(Text and Audio)
Title: The Final Verdict (Part One)
1. “he could not prevail at all”
As hard as it might be, I think we need to give Pilate some credit. Verse 24 tells us plainly that Pilate felt he was at the end of his rope.
Remember how Peter rebukes the Jews in Acts 3:13
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (Acts 3:13)
What is the evidence that Pilate “was determined to let him go”?
- Pilate asked the crowd to reconsider their decision several times. (Mark 15:14, Matthew 27:23, Luke 18:20, Luke 23.22, John 18:40)
- Pilate reminds the people Jesus is their king. (John 19:15)
- Pilate sends Jesus to be interviewed by Herod, and when Herod sees that Jesus is not guilty, Pilate pleads to the crowd and reminds them that neither he, nor King Herod, find Jesus guilty of these crimes. (Luke 23:13-17)
2. A Difficult (but necessary) Observation:
Though he ultimately failed to provide justice, Pilate can’t be faulted for not taking the proper steps before making his decision.
- He argued with the Jewish leadership.
- He gave Jesus every opportunity to explain himself.
- He brought in outside counsel. (Herod)
- He listened to his wife’s concerns.
- He pleaded with the crowds.
Pastoral Point:
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you will still make the wrong decision. (Thank God for GRACE!)
*It’s also easier to live with a bad outcome if you truly felt you did your homework.
Example: “Hark, is that a cannon shot I hear?”
3. What Was the Final Straw?
What was the thing that finally caused Pilate to acquiesce and give into the will of the people?
“a tumult was rising”
(Slide on “thorybos”)
Pilate sensed he was about to lose control of the situation. He needed to appease the people, by handing over a falsely accused “riot starter” because if he didn’t, it was a real possibility that an actual riot would erupt.
And NO Roman wanted a riot to erupt on his watch. Consider the Roman Centurion who was in charge of the prisoner Paul when Paul’s nephew informed him that the Jewish zealots had taken a vow to not eat until they had assassinated him. (Acts 23).
I’d like to close with this reminder: Human control is an illusion. God is in control. We are not. Any situation where we sense a feeling of control is simply a sovereign God giving us temporary authority over an event…and that same God, always good, always righteous, can, at a moment’s notice, take that control back.
We make ourselves fools when we depend on our own control.
We make ourselves wise we we depend on God, who is always in control.