Irresponsible church leaders who do not realize their own sins are making the sinless Jesus into a sinner.

Irresponsible church leaders who do not realize their own sins are making the sinless Jesus into a sinner.

 

 

During the festival, it was customary for the governor to release one prisoner that the people desired.  Pilate, the governor, asked the gathered crowd whether he should release Barabbas, the notorious prisoner, or Jesus Christ.  The reason Pilate asked this was because he knew that the Jewish leaders had handed Jesus over to him out of envy.  In this process, Pilate’s wife sent a message to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”  Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified.  As a result, Pilate listened to the crowd, who shouted, “Release Barabbas!” rather than listening to his wife.  Even though Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, he succumbed to the crowd’s cries, “Crucify Him!”  He thought it would be futile to resist, and he feared that a riot might break out.  So, Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.  It is your responsibility!”  All the people answered, “Let His blood be on us and on our children!”  Then Pilate released Barabbas to them, had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified (Matthew 27:15-26, Korean Modern Bible).  As I reflect on this passage, several thoughts come to mind:

 

(1)    I think the motive of the chief priests and elders who released the infamous criminal Barabbas and crucified Jesus was “envy.” They must have been so jealous of Jesus that they crucified the innocent Jesus and released the infamous criminal Barabbas from prison. I think that envy is very dangerous. The latter half of Proverbs 14:30 Korean Modern Bible says “… Envy rots the joints.”

 

(2)    Pilate, the governor, knew very well that the Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to him out of envy, and he also knew through his wife that he should have no part in condemning the innocent Jesus.  Yet, he chose to release the notorious prisoner Barabbas and handed Jesus over to be flogged and crucified.  The reason for this was that Pilate felt it would be "a futile act with no effect (result), and he feared that a riot might break out" (Matthew 27:24, Korean Modern Bible).  What was it that Pilate, who governed Judea, hoped to achieve?  Perhaps, like King Herod, who after killing James saw that the Jews were pleased and thus sought to arrest Peter (Acts 12:1-3), Pilate also handed Jesus over to be crucified because he saw that the Jews were happy about it.  A leader who seeks to please people rather than uphold justice is already a corrupt leader. Church leaders, who are called by God to deliver the good news (gospel), do not aim to please people but to please God, who searches our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

 

(3)    Pilate, the governor, said in front of the crowd that he was not guilty of Jesus' death and that they were responsible for it (Matthew 27:24).  How could he, after handing Jesus over to be flogged and crucified as the crowd desired, still claim that he was not guilty of Jesus' death?  How could he shift the responsibility to the people of Judah instead of taking responsibility himself?  I believe that a church leader who fails to recognize their own sins is making the innocent Jesus appear guilty.