God's Word for Me Today
Tuesday, January 1, 2002
Unwrapping a Christ-Centered Christmas!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You not only for a new day, but for a whole new year in which to celebrate Your great love and faithfulness in my life! As we turn the calendar over to January 1, 2002, I pray that You will bless me in this coming year. Keep me faithful to You. Let me live in obedience to Your Word. Use me to serve boldly in the name of Jesus. Let me never choose anyone else, but Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of my life. Keep me from evil, that I may not cause harm or pain to anyone. Fill me completely with Your Holy Spirit that every word, thought and action of my life will bring You glory and praise. This I pray in Jesus’ name.
God's Word for Me Today: Matthew 37:11-26
11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" the governor asked him. Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say." 12 But when the leading priests and other leaders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13 "Don't you hear their many charges against you?" Pilate demanded. 14 But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor's great surprise. 15 Now it was the governor's custom to release one prisoner to the crowd each year during the Passover celebration – anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious criminal in prison, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate's house that morning, he asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you – Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" 18 (He knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone, because I had a terrible nightmare about him last night." 20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and other leaders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So when the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?" the crowd shouted back their reply: "Barabbas!" 22 "But if I release Barabbas," Pilate asked them, "what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"And they all shouted, "Crucify him!" 23 "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"But the crowd only roared the louder, "Crucify him!" 24 Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!" 25 And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his death – we and our children!" 26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him.
Questions for Reflection
What is the biggest mistake you ever made? What has been the lasting consequence(s) of that mistake in your life?
Have you ever been in a situation where you have known what to do, but a crowd influenced you to make a different response? What was the outcome?
Questions for Exploration
What is Pilate’s attitude about Jesus, according to this text? (27:11-26)
What ultimately influenced Pilate’s decision as to what to do with Jesus? (27:21-26)
How did the people respond when Pilate placed the responsibility for Jesus’ death on them? (27:24-26)
Questions for Understanding
Why do you suppose that Pilate allowed the people to convince him to crucify Jesus, when he knew that Jesus was innocent?
What role did the crowd have in this overall situation with Jesus? Who do they represent?
Questions for Application
As we start a new year, ask yourself, “Where am I failing to let Jesus be Lord in my life?” Commit that part of your life to the Lord, right now!
Be still for ten minutes and ask God to show you areas in your life that need to change as we start 2002.
Pilate's "Plan"!
Pilate has always received a bad rap for his role in Jesus’ death. Is our condemnation of Pilate justified? Yes, it is. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent. He also knew that he had a custom of releasing a prisoner every year at the Passover. He was holding a notorious criminal named Barabbas (whose name interestingly means “son of the Father.) Pilate’s “plan” was to give the people the opportunity to choose between Jesus (the Son of the Father) or Barrabbas. Pilate assumed that the Jewish leaders had brought Jesus to them out of jealousy, and he further assumed that the general population would release Jesus, when given the opportunity. Pilate assumed to much. Most of all he assumed that truth is a matter of public opinion. Pilate’s plan broke down and failed, because he relied on a crowd to make a rational and just decision. He failed to consider that the crowd could be influenced by the Jewish religious leaders (and undoubtedly by many other influences!). Rather than do the right thing, Pilate let the will of the people prevail. Thus, Pilate will ever be remembered as the one under whom Jesus “suffered.” How sad that a man who knew what was right, and who had the power to enforce what was right, succumbed to evil out of concern for his worldly position, and the will of the crowd. Pilate’s “example” is an object lesson in how not to live our lives. As we move to 2002 may we live above the influence of the crowds, by focusing on the truth—THE truth—Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and praise today and forever! Amen.
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