Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. (Luke 23:8-9)
This is not the Herod who put forth the decree to kill all the firstborn males when the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem looking for ...He who has been born King of the Jews? (Matthew 2:2) (read "King Herod the Great") This is the Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded. (Matthew 14:1-12) (read "Herod Antipas") Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him. (Luke 9:7-9; see THE GOSPEL: Herod, Herodias & John; Bad Choices & Results)
On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem." (Luke 13:31-33) Herod had desired to meet Jesus for a long time, and now the time had come and Jesus answered him nothing. Imagine how frustrating this must have been for him. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23:10-12)
Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. (Mark 15:6-10; Matthew 27:15-18; John 18:39) Even a non-Jew could see the Jewish religious leaders real motives.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” (Matthew 27:19) But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. (Matthew 27:20-21; Mark 15:11; John 18:40) What a wise wife! But the religious leaders would rather a known murder go free, instead of a man they witnessed healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead! Peter would one day testify to the Jews this exact thing, by saying, "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,..." (Acts 3:13-14)
Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). (Luke 23:13-17)
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ [*whom you call the King of the Jews]?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” (Matthew 27:22-25; *Mark 15:12-14)
Unbelievable! They would rather murder an innocent Man and be cursed and their children cursed, rather than letting Him go free. God had commanded the children of Israel not to kill an innocent person, "lest innocent blood be shed in the midst of your land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and thus guilt of bloodshed be upon you." (Deuteronomy 19:10) But as the Jewish religious leaders have done throughout this whole farce of a trial, they have broken all of God's commandments regarding a trial, false witnesses, and sentencing. Later, they would arrest the Apostles, And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” (Acts 5:27-28) Again, unbelievable!
And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”— who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Then
he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have
found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” (Luke 23:18-22) So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate
then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out
to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” (John 19:1-4)
Scourge isn't just a beating, but oftentimes is a beating that leads to death. It is a pulverizing of the human body. (Pictures are too graphic to include, but can be seen by google searching "scourge wounds") "The Roman scourge, also called the "flagrum" or "flagellum" was a short whip made of two or three leather (ox-hide) thongs or ropes connected to a handle... The leather thongs were knotted with a number of small pieces of metal, usually zinc and iron, attached at various intervals. Scourging would quickly remove the skin. ... The leather was knotted with bones, or heavy indented pieces of bronze. Sometimes the Roman scourge contained a hook at the end and was given the terrifying name "scorpion." The criminal was made to stoop which would make deeper lashes from the shoulders to the waist." (read "The Roman Scourge")
Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Then
Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I
have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You
could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from
above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:5-11)
Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed? Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins? (Lamentations 3:37-39) From the very beginning, God's penalty for sin is death. As God prophesied through Isaiah, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus suffered all of this in our place, not for us but instead of us. But just like He said about Judas Iscariot, "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” (Mark 14:21) And the same is true about the Jewish religious leaders, "Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” Peter would testify to this fact also, "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified,..." (Acts 2:23)
From
then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying,
“If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes
himself a king speaks against Caesar.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:12-15)
The children of Israel had made a similar blasphemous statement in the past, when they had judges over them appointed by God, but came to Samuel saying, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” (I Samuel 8:6-9) Just as back then, this statement, “We have no king but Caesar!” would prove to be disastrous for them.
But God doesn't force Himself on us. He has given us freewill, and if we are determined to do things our way and disregard Him and His Word, He will forewarn us; but in the end, He will heed our voice, allowing us to have what we think we want, just as He did here, and we will have to live with and deal with the consequences. But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will. (Luke 23:23-25) ...and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. (Mark 15:15; Matthew 27:26) ...So they took Jesus and led Him away. (John 19:16)
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