Peoples Choice

2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

John 18:33-40

³³Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" ³⁴"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"³⁵"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" ³⁶Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."³⁷"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."³⁸"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. ³⁹But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?" ⁴⁰They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

Pilate was the governor at that time. And governors are in charge of their people therefore they have to power to keep a prisoner in jail or to let him out. Governors in Roman times also acted as judges therefore the people took Jesus to Pilate to be judged. In all Gospels, Pilate is shown to hesitate in sending Jesus to His death. However, in the end Pilate allows the peoples choice to overrule his hesitations.

I can sit here and condemn Pilate for what he did and say he was a bad man and cowardly for not following his own feelings. But if Pilate didn't allow this than the prophecy's in the old testament would never have come to pass. Pilate was used by God to allow the crucifixion to happen. Pilate was just an instrument who was used to condemn Jesus to his untimely death.

God will use people for good or bad to make sure His will is done. However that might sound He would never force people to do something. Yes, Pilate had a choice. He could've ultimately let Jesus go and set him free. Yet, if that would've happened God would've used someone else. As we live; As I live there are situations that I am put in that I need to seriously listen to what God wants. I have my own choices to make but God can want me to do something different therefore I need to keep my eyes and ears open to make the right decisions for Him.

Lord,
Thank you for allowing me to make my own decisions. You have given me free will to live my life yet I want to live it for you and with you. I want to be next to you hearing your voice. Forgive me for the MANY wrong decisions that I have made that my flesh made instead of my spirit. I am only human but my spirit is yours.
I forever love you always
Amen