03/20/2013

• T&M 'NOT GUILTY'

  [Pilate] said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I have examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching the things whereof ye accuse him: No, not yet Herodf: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him, I will therefore chastise him, and release him.  Lk 23:14-16.

  When Yahvahosha was returned to Pilate's court, Pilate assembled the chief priest and rulers; then he told them, "Ye have brought this man unto me, as one the perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching the things whereof ye accuse him: No, not yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will chastise him, and release him."
  

  Notice Pilate said he had "examined" Yahvahosha. The Greek word anakrinas, means to examine closely, to scrutinize, or to judge judicially. You must recall that Pilate was the chief legal authority of the land. He knew Roman law and was invested with power to see that Roman law was kept. From a judicial standpoint, he couldn't find a single crime Yahvahosha had committed. Perhaps Yahvahosha had broken some Jewish religious law, but Pilate wasn't a Jew and couldn't care less about Jewish law. From a purely legal standpoint, Yahvahosha wasn't guilty. To add weight to his action, Pilate backed his view by saying, "Herod has arrived at the same conclusion as I have: This man has committed no legal offense."
  

   Knowing that the religious leaders were bent on seeing the shedding of Yahvahosha's blood, Pilate offered to chastise Yahvahosha, hoping this would appease the  bloody appetite of the mob. Had this offer been accepted, the beating would have been minor, it would have been viewed as a warning that Yahvahosha needed to limit His activities.
  

  Then Pilate announced that after Yahvahosha was chastised, he would "release" Him. When the mob heard the word "release," they jumped on the chance to reverse Pilate's decision. You see,  it was a custom at this particular time of the year for one prisoner to be "released" from prison as a favor to the people. Because Israel hated being occupied by Rome, many Jewish sons fought like "freedom fighters" to overthrow Roman rule. Therefore, each year when it came time for this big event, all of Jerusalem waited with anticipation to see which prisoner would be released.
  

  By choosing to "release" Jesus at this moment, it was if Pilate was making the choice himself which prisoner would be released--and his choice was Yahvahosha. When the people heard of Pilate's decision, they cried out, "...Away with this man, and release unto Barabbas: (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison)" (Lk 23:18-19).
  

  Who was Barabbas? He was a notorious rabble-rouser who had been proven guilty of "sedition" in the city of Jerusalem. What is "sedition?" It comes from stasis, the old Greek word for treason, which refers to the deliberate attempt to overthrow the government or to kill a head of state.
  

  It is interesting that treason was the very charge the Jewish leaders brought against Yahvahosha when they accused Him of claiming to be king! However, in the case of Barabbas, the charge was real, for he had led a volatile insurrection against the government that resulted in a massacre. Nevertheless, Barabbas' act of bravery, although illegal and murderous, made him a hero in the minds of the local population.
  

  Luke informs us that this Barabbas was so dangerous that they "cast" him into prison. The word "cast" is the Greek word ballo, meaning to throw, which suggests the Roman authorities wasted no time in hurling this low level bandit into jail for the role he played in this bloody uprising. The Roman authorities wanted him off the streets and loced up forever!
  

  Lk 23:20-21 says "Pilate therefore, willing to release Yahvahosha, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Impale him, impale him." The word "willing" is the Greek word thelo. It would be better translated, "Pilate therefore, wishing, longing, or desiring to release Yahvahosha..." Pilate searched for a way to set Yahvahosha free, but the multitude screamed for impalement.
  

  This was the first time impalement had been specially demanded by the crowd. Luke says the angry mob "cried" for Yahvahosha to be impaled. The word "cried" is the word epiphoneco, and it means to shout, scream, to yell, to shriek, or to screech. The Greek tense means they were hysterically screaming and shrieking at the top of their voice--totally out of control and without pause.
  

  Pilate appealed to them again "...Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go" (Lk 23:22). Again the Roman governor hoped that a beating might satisfy the people's bloody hunger, but "...they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be impaled. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed" (vs23).
  

  Can you think of times in your own life when your walk with Yahvahosha put you in an unpopular position with your peers? What did you do when you realized your commitment Yahvah  was going to jeopardize your job or your status with your friends? Did you sacrifice your friendship and your status, or did you sacrifice your commitment to Yahvah?
  

  PRAYER:YAHVAH, FORGIVE ME FOR THE TIMES I'VE DENIED YOU AND THE PRINCIPLES OF YOUR WORD BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID I'D JEOPARDIZE MY POPULARITY IF I REMAINED FAITHFUL TO YOU. I AM TRULY SORRY FOR THIS, AND I REPENT FOR MY WRONG BEHAVIOR TODAY. THE NEXT TIME I'M PUT ON THE SPOT AND REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS KIND OF CHOICE, PLEASE HELP ME PUT ASIDE ANY WORRY ABOUT SAVING MY OWN POPULARITY OR REPUTATION AND MAKE THE DECISION THAT HONORS YOU. I PRAY THIS IS YAHVAHOSHA'S NAME HALLELUYAH! Bro. Doc
  

  • 1:03 am
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