Luke 23:24

Despite the convictions of the judge and despite the overwhelming evidence for the innocence of the Man Christ Jesus, we read that their voices prevailed and Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they demanded. That sentence goes directly against the evidence, and the simple but telling reason is that the "voices prevailed." When pressure becomes too strong, political judgement bows to pressure. The next verse underlines it: "he delivered over Jesus to their will." The Son of Man makes no comment on these proceedings: "like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth" (Isa. 53:7).

Pilate asked them a third time, "Why? What evil has He done?" Still struggling! Those battles are not settled in a moment. Conscience loves ease too well to yield in a moment. Pilate is on a battlefield until he is conquered.

Then Pilate gave sentence. There is the victory.

Pilate was not the last to go along with what was wrong for the sake of present advantage. Such a course may look successful at the time. Very often it turns out badly for the person in the end. Sooner or later conscience will speak and make itself heard. And the people whose favour he bought at the cost of righteousness may in the end turn round and attack the one who acted to please him. Pilate proved this… Weak, and afraid of popular opposition or resentment, he yielded against his conscience and better judgment. "The fear of man lays a snare" (Prov. 29:25).

Your conscience stirs you. You would like to be on the side of the Lord Jesus Christ… you would like to stand up for Him, to be His friend, to be on His side. But then there is the world, and you cannot give up the world… They cannot give up their Caesar. "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." The moment Pilate heard that word, the decision was made.

Pilate passed the death sentence while saying he found no fault in our Lord. That made the Gentiles guilty. The Jews shouted for His death, and that made the Jews guilty.

So all the world was proved guilty before God, but none were so deeply involved as those for whom it was least fitting. The people who had the law fell under its curse. This was not only because they disobeyed its requirements. Worse still, they were set on rejecting their own Messiah and putting Him to death — and this when the Gentile wanted to let Him go.

The man proven guilty of rebellion against the government and of murder went free. The judge sent the One he had three times declared to be without fault to be crucified!

Barabbas is seen as a chief of sinners, a rebel and a murderer. The feast of redemption offers him a possible release — but only, on the choice Pilate gave, if Jesus is given up. Jesus becomes, as it were, the Substitute for the chief of sinners… Look deeper than the evil wills of men. In the purpose of God we may see that holy Sin-offering, the true passover, which sets even a Barabbas free — not for any good in him, for Barabbas shows none.