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Luke 23 18-25 THE WILL OF MAN 01 Luke 23 16-19 His disciples were not present
📖 Luke 23:18-25
Mon29Nov2021 – His disciples were not present - Luke 23:18-25 - THE WILL OF MAN (01) - Bible reading: Matthew 27:15-21
The Lord identified with us, who are wretched. He took our place before God so that we could be one with Christ and enjoy the fullness of life.
Though the Lord has done everything for our good, we are reluctant to return to the Lord of heaven and earth. Humanity, in general, continues to reject God. This is heartbreaking. When God has demonstrated His love for us, we are not inclined to repent and return to Him.
Friends, we have completed the study of Luke 23:06-17, which we had titled THE LORD WATCHES. This study was of 14 units.
We now begin a new study. This is Luke 23:18-25 and we will title this study as THE WILL OF MAN.
Luke 23:18-19 And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"— (19) who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
Pilate was trying to find some way to release Jesus. He was appealing to the crowd, hoping that there would be someone from the crowd, who would seek Jesus to be set free but there was no one.
The entire crowd asked for Barabbas to be released.
I was strongly against this crowd and questioned why there was not a single person to speak on behalf of our Lord.
This crowd had been supportive of Jesus, even until the previous day of the trial, yet, how could they have changed so quickly and diametrically against Christ? This crowd was not only, not supportive of Jesus, but they, vociferously wanted the release of Barabbas and Jesus crucified.
We said that we are like this crowd. We change very quickly and we compromise with the world. Our commitment to Jesus is inconsistent. This shows how much we need to be dependent on the Lord and not on our own strength.
Yet, the question remains. Why did this crowd change so quickly?
The answer, in my mind, lies in the fact that not one of the disciples of Jesus was present amongst the crowd. The crowd would have seen the twelve disciples with Jesus. The crowd was now searching to see if any of the disciples were present at this trial of Jesus. The disciples who had walked with Jesus for three and a half years were not present when Pilate gave the final decision for the crucifixion of Jesus. They had all run away.
The crowd would have naturally expected the disciples to be present and shouting out to Pilate, on behalf of Jesus. The crowds would have wanted the disciples of Jesus to be prepared to face the anger of the Jewish leaders and be faithful to Christ. When Jesus’ own disciples had abandoned Him, who were they to take a stand for Jesus?
If any of the disciples had been there and had shouted out for Jesus then maybe some from the crowd too would have rallied with them but the disciples were conspicuously absent .
Friends, this is frightening. This is about us, those who have walked with the Lord for many years. Those in the peripheries of the church, those who are new in their walk with the Lord, those who are sincere seekers, are looking at us, those who claim to be disciples of Jesus.
People are watching our behaviour and our responses at critical times in history. If we, long-time disciples of Jesus, remain silent and non-committal on issues that are against God, then others become disillusioned.
They become angry and they brand the disciples of Jesus as hypocrites and they are right. Those who turn away from Christ, because of us, also become those who are the most vociferous against Christ.
Let us now turn our attention on this man, Barabbas.
Matthew 27:15-21 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. (16) And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. (17) Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ ?" (18) For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. (19) While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." (20) But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. (21) The governor answered and said to them, " Which of the two do you want me to release to you ?" They said, "Barabbas!"
Pilate now looked at another way to release Jesus. He realized that at the time of the feast of the Passover, the Governor had a custom of releasing a prisoner, whom the people requested.
Pilate imagined that if he would contrast Jesus against Barabbas, before this Jewish crowd from Jerusalem, they would be appalled and wake up out of their folly. They would quieten down and not press for Jesus to be crucified.
This was Barabbas’s profile.
A death-row criminal.
A notorious prisoner, who had been thrown into prison with his fellow rebels for a certain rebellion made in the city of Jerusalem.
A murderer
A robber
An established felon from the city of Jerusalem.
Pilate thought of presenting Barabbas before the people and having Jesus released. Even this plan of Pilate failed.
Thought to ponder
As a disciple of Jesus, are you standing at the crossroads of life, directing people to Jesus? Or are you a secret disciple of Christ?