Saturday, August 1, 2015

Gospel Gem: Death Sentence

Synergy of Matthew27:15-26/Mark15:6-15/
Luke23:17-25/John19:4-16


Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner,
whom they would.
And they had then a notable prisoner,
called Barabbas which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him,
who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Therefore when they were gathered together,
Pilate said unto them,
Whom will ye that I release unto you?
Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

The Jews answered him,
We have a law,
and by our law he ought to die,
because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
And went again into the judgment hall,
and saith unto Jesus,
Whence art thou?
But Jesus gave him no answer.
Then saith Pilate unto him,
Speakest thou not unto me?
knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee,
and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered,
Thou couldest have no power at all against me,
except it were given thee from above:
therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him:
but the Jews cried out, saying,
If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend:
whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying,
he brought Jesus forth,
and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement,
but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Then came Jesus forth,
wearing the crown of thorns,
and the purple robe.
And it was the preparation of the passover,
and about the sixth hour:
and he saith unto the Jews,
Behold your King!

But they cried out,
Away with him, away with him, crucify him.

Pilate saith unto them,
Shall I crucify your King?
The chief priests answered,
We have no king but Caesar.

When he was set down on the judgment seat,
his wife sent unto him,
saying,
Have thou nothing to do with that just man:
for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude
that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
The governor answered and said unto them,
Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?
They said, Barabbas.

Pilate saith unto them,
What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?
They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
And the governor said,
Why, what evil hath he done?
But they cried out the more, saying,
Let him be crucified.
And he said unto them the third time,
Why, what evil hath he done?
I have found no cause of death in him:
I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing,
but that rather a tumult was made,
he took water,
and washed his hands before the multitude,
saying,
I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Then answered all the people, and said,
His blood be on us, and on our children.

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison,
whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
And so Pilate, willing to content the people,
released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus,
when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
----------------------------------------------------
Isaiah Adds - He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. Isaiah 53:8
"If you would see what man will do when he rejects the influence of the grace of God, look to that
scene in the judgment hall, when the infuriated mob, headed by Jewish priests and elders, clamored for the life of the Son of God. See the divine Sufferer standing by the side of Barabbas, and Pilate asking which he should release unto them. The hoarse cry, swelled by hundreds of passionate, Satan- inspired voices, is, "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas" (Luke 23:18)! And when Pilate asked what was to be done with Jesus they cried, "Crucify him, crucify him" (Luke 23:21)!
Human nature then is human nature now."
Selected Messages vol.2,p.129 E.G.W.