Verses 1-5, “Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?' He answered and said to him, 'It is as you say.' And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, 'Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!' But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.” Someone claiming to be a king would not be so meek and humble, which may have been why Pilate marveled that Jesus would not defend himself. We read in Luke 23 that their accusations against Him were, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” The real problem was that Jesus represented the truth and shed light on their sins, but they had to make Him a threat to the Roman government to get their will accomplished. True Christians are the enemy of the world and they will also make us a threat in order to silence us.
Verses 6-11, “Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, 'Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?' For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.” Notice the evil that would cause the chief priests to stir others up against Jesus, when He had done nothing deserving of death. They would rather release and receive unto themselves a murderer, than receive the only pure sinless One to ever walk the earth. Modern day Pharisees would rather yoke up with unbelievers and enemies of Christ, than to hear and obey the truth of God. It's amazing how they know the scriptures, but cannot recognize what they are doing.
Crucifixion was typically a long and painful way to die, but Jesus' death was even miraculous. Verse 44 says, “Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.” Up until that point, he even spoke with a loud voice, when others might not have been conscious and too weak to talk. Verse 37, “And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.” In John 19:30, we see that He gave up His life, “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” No one took His life from Him, but rather He willingly gave His life for ours. John 10:17-18, “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” Even though He was mocked for not saving Himself, He truly had the power to do so at any time. Verses 29-31, “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!' Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, 'He saved others; Himself He cannot save.' ”
Knowing that He could have escaped this torturous death, but endured it for us anyway, should affect our hearts. Think about the things we are unwilling to give up for Him, and the things that come before Him in our lives that are so insignificant in comparison. The reality is that we should be willing to sacrifice it ALL because He is worthy! Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
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