The name Pontius Pilate will be forever linked to the death of Jesus Christ, for it was he, as Roman governor, who gave the final order condemning Jesus to death by crucifixion.
But the name of Pontius Pilate will also stand forever as a prime example of someone who knew what was right–but failed to do it. Repeatedly he told the mob clamoring for Jesus’ death that he found no basis for condemning him–but in the end, he caved in to the pressures of the crowd and ordered His death. Publicly he washed his hands and told the crowd that they alone were responsible for Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:24), but in reality Pilate’s cowardice sent Jesus to the cross.
How often do you cave in to the pressures of the crowd, seeking the approval of others instead of the approval of God? We all like to be liked–but that can be a very dangerous thing. Make it your goal to live for Christ and be faithful to Him, regardless of what the crowd demands.
Luke 23:4, 23 Then Pilate announced…”I find no basis for a charge against this man”….but with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
Michael & Alison Smitherman
The Singing NetSurfers
I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing
praise to my God while I have my being.
It is important to note that it was the crowds of people that demanded Jesus’ crucifixion. They, and their religious leaders insisted on his death. Not the Roman Governor or the Emperor, but in essence, us. He died for us and because of us.
How often today do we face the same choice in our lives? Do we not crucify Christ each time we deny him, each time we turn away from his will and each time we fail to stand up to wrong regardless of popular opinion and modern culture?
So today let us lead the crowd and not cave in to the pressures of modern leaders or culture. Ignore the pressures that say “Everyone does it, don’t be a stick in the mud or nobody does that any more”. Today, let us say “As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” and, let us with our actions say, “We will follow God’s will, not the crowd’s, and we will keep God’s commandments now and forever.”
That is the lesson we must learn from the crowd-demanded crucifixion, from Peter’s denial and from Judas’ betrayal. His death was for us, by us and of us. Now, it is our turn to resurrect Christ in our own lives, to lift him up and to claim the salvation that his death secured. We are the crowd. Let our righteous shouts prevail.
Honoring, claiming and raising up Christ,
Stan
Good Morning Garden 