Handling Our Options

Matthew  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  37:46
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Reading: Jn 18.36-40
John 18:36–40 ESV
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Theme: Life continually gives us options, what we do with each one matters.

Pilate saw himself as having options.

Prisoner release was a power play to make the people feel they had a good ruler.

This was not a requirement in the ancient world, but a way of keeping people contented. There are records of many of the Roman rulers around the known world doing just this.

Pilate knew who he was dealing with.

Matthew 27:18 ESV
For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
Matthew 27:23 ESV
And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
There never was a single thing Jesus did to deserve this treatment.
The song Jesus Messiah says, “He became sin, who knew no sin, that we might become His righteousness...”

Pilate had advice from his wife.

Matthew 27:19 ESV
Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”
While I know the importance of listening to my wife, it was not a common practice among Roman rulers. There are many accounts of dreams being viewed as messages from the Roman gods. This is not an admission that she had a relationship with the one true God.
It is amazing that we even have this recorded for us. It really points out that Christians do support and recognise the role of women.

Pilate believed Jesus innocent of the crimes.

Matthew 27:23 ESV
And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate underestimated either the mood of the mob or the influence of the Jewish leaders, or both.

The section of Scripture we read earlier showed that Pilate had already had the conversation about truth. While there is no indication that Pilate accepted Jesus as his saviour, he is indicating here that he believed Jesus was a better source of truth than the religious leaders.

Pilate chose an option that made himself look innocent while allowing grave injustice.

Matthew 27:24 ESV
So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
He believed it would extend his power, his reign, his authority. He believed history would treat him well for it, but none of that happened.

Barabbas thought he had used up his options.

He was notorious. v16

This was above average bad - he was Notorious/ infamous! Barabbas was, quite possibly, a member of the Zealots. The disciple Simon was also a member of this group.

He was a murderer.

Mark 15:7 ESV
And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.
Luke 23:19 ESV
a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.
Jesus has already referred to the 6th commandment several times in Matthew chapters 5,10; 19

He was part of an insurrection - the very charge against Jesus Christ.

Given options, people will often reveal their motives. Barabbas had lived his life to personally make his view of God’s will happen. In doing so he was willing to break God’s explicit commands.

He was condemned to die for his sins.

The swap was totally unexpected by Barabbas. He could have easily been one who was hanging on a cross that weekend. In God’s divine plan, it is not over till it’s over. As long as we have breath, God can … (fill in the blank).

The religious leaders chose many bad options.

They chose to seek political answers to their spiritual problem.

They gathered together in front of Pilate for this very reason! verse 17a

They chose the option of envy!

Matthew 27:18 ESV
For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
Now they are breaking commandment #9

They chose to destroy.

it is interesting that what the religious leaders were asking for was the destruction of Jesus. They could not come to repentance, the the acceptance of God’s plan, to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore they seek to have the evidence destroyed. The Greek text uses a word here, ἀπόλλυμι apóllumi; means to forcefully destroy the evidence.

The religious leaders chose the MOB option over peace and order.

Matthew 27:20 ESV
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
Mob rule does not bring people to godliness.

Jesus Christ laid down his options.

Jesus is submissive through this whole sham!

To seek and save the lost...
To lay down his life....
To fulfil even more Scripture.....

Conclusion: What we do with the options life brings our way matters.

We do not celebrate the life of Pilate, Barabbas, or any of the religious leaders today. We celebrate the one who laid down his life to save us from our sins and ourselves.
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