As I was reading scripture this morning I noticed something that had escaped my attention previously.
In the accounts of Jesus' trial both in scripture and in various dramatic depictions of the story, Pontius Pilate seems to be an unfortunate man caught between a rock and a hard place. And when he washed his hands of the guilt of Jesus' condemnation it comes across as though he were actually forced into his ruling, playing the part of the innocent.
It always amazes me how people can twist and manipulate their stories to free themselves of their guilt. So convinced in their own innocence, they tell a good tale and paint such a good picture of their "plight", that they actually manage to convince others that the wicked situations they "find themselves in" are of no fault of their own, but that they are truly victims. It's astounding. Pilot is one of those men, in my opinion. The fact that he could find no reason to condemn Jesus, yet he did, should give us a glimpse into the kind of man he was. But if you still can't see it with that evidence before you, consider Luke 23:10-12.
"And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other."
Pontius Pilate and Herod had been enemies. But after Pilate sent Jesus to Herod who had him beaten, mocked and ridiculed, they became fast friends. If Pilate's act of washing his hands of the guilt of Jesus' death were a true indication of his innocence in the matter, he wouldn't then have become friends with the man who treated Jesus so contemptuously. The very fact that he bonded with his enemy over Jesus' mockery, beating and death is indicative of the character of the man and his guilt.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
"What has been will be again. What has been done will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun."
The Bible is such a good guide, informing us of the schemes of the devil and the way in which to deal with them. And this verse often comes to mind to reassure me that the evils that are witnessed in the world are nothing new, but rather just a different version meant to ensnare God's people.
Like Pilate, people don't yoke themselves to the wicked without having at their core, a common contempt for God.
It should be our goal to be of the same mind as God. If there is any doubt as to how God feels about this, take into consideration James 4:4.
"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
In the accounts of Jesus' trial both in scripture and in various dramatic depictions of the story, Pontius Pilate seems to be an unfortunate man caught between a rock and a hard place. And when he washed his hands of the guilt of Jesus' condemnation it comes across as though he were actually forced into his ruling, playing the part of the innocent.
It always amazes me how people can twist and manipulate their stories to free themselves of their guilt. So convinced in their own innocence, they tell a good tale and paint such a good picture of their "plight", that they actually manage to convince others that the wicked situations they "find themselves in" are of no fault of their own, but that they are truly victims. It's astounding. Pilot is one of those men, in my opinion. The fact that he could find no reason to condemn Jesus, yet he did, should give us a glimpse into the kind of man he was. But if you still can't see it with that evidence before you, consider Luke 23:10-12.
"And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other."
Pontius Pilate and Herod had been enemies. But after Pilate sent Jesus to Herod who had him beaten, mocked and ridiculed, they became fast friends. If Pilate's act of washing his hands of the guilt of Jesus' death were a true indication of his innocence in the matter, he wouldn't then have become friends with the man who treated Jesus so contemptuously. The very fact that he bonded with his enemy over Jesus' mockery, beating and death is indicative of the character of the man and his guilt.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
"What has been will be again. What has been done will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun."
The Bible is such a good guide, informing us of the schemes of the devil and the way in which to deal with them. And this verse often comes to mind to reassure me that the evils that are witnessed in the world are nothing new, but rather just a different version meant to ensnare God's people.
Like Pilate, people don't yoke themselves to the wicked without having at their core, a common contempt for God.
It should be our goal to be of the same mind as God. If there is any doubt as to how God feels about this, take into consideration James 4:4.
"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
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