Gospel

You Do The Dirty Work

by Roland Crim
01/01/17
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Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” John 18:28-32 and 19:1-7 NIV

“You do all the dirty work.” Basically this is what the Jewish leaders were saying to Pontius Pilate. First they bring Jesus before Pilate, but cannot even go into the palace, due to avoiding ceremonial uncleanliness. Oh give me a break! These Jewish leaders were already so unclean, nothing they could have done would have made them any more unclean. Secondly, they did not even answer Pilate’s question as to a charge against Jesus. Pilate was just expected to accept their saying Jesus was a criminal. Who were the rulers then, the Jewish leaders or the Romans? Next, the Jewish leaders had already decided the consequences for Jesus, execution. So, Pilate was not expected to have a say in what was done to Jesus? Pilate did have Jesus flogged. Next, the form of execution had already been determined, crucifixion. Again, Pilate had not been given a say in the matter. Finally, the Jewish leaders said they had a law and that Jesus must die because He said He was the Son of God. I wonder if the Romans also had such a law. Pilate was just a pawn used by the Jewish leaders to perform their dirty work.

The Jewish leaders would not even put Jesus to death themselves. I bet they thought they could wash their hands of Jesus’ death by saying that the Romans had executed Jesus. They certainly received their proper judgement. They face eternal torment.

Through all the mockery and evil work done Jesus remained calm. He knew this was His destiny. He knew this was part of the perfect plan of the Father. He knew this is what He must accept in order for mankind to receive the gift of salvation. If this does not show how much Jesus Christ loves us, then what ever could? Jesus died a terrible death, that through Him we might be saved! What a beautiful outpouring of His love have we received! AMEN!!