The Weakness of Pilate

As we try to wrap our minds around this whole Easter thing this week, here's the question: What was Pontius Pilate thinking when he set the murderer, the insurrectionist Barabbas free, yet ordered Jesus the Son of God to be crucified? What in the blazes was going on here?  Look, Pilate was no fool. As Roman governor, he was well-versed in judging guilt and innocence. And when Jesus stood before him, Pilate saw straight through the trumped-up accusations. John 18:38 I find no basis for a charge against him. (NRSV) In fact, he declared Jesus innocent three times. He knew it. He even tried to set Him free. But in the end, Pilate bowed to pressure. He allowed his fear of the surging, angry mob to override the plain truth. That's incredibly tragic, but also rather familiar. Like Pilate, how often have we known the right thing, yet shrunk back under pressure; weighing public opinion, fearing rejection, remaining silent when we should have stood firm? And yet, Jesus didn't flinch. His integrity, His profound decency, His commitment to the task before Him, stood in stark contrast to the hypocrisy and manipulation that surrounded Him. John 18:37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. (NRSV) Jesus was condemned not because He was guilty but because His goodness exposed the darkness of those in power. He didn't resist. He didn't beg because He was standing in for you and me. The only truly innocent man that the world has ever known was judged guilty not by truth, but by fear. And He allowed it… for you. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.