Knowing The Word in Luke 23:18-25, Pilate Delivers Jesus to be Crucified

The name Barabbas means “son of the father.” The irony is THE Son of the Father is standing next to him. One man is guilty, the other innocent. The high priest is most likely taking advantage of his position and encouraging proponents of Barabbas to get him released. After all, why not release a real criminal rather than an innocent man! The crowd’s shout for crucifixion is the first cry for the death of Jesus. Pilate reiterates his belief in the innocence of Jesus. There appears to be a mob uprising brewing—one that Pilate decides to nip in the bud, yet the mob wins the day. The one guilty of death is pardoned and an innocent man dies in his place. Luke begins and ends by referring to the Jews, first to their demand that Pilate granted and finally to their will to which he gave up Jesus.

Luke 23:18-25

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Prayer

Teach us to look, in all our ends,

On thee for judge, and not our friends;

That we, with thee, may walk uncowed

By fear or favor of the crowd.

Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936