Pontius Pilate had Jesus as a prisoner. Pontius Pilate had to make a choice, either Jesus was innocent & Pilate let Him go or find Jesus guilty & crucify Him. Pilate had tons of pressure from the religious leaders, the crowds (which the religious leaders were stirring up) & Rome (whom wanted peace in the territory) plus what his own gut was saying & his wife's dream. Talk about being surround by pressure from all sides!!!
Pontius Pilate tried to get Jesus to defend himself so Pilate did not have to make the choice. Jesus stood in silence. Pilate then thought he would give the crowds a choice, to get away from the pressure of making the wrong choice. Pilate did not want to put an innocent man to death. Pilate brought out Barabbas, who was part of a rebellion against Rome & was a murderer, & Jesus. Pilate offered to release one of them. He thought the crowd would pick Jesus. But the religious leaders kept stirring the crowds.
Pontius Pilates wife had a dream that she shared with Pilate while he was sitting in the judgement seat, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." (Matthew 27:19 NIV). Pontius Pilates wife even had a dream to warn Pilate to stand against the pressure.
Pontius Pilate let the crowd pick. They picked Barabbas. Pilate released Barabbas & washed his hands from the innocent man's blood. Pilate did not want to take responsibility for making the choice. He did not stand up to the pressure from the crowds, religious leaders & Rome.
Washing of the hands only gives a false sense of peace. Pilate was still responsible for his actions of not standing firm against the pressure of the crowds, religious leaders & Rome. When faced with right & wrong, we all get to pick & live with what comes next. There is no washing of the hands to keep yourself free from consequences.
When you are faced with peer pressure, or any choice of right & wrong, how do you handle it? Do you stand firm in your beliefs & what you know is right? Or do you fold under pressure?
Remember Peter thought he would never deny Jesus & stand against the pressures of knowing Jesus, but he fold too. (Matthew 26:69-75). Jesus still loved Peter.
How can you stand firm when faced with pressure?
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