It Is as You Say

"It Is as You Say” - Matthew 27:11-26 The real grievances (humiliation, offense) against Jesus were "religious," and it was on this basis that He was judged. But religious charges had no weight in the court of Rome. Knowing them, when they bring Him to Pilate, they bring political accusations against Him (Luke 23:2): He was a threat to the empire; He perverted the nation so that it would not pay taxes, then it was to destroy the prosperity of the empire; That He wanted to be King, was a threat to Pilate's power and position; Pilate asks: Are you the King of the Jews? And Jesus said to him, "You say so. Pilate

(14) "marveled greatly."

I. A day of celebration in the village.

A. It was the most sublime day (extraordinary, eminent elevation) for the redemption (salvation) of the people.

1. It was a day for the people; the Roman authorities appealed to the people with the act of "releasing a prisoner" at Easter time.

2. (Mark 15:7) A rebel against Rome, for he seemed to be popular among the people, for the same evil of all.

3. Pilate gives them a choice between Jesus and Barabbas.

4. Pilate is not surprised; he knew that public opinion had been partly formed "by the chief priests," "who were envious of Jesus."

5. (Matthew 27:19) Pilate's wife with great conviction hastens to send a message; "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, Jesus was according to righteousness; Beware of the Righteous!

6. She tells him to take an attitude of doing nothing against Jesus: she had had a very disturbing, distressing, worried "dream" about Him.

7. This represented an honorable testimony in favor of the Lord Jesus, by calling Him Righteous, precisely when He is tried as a criminal.

8. (Matthew 27:20-23) The chief priests and elders were spreading the word for the release of Barabbas and the death of Jesus.

9. So, when Pilate again asked the people whom they wanted him to release, they cried out for the murderer.

10. Caught in the net of his own indecision, Pilate asked, "What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?"

11. The crowd unanimously demanded that He be crucified, an attitude that was incomprehensible to the governor.

12. Why should they crucify Him?

13. What crime had He committed?

14. But... had stirred up a mass hysteria (agitation).

15. The cries were: Let Him be crucified!

16. (24) It became evident to Pilate that the people were ruthless (servant, steadfast, unable to be appeased, stilled) and that there was every place for a riot.

17. In this way he understood it, he "washed his hands" in front of the crowd declaring his innocence with respect to "the blood" of the Accused.

18. But water can never absolve Pilate of his guilt in the most serious prevarication (a crime that an authoritative judge knowingly dictates of an unjust resolution) "in the history of justice."

19. (Matthew 27:25) A frenzied crowd (furious, agitated) to worry about no guilt; they were willing to bear it: His blood be upon us and upon our children!

20. Be careful what you say: Since then, the people of Israel have stumbled in shouting, violent demonstrations, massacres, pillage, from concentration camps to gas chambers, suffering the consequences of the terrible guilt of having rejected their Messiah.

21. They still have the terrible time of Trouble ahead of them, the seven years of the tribulation described in Matthew 24 and Revelation Chaps. 6 - 19.

22. All evil will be until they recognize the rejected Jesus as their Messiah and King.

23. (Matthew 27:26) Pilate released Barabbas to them, and the spirit of Barabbas has dominated the world ever since.

24. The murderer is still on the throne, the Righteous King rejected.

25. Then, as was customary, the Condemned was "whipped".

26. A great leather whip with fragments of sharp metal was applied to His back, and each blow was ripped open in the flesh and "caused a great bleeding."

27. Now there was nothing left for that "spineless" governor to do but hand Jesus over to the soldiers "to be crucified."

28. Character = that distinguishes him, by his way of being or acting, from the others. The way an individual habitually acts.

29. It faces life's challenges and makes the person special.

30. Who imposes his decisions and does not change his ideas for any circumstance, takes the position of leader.

31. The one who records. Amen