Lent: Day 36

Pilate said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who perverts the people. I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him. Nothing worthy of death has been done by him. I will therefore flog him and release him.”

The governor’s custom was to release a prisoner at Passover to please the people. He said to the crowd, “Who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ?” Barabbas was a notorious murderer, and Pilate knew it was because of envy the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man; I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 

The chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas, and crucify Jesus. The governor asked again, “So which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They cried out together, “Away with this man! Give us Barabbas!” 

Then Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, spoke to them again, but they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

He said to them a third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no crime in him. I will therefore flog him and release him.” But they demanded with loud voices he be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 

When Pilate saw nothing was being gained, but a disturbance was growing, he took water, and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”

All the people answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!”

Pilate released Barabbas, and had Jesus flogged and delivered to be crucified. 

Reflection

 

The cruelty of those who mocked and abused Jesus knew no bounds. Some of the things humans do to one another are almost unthinkable, and yet such cruelty is all too common in human history. Have you ever been treated cruelly? Have you ever been part of a group treating others badly? Why did you go along with what the others did? 

Prayer: Help me remember how you suffered, Lord, when I see others being bullied and abused.