Pilate feared the people and made his decision to appease the masses.
How often do we bow the knee, not to the will of God, but to the will of the people who are opposing Him?
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