Jesus is Sentenced to Die
December 20, 2021
Commentary
Pilate was trying to decide what to do with Jesus. As he pondered, a delegation approached, requesting that he honor the custom he had perpetuated, that a prisoner be released at Passover. Seizing this opportunity to release Jesus, Pilate presented the crowd with what he thought was an easy choice: Jesus or Barabbas. Barabbas was a notorious robber (John 18:40) and murderer (Mark 15:7). To his surprise, the crowd, riled up by the religious leaders, chose Barabbas instead of Jesus. This was against everyone’s best interest and Pilate was dumbfounded. Taking water, Pilate washed his hands before the crowd, proclaiming “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” They responded, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Just before Jesus’s crucifixion the Roman soldiers made sport of Him. This took place before a large “band of soldiers” (v.27) which would have been 600. There they removed His clothing and mocked Him by putting on Him “a scarlet robe” (v. 28) which many commentators say was an old discarded military uniform. They placed a crown of thorns on His head and gave Him a staff (v. 29). Then they spit on Him and beat on Him again and again (v. 30). Finally, they took off the mock regalia, put Jesus’ own clothes back on Him and led Him out to be crucified (v. 31). It was required that the prisoner carry his own cross. After carrying it for some distance, it appears that Jesus was unable to carry the cross and so Simon, a Jew from Cyrene (now Libya), was forced to carry it (v. 32).
Application
To my shame, I can think of times I have been caught up in the enthusiasm of a crowd and done what I would have preferred not to do? I pray that the Lord will help me to not do this again.
Matthew 27:15–32 (NET)
15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. 16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.) 19 As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” They all said, “Crucify him!” 23 He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!” 25 In reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe around him, 29 and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30 They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head. 31 When they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32 As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry his cross.