PILATE DECLARED JESUS NOT GUILTY, BUT THE PEOPLE SHOUTED CRUCIFY HIM

Luke 23, Then Pilate called together the chief priests and other Jewish leaders, along with the people, and announced his verdict: “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt against the Roman government. I have examined him thoroughly on this point and find him innocent and Herod came to the same conclusion. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. I will therefore have him scourged with leaded thongs and release him.” But now with one voice they shouted. “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” Pilate argued with them, for he wanted to release Jesus. But they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Once more, for the third time, he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. I will therefore scourge him and let him go.” But they shouted louder and louder for Jesus’ death, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. And he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder, at their request. But he delivered Jesus over to them to do with as they would and the crowd led Jesus away to his death. FRIENDS, YOU KNOW WE ARE GUILTY AND DESERVE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS, BUT JESUS NEVER SINNED, LIED OR HURT ANYONE AND HE CHOSE TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR ALL OF US. Romans 3:23-25 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins.