Pilate and Which Jesus?
Pilate and Which Jesus?
Pilate was the governor who was to judge Jesus when the Jewish leaders had accused him. Listen to Pilate’s question. “Are you the king of the Jews?” Matthew 27:11. Pilate was more interested in securing his political position than finding the truth (see John 18-19). It is same with our today’s politicians. We all want to approach Jesus from our point of interest and what we can get out of Him. Let’s resist the temptation and choose the right Jesus and for the right reason. He is God and must be worshipped.
Which Jesus do you want released – Jesus Barabbas or Jesus the Messiah? Which Jesus are you following? Let’s not make mistakes, we are still making the same choices even today. Everyone living is choosing the Jesus they want. Which have you or me chosen?
Please read the account of previous choices people made. Matthew 27:15-26:
“15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”…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 the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”…26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Matthew 27: 15-26 (NIV).
Notice, it says, it was the “custom” meaning it was the prevailing thing and expectation of the people. Today, it is still the expectation and customs, traditions that rule. In our day, it is now the custom of “political correctness” that rules. It is what the people want.
People want the politically correct Jesus – the nice guy, good teacher, loving and kind to all, who does not judge people or tell people to repent of their sins. People want Jesus Barabbas, though a criminal, his sin does not matter and should not be paid for. Sin is dismissed of having no consequences. Everyone is doing it so what?
Notice the crime of Jesus, the Messiah? “The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[e] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.” Matthew 26:63-66.
Jesus said He is God, the Messiah – the anointed One. That is his crime. He came to save all and for that He is being killed to accomplish the purpose for which He came. Do not feel sorry for Jesus the Christ. He came to die. We should feel sorry for ourselves for the choices we make.
Many today are comfortable and choosing the Jesus who is not God. The Jehovah Witnesses (JW) and the Mormons worship Jesus, the created being. The JW’s Jesus is Michael the Arc Angel. The Mormons say Jesus and Satan are “spirit brothers” born to God the heavenly Father with one of his many wives. This is the real blasphemy and falsehood from hell. Read John 1:1-3 and see the Jesus who created all things and who is God. Only Jesus, the God can save. I do not want any Jesus who is not God.
Who is your Jesus? Is he the one who went to the crossed, was crucified, and rose from the dead ascended to heaven and coming back soon as He declared? Is He the Jesus who said to go tell everyone he is risen from the dead? Is He the Jesus that said he has given us power to go make disciples and teaching them all He has taught us? Is he the Jesus who said if you are ashamed of me, I shall be ashamed of you when I come in presence of God the Father? Is He the Jesus who healed many and performed miracles and still doing the same today? Is He the Jesus who said He will never leave us nor forsake us?
Who is your Jesus? “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” Philippians 1:29. There is suffering in trusting the true Jesus. Let’s embrace it.
Lord, reveal the true Jesus to us. Help us to follow you and proclaim your power to save from sin and be reconciled to God. Help us to love as much as you have loved us even to dying on the cross for us. Amen.
Believe and trust the right Jesus and tell someone about the true Jesus that saves from sin.
Pilate was the governor who was to judge Jesus when the Jewish leaders had accused him. Listen to Pilate’s question. “Are you the king of the Jews?” Matthew 27:11. Pilate was more interested in securing his political position than finding the truth (see John 18-19). It is same with our today’s politicians. We all want to approach Jesus from our point of interest and what we can get out of Him. Let’s resist the temptation and choose the right Jesus and for the right reason. He is God and must be worshipped.
Which Jesus do you want released – Jesus Barabbas or Jesus the Messiah? Which Jesus are you following? Let’s not make mistakes, we are still making the same choices even today. Everyone living is choosing the Jesus they want. Which have you or me chosen?
Please read the account of previous choices people made. Matthew 27:15-26:
“15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”…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 the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”…26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Matthew 27: 15-26 (NIV).
Notice, it says, it was the “custom” meaning it was the prevailing thing and expectation of the people. Today, it is still the expectation and customs, traditions that rule. In our day, it is now the custom of “political correctness” that rules. It is what the people want.
People want the politically correct Jesus – the nice guy, good teacher, loving and kind to all, who does not judge people or tell people to repent of their sins. People want Jesus Barabbas, though a criminal, his sin does not matter and should not be paid for. Sin is dismissed of having no consequences. Everyone is doing it so what?
Notice the crime of Jesus, the Messiah? “The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[e] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.” Matthew 26:63-66.
Jesus said He is God, the Messiah – the anointed One. That is his crime. He came to save all and for that He is being killed to accomplish the purpose for which He came. Do not feel sorry for Jesus the Christ. He came to die. We should feel sorry for ourselves for the choices we make.
Many today are comfortable and choosing the Jesus who is not God. The Jehovah Witnesses (JW) and the Mormons worship Jesus, the created being. The JW’s Jesus is Michael the Arc Angel. The Mormons say Jesus and Satan are “spirit brothers” born to God the heavenly Father with one of his many wives. This is the real blasphemy and falsehood from hell. Read John 1:1-3 and see the Jesus who created all things and who is God. Only Jesus, the God can save. I do not want any Jesus who is not God.
Who is your Jesus? Is he the one who went to the crossed, was crucified, and rose from the dead ascended to heaven and coming back soon as He declared? Is He the Jesus who said to go tell everyone he is risen from the dead? Is He the Jesus that said he has given us power to go make disciples and teaching them all He has taught us? Is he the Jesus who said if you are ashamed of me, I shall be ashamed of you when I come in presence of God the Father? Is He the Jesus who healed many and performed miracles and still doing the same today? Is He the Jesus who said He will never leave us nor forsake us?
Who is your Jesus? “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” Philippians 1:29. There is suffering in trusting the true Jesus. Let’s embrace it.
Lord, reveal the true Jesus to us. Help us to follow you and proclaim your power to save from sin and be reconciled to God. Help us to love as much as you have loved us even to dying on the cross for us. Amen.
Believe and trust the right Jesus and tell someone about the true Jesus that saves from sin.
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