Surrendered To Their Will

September 30

(Luke 23:11-25 NIV) ““Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. {12} That day Herod and Pilate became friends--before this they had been enemies. {13} Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, {14} and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. {15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. {16} Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." {17}  {18} With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" {19} (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) {20} Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. {21} But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" {22} For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him." {23} But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. {24} So Pilate decided to grant their demand. {25} He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.””

(Matthew 27:19-26 NIV) ““While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." {20} But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. {21} "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered. {22} "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" {23} "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" {24} When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" {25} All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" {26} Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.””

(Romans 12:1-2 NIV) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. {2} Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We learn four things today. First, “passing the buck” is not a new phenomenon. Politicians, pundits, and preachers have done it for centuries. When Pilate passed the buck to Herod, Herod passed it back, and they became friends. Second, power corrupts. It corrupts because some have it and some don’t -- and those who have it will pay just about any price to keep it. Pilate was such a man. Third, having power and being spineless is a bad combination. We see it in many leaders today. When faced with the innocent Jesus, Pilate succumbed to the pressures of the crowd. He forfeited power to stay in power. Holding onto his position became more important than true justice. And fourth, one cannot do “their will” and “God’s will” at the same time. We will either conform to the will of the world, or we will be transformed to obey the will of God. We cannot do both. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day