11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
There is a power struggle that is going on between Pilate and the Jewish leaders. If you remember, the score is 1-1. The power struggle between Pilate and the Jewish leaders is all tied up, and now comes the rubber match, the situation that decides who is going to come out on top. And in the midst of all this, is Jesus, the one who is truly in control. Let's take a look at this passage one shot at a time.
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.The Jews had given up Jesus, and instead of crucifying him right off the bat just to make them happy, but Pilate had something else in mind. He wanted the Jews to have to play along with his little game. So as was his custom to release a prisoner at the feast, he presented a failed revolutionary leader in Barabbas, against Jesus. And he asked the Jewish leaders to pick which one they wanted to be released. Each decision was someone who was trying to overthrow the established authority. Barabbas had a failed revolution to overthrow the Roman government, that is why he was arrested. And Jesus also claimed to be king of the Jews, something that only Caesar and Herod were able to do. Any other claim of kingship was seen as a threat against the established order.
Pilate was putting the Jewish leaders in a pickle. Were they going to side with Barabbas, someone who actually raised arms against Rome, or some weird Jewish Rabbi who made dangerous claims. He has put them in a tough situation, putting himself in a position of power over them. This is what happens next:
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Pilate thought he had them in a tough place that would force them to pick Jesus to be released over Barabbas. Yet, the Jewish leaders hated Jesus so much that they convinced the crowd to choose Barabbas over Jesus. Pilate wasn't expecting this, and he didn't want to crucify someone who hadn't raised up arms against Rome and release someone who had, this could put him in a tough spot with his superiors. Yet the Jews got more and more riled up. And this caused Pilate to be forced into a place he didn't want to be in. Look at what Matthew said:
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
The Jews got the position of power now. They got what they wanted and they didn't have to suck up to Pilate, The funny thing is, in the middle of all this power struggle, God's plan to rescue the world by Jesus' death on the cross is being carried out. God is the one who is in control, and the Jews and Pilate are just pawns in his big plan.
And this reality is true for our life as well.
The people who we think are in control, the powers of this world, the governments, kings and rulers are not in control. No matter who we elect as president, that is not going to save the world or change anything really. God is in control, and his plan is always being worked out to bring the world back to him.
And no matter what is going on in our lives, we can rely on the fact that God is always working his plan through us. We just have to submit ourselves to his plan. So will you?
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