Luk 23:22-24 | KingComments | STEP | Luke goes from Pilate’s proposal to punish and to release the Lord immediately on with the statement that Pilate had to release someone at the feast. Pilate sees this as a new opportunity to do justice to his determination of the innocence of the Lord on the one hand, and to satisfy the blood thirst of the Jews on the other. (Releasing someone at the feast can be a habit that the Jews have negotiated as a symbol of their deliverance from Egypt by God.) Pilate believes that by using Barabbas as a comparison with Christ, he has someone they would rather not have seen at large. He is wrong again. Not that the Jews do not want to see blood, but they want to see the blood of Jesus and not only through scourging, but that it is shed in death. They preferred a murderer over the Prince of life. It is a repetition of the garden of Eden where man exchanged the God of life for him who is the murderer of man from the beginning ( ). Massively and hysterically they cry out, led by the prince of darkness and by the whispers of leaders, their choice. It is clear: “Away with this man!” Without a cause He is hated ( ) and rejected. They are possessed by only one thing: His death. They want to see everyone free, as long as it is not Him. The Lord’s silence during this whole spectacle is impressive. The silence of God is more terrible than His speech in discipline. God’s silence is as if someone were thrown into a pit ( ). Although the Lord says nothing, His presence reveals the hearts of all who are there. It is for or against Him. There is no one for Him. The choice is without any doubt for Barabbas because the choice is made against Him. In Barabbas we see both characteristics of satan expressed. We see in his troublemaking the corruption of satan and we see his violence in the murder he committed. He is the crafty “serpent” ( ) and the “roaring lion” ( ). Barabbas means ‘son of the father’. It is clear that he is a son of the devil and a danger to the people. The fact that they choose him makes it clear how corrupt the condition of the people is. With raised voice Pilate once again tries to bring the people to reason, because he wants to release Christ. It is all in vain. They have made the judgment and he must execute it, whether he will or not, and whether there is a legal basis or not. Pilate still doesn’t give up. For the third time, he personally establishes the innocence of the Lord Jesus. He asks again: “What evil has this man done?” Let them say it. To him the matter is clear. Once again, he makes his distorted proposal to punish the Lord before releasing Him, despite the fact that he has made such an abundant testimony of His innocence,. The crowd cannot be persuaded. They continue to cry out their demand that He must be crucified. Law and truth have long since stumbled and been trampled underfoot ( ). Nothing is important in the case of this process when it comes to the question of truth and law. The only thing is the outcome and that is certain: He must be crucified. They shout over the voice of Pilate who gives in and does what they asked.

‏ Luke 23:22-24

Barabbas Chosen

Luke goes from Pilate’s proposal to punish and to release the Lord immediately on with the statement that Pilate had to release someone at the feast. Pilate sees this as a new opportunity to do justice to his determination of the innocence of the Lord on the one hand, and to satisfy the blood thirst of the Jews on the other. (Releasing someone at the feast can be a habit that the Jews have negotiated as a symbol of their deliverance from Egypt by God.)

Pilate believes that by using Barabbas as a comparison with Christ, he has someone they would rather not have seen at large. He is wrong again. Not that the Jews do not want to see blood, but they want to see the blood of Jesus and not only through scourging, but that it is shed in death. They preferred a murderer over the Prince of life. It is a repetition of the garden of Eden where man exchanged the God of life for him who is the murderer of man from the beginning (Jn 8:44).

Massively and hysterically they cry out, led by the prince of darkness and by the whispers of leaders, their choice. It is clear: “Away with this man!” Without a cause He is hated (Psa 69:4a) and rejected. They are possessed by only one thing: His death. They want to see everyone free, as long as it is not Him.

The Lord’s silence during this whole spectacle is impressive. The silence of God is more terrible than His speech in discipline. God’s silence is as if someone were thrown into a pit (Psa 28:1). Although the Lord says nothing, His presence reveals the hearts of all who are there. It is for or against Him. There is no one for Him.

The choice is without any doubt for Barabbas because the choice is made against Him. In Barabbas we see both characteristics of satan expressed. We see in his troublemaking the corruption of satan and we see his violence in the murder he committed. He is the crafty “serpent” (2Cor 11:3) and the “roaring lion” (1Pet 5:8). Barabbas means ‘son of the father’. It is clear that he is a son of the devil and a danger to the people. The fact that they choose him makes it clear how corrupt the condition of the people is.

With raised voice Pilate once again tries to bring the people to reason, because he wants to release Christ. It is all in vain. They have made the judgment and he must execute it, whether he will or not, and whether there is a legal basis or not.

Pilate still doesn’t give up. For the third time, he personally establishes the innocence of the Lord Jesus. He asks again: “What evil has this man done?” Let them say it. To him the matter is clear. Once again, he makes his distorted proposal to punish the Lord before releasing Him, despite the fact that he has made such an abundant testimony of His innocence,.

The crowd cannot be persuaded. They continue to cry out their demand that He must be crucified. Law and truth have long since stumbled and been trampled underfoot (Isa 59:14). Nothing is important in the case of this process when it comes to the question of truth and law. The only thing is the outcome and that is certain: He must be crucified. They shout over the voice of Pilate who gives in and does what they asked.

Delivered to Be Killed

Pilate makes a decision that defies all reasonableness. He will think he could not do otherwise. The reality is that he chooses against the Lord. He too is a puppet of satan. At the same time, he is fully responsible for this verdict. As the representative of the ruling authority, it is his decision.

If Christ is the stake, all means are deployed to reject Him. That is what is happening here. The fact that it is God’s time to fulfill His counsel does not in any way change or diminish man’s responsibility. Man will never be able to provide a valid excuse for this greatest crime of all times.

Pilate can only continue on the path of injustice. Luke emphasizes what kind of man he releases and that on the basis of their demand. It shows the total blindness of man who chooses against Christ. Whoever rejects Christ chooses the man of violence and blood. Pilate delivers Christ to their will. They can do with Him whatever they want. He wants to be rid of it. He must put an end to this popular uproar. Peace must return.

But what about the peace for his conscience? According to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, Pilate committed suicide. Be that as it may, one day he will have to answer before the judgment seat of Christ for all his evil deeds. Then he is the accused, and a righteous judgment will be pronounced on him and executed on him.