|
|
|
|
|
7. Return to Pilate
During the feast of
Easter (Passover) it was the practise to set free one prisoner. We don't
know for certainty where the practise came from whether it was Jewish or
Roman. Many guess that the Romans invented it, in this way they would
get the favour of the Jews. So Pilate offered Jesus and Barabbas, to the Jews
asking: ‘From the two, which do you wish that I release to you’? Pilate
thought he could get rid of whole thing, because he thought that Jews through
envy gave up Jesus into his hands. The Religious leaders of
Israel didn’t knew the Holy Scriptures in this case, because they had
distorted the Word of God and changed it to the traditions of men, they did
not understand, that the time of the appearing of the Messiah of Israel had
come and it was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. The Religious leaders provoked
and excited the people against Jesus. Nowadays also the theologians and
religious leaders, who have distorted the Word of God, turn people against
Jesus Christ and the real gospel. The Scribes of theology and Priests,
function exactly the same today. Their understanding is locked into human wisdom
and the traditions of men, because of that, their hearts don't open to Jesus
Christ and the real gospel. The people select
Barabbas the prisoner, who is then released. Pilate was amazed and asked: “What
then should I do to Jesus called Christ?” The people shouted; ‘Crucify
Jesus’. Pilate was surprised and asked the Jews, ‘Why what bad thing has he
done’? The Jews shouted even harder; ‘Crucify Jesus’. And Pilate saw that
nothing is gained, but rather an uproar was occurring, so he took water and washed
his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just
one; you will see’. This was a custom of the Jews; the washing of the hands
before the people was a mark that the hand washer did not want to take the
responsibility from the matter. The Jews shouted; “Let His blood be on us
and on our children.” In this way the Jews wanted confirmation from
Pilate, that the death-sentence would be put in action. In this way Jesus was
condemned to be crucified on the cross of Calvary. The Religious leaders of
the Jews and the Gentiles, together, rejected Jesus. Jesus became the target
of the deepest possible insult. The worst criminal, rebel and killer, was
held better than Jesus was. He is the Son of the Holy God. People prefer sin
and filth than the love of God and His holiness. This is a pity. Those of you
who are disciples of Jesus don’t get depressed if this world doesn’t receive
your witness to Jesus Christ. Let us disciples of Jesus Christ join together,
because together in unity with the love and the truth of Christ we can
receive all wealth of Christ and then we will be a good and pleasant scent in
the world and in that way Jesus can conquer hearts of the people, and bring
them to Himself. Let's preach The Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit of Love and
Truth to this world.
Petri Paavola from Finland |
|
|
|
