PEOPLE-PLEASING PILATE
and the
PRINCE OF PEACE

Pilate was a governor commissioned by Rome,
and his primary responsibilities were to maintain peace
and collect taxes in Judea.
Pilate was amazed during Jesus' trial
that Jesus made no answer when wrongly accused.
(If Jesus made no defense, Roman law demanded that Pilate pronounce against Him.)
note under Mk. 15:4 in Archaeological Study Bible
When asked by the crowd to do for them according to his tradition,
of releasing a prisoner of their choosing,
Pilate thought they may be asking for release of Jesus,
since he knew that it was for reason of envy
that the chief priests handed Jesus over to him.
But the crowd responded to the stirring of the chief priests
and sought Barabbas' release.
Then, in an effort to satisfy the crowd, the verdict was delivered.
Pilate released Barabbas. Jesus was flogged and handed over to be crucified.

To Ponder:
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, does not seek to please man,
but seeks to reconcile man to God.
When man is reconciled to God, there is a peace within.
That is the kind of peace that Jesus knew
throughout these dark days.
It has an anchoring, stabilizing influence.

Twila Charles Leichty L-24