Christ Or Barabbas. Part [5] 03/02/2024 (Evening thought)

John 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, if you let this man go you are not Caesar's friend: whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.

[The Desire of Ages pp 732] Pilate’s wife saw Him on trial in the judgment hall. She saw the hands tightly bound as the hands of a criminal. She saw Herod and his soldiers doing their dreadful work. She heard the priests and rulers, filled with envy and malice, madly accusing. She saw Pilate give Jesus to the scourging, after he had declared, “I find no fault in Him.” She heard the condemnation pronounced by Pilate, and saw him give Christ up to His murderers. She saw the cross uplifted on Calvary.

She saw the earth wrapped in darkness, and heard the mysterious cry, “It is finished.” Still another scene met her gaze. She saw Christ seated upon the great white cloud, while the earth reeled in space, and His murderers fled from the presence of His glory. With a cry of horror, she awoke, and at once wrote to Pilate words of warning.

When the leaders of any nation know what is the right thing to do, and for political reasons, refuse to do so, then their guilt becomes much worse, for sin is committed against great light. Pilate knew what was the right thing to do, because not only the raw evidences dictated the truth in the matter, but God Himself got involved, by warning him directly.

John 19:13 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. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Christ Or Barabbas. Part [4] 03/01/2024 (Morning thought)

Matthew 27: 19 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.

Pilate, who represented Rome at the time, saw that those who brought Jesus to trial were driven by nefarious, and clandestine purposes, therefore, he sought to try his very best to extricate Jesus from a trial which he knew was a farce. In fact, in response to Jesus’ prayer in Pilate’s behalf, angels of God were hastily dispatched to his wife to warn her husband not to have anything to do with that “Just Man”. She sent a messenger suddenly and hurriedly into the courtroom, who then blurted out the terrible dream she was given by God.

[The Desire of Ages pp 724] Pilate looked at the men who had Jesus in charge, and then his gaze rested searchingly on Jesus. He had had to deal with all kinds of criminals; but never before had a man bearing marks of such goodness and nobility been brought before him. On His face he saw no sign of guilt, no expression of fear, no boldness or defiance. He saw a man of calm and dignified bearing, whose countenance bore not the marks of a criminal, but the signature of heaven.

[The Desire of Ages pp 732] Christ's appearance made a favorable impression on Pilate. His better nature was roused. Even now Pilate was not left to act blindly. A message from God warned him from the deed he was about to commit. In answer to Christ's prayer, the wife of Pilate had been visited by an angel from heaven, and in a dream, she had beheld the Savior and conversed with Him.

John 18:29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring you against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!