Pilate’s question is far more profound
than he realizes. The question is: “What evil has He done?” The governor
clearly appears to be confused. He understands, apparently, nothing about
religious energy. The old saying, “Talk about anything but religion and
politics,” is truer than you might expect. He knows that envy is the great
pusher here, but he cannot grasp the depth of intensity.
His question has multiple answers. For
Pilate, He has done nothing. No laws have been broken. No threats to stability
have been raised. For the religious leaders, He has stolen their popularity.
They have become victims of His popularity. They are in danger of completely
losing their audience. If He is not stopped, they realize with His power and
wisdom, He will soon own the whole world.
To the crowd, He is guilty of blasphemy.
This accusation is fanned by the religious leaders. A nugget of truth is built
into an unmovable mountain. Many would not have detected His subtle references
to His deity, but they did not miss them. Their problem was that His claim was
true. Through their encouragement, the crowd becomes a riotous threat to the
stability of the region that was so important to Pilate.
The issue for us is larger still. The
answer for us is that He is carrying the evil of the entire world on His
shoulders. What evil has He done?” is closer to the bigger question: “What evil
makes Him worthy of death?” He takes upon Himself the guilt of the world. He
receives the punishment that all of us deserve, so we can go free.
How Pilate would answer the question or
the crowd or religious leaders is relatively unimportant. How history answers
the question is more important, but how you answer it is the most important of
all. Has He done your evil? Has He paid for your sin? Are you standing today
free from condemnation because of Him? That only happens as we surrender our
lives to Him in trust and faith.
Next week, we shall look into the
governor’s feeble attempt to immunize himself against guilt. He stands in our
text caught between his wife’s words and the crowd’s voice. Sadly, he thinks
that a basin of water can solve everything. Jesus was offering a payment for
Pilate’s sin and no amount of water would ever be able to wash away accountability.
He is caught between politically safe and eternally secure. Even today, anyone
who thinks that a physical act within time and space can solve an eternal issue
is all wet!
Pilate’s
Question
Matthew 27:20-23
The question with regard to the
governor
a. The issue of
b. The issue of
The question with regard to the
crowd
a. The issue of
b. The issue of
The question with regard to
religious leaders
a. The issue of
b. The issue of
The question with regard to you
a. The issue of
b. The issue of