Luke 23:25

And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Luke 23:25

Having been examined by both Pilate and Herod, Pilate wanted to release Jesus because neither of these rulers had found fault in Him. However, Pilate caved to the pressure of the religious leaders, released Barabbas the murderer, and condemned Jesus to death. Pilate “delivered Jesus to their will,” but it was God’s will that Jesus would suffer and die.

Jesus had explained to His disciples on numerous occasions that He would be delivered up to death. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that the cup be taken away from Him, yet He put the Father’s will above His own (Mark 14:36) and was obedient to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Even when the multitude came to arrest Jesus, He plainly stated that He could pray to the Father for twelve legions of angels to deliver Him (Matthew 26:53). Jesus knew exactly what was to transpire (John 18:4). So when Pilate thinks he is consenting to the will of the leaders, he is only doing what God has planned. When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, God already had a plan to restore us to a right relationship with Him, and that plan was Jesus. Jesus died so that we could have eternal life (John 3:16).

We serve a gracious and merciful God, who provided His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins so that by placing our faith in Jesus we can have peace with God (Romans 5:1).  May we live a life in complete submission to our Savior, just as He completely submitted to the Father on His way to the cross.

Pastor Jeff Mericle