Luke 23:13-25

Luke 23:13-25 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Today's passage reveals the Jewish people's culpability in Jesus' crucifixion. The pushing of Jesus from one ruler to the next shows very clearly it was the people who were responsible for Jesus' death, not the two rulers. In their humanity, the people Jesus came to save, to redeem, demanded his death. Both rulers washed their hands of Jesus, finding him totally blameless, not guilty of anything. Because of their anger about him not being the Messiah who would throw off the yoke of the hated Romans, they sought Christ's death. They were angry because Jesus was not the hero who would kill thousands of his enemies as David did. How could this man of peace, of inactivity, come from the lineage of David and be such a lamb. The above scriptures definitely indicate the people did not understand Jesus was God's own Son, the Messiah. They did not understand God sent him with the purpose of leading them into the kingdom of God for all eternity. For them, if he would not deliver them from oppression of this earthly kingdom, He was worthless. Away with this man! Crucify him!

In our modern day, how many of us want the Jesus we find in God's Word? Authors compose many promise books for Christians--books containing the numerous promises of what God is going to do for us today. From these promises, we assume He will deliver us from the hated Romans of our time, from the troubles, the sicknesses, the despair, and the vicissitudes of lives. Sometimes, people read a promise each day. We seek Jesus, as a child depends upon a parent, "Make it all better Daddy." What if God doesn't lead you out of the land of hardship, out of the land of troubles? Is He still alive in you? Does He still care for you? Of course He does, as your eternal Father with a plan for your life, He is leading you to the Kingdom of God. Yes, He answers prayers. Yes, He provides for us in a thousand ways. But He is not with you to establish a kingdom on Earth. His kingdom is in the Spirit, and His kingdom lasts forever and will defeat all foes. You always stand before the Father, cleansed and made holy, adopted into his family. The stars and the galaxies will seem as nothing compared to his magnificence, his glory. This is the kingdom Jesus died for on Calvary's cross, the kingdom of heaven.

The people said, if He is no good to us on Earth, then crucify him. When people face trials, we sometimes hear them say, Christianity just isn't working for me. They do not understand. Christianity works for all believers who trust in the Lamb and yield to the Spirit's leading. Yes, it is working as we love God with all our hearts and love our neighbors as ourselves. Child of God, lift up your head this morning; stand tall as a soldier of the cross. CHRIST HAS RISEN, AND YOU HAVE RISEN WITH HIM. Your name is written down in the Lamb's book of eternal life. You are no longer bound to this earth. Your being will not turn to dust and blow away into nothingness over the generations. NO, YOU ARE ALIVE EVERMORE, inheriting the blissful state of eternity with God. In God's domain, He wipes away every tear; every anxiety will flee; fear will not exist because in God's kingdom, perfect love casts out all fear. REJOICE MY FRIEND. Don't accuse Jesus or crucify him in your heart because you think your lack something you want. Don't turn him away from your life. Draw near to him with a repentant heart, and He will draw near to you. Praise God forever more!