seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Herod, the guy who murdered John the Baptist, was looking forward to meeting Jesus. He heard lots of things about Jesus. No doubt Herod heard that Jesus could turn water into the best wine on the market. I'm sure a lush who married his brother's wife and had his stepdaughter do a pole dance for one of his drunken parties, would have been salivating over meeting a man capable of turning sucky water into tasty wine. Pig.... as he was. Jesus was accused of starting an insurrection. The Chief Priests wanted Him tried for blasphemy, but Rome didn't recognize making the Chief Priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, Teachers of the Law and Elders jealous, as a crime. Jesus said they made up their laws as they went along. Jesus told them they needed to repent.
They were the men of the Temple. They had to wear a rope around their waste every time they had to enter the Holy of Holies. They put their lives on the line so the people could make their sacrifices. They controlled the Temple Tax. They controlled God and religion.... how dare this carpenter's son from Nazareth make fun of them.
They accused Him of starting an insurrection because thousands and thousands of people were always around Him. The Pharisees could only draw a crowd if they forced the people to come to them.
Now, the crowd.... I bet the crowd was peppered with men who for some reason felt an allegiance to Barrabas and "the cause". They would have been upset about the crowds entering their city for Passover. They hogged up all the good restaurants and inns. They mobbed up the streets so no one could get to work. Barrabus never bothered them. He never drew crowds of thousands that mucked up everyone's day. This guy Jesus was an outsider supported by outsiders. He threw a temper tantrum in the Temple. The Temple is a place of ritual and Jesus didn't respect ritual! The temple wasn't their problem, Rome was their problem.
Jesus showed no respect for tradition. No one does that in their town, in their temple. So, they wanted to yell.... "Lock Him Up.... Lock Him Up". But that's not how things were back then. There was no social media to spread the word that Jesus was being tried for insurrection. All they knew is what they were told. Barrabas didn't cause big crowds. He didn't bother them.... this Jesus guy.... He threw a temper tantrum in the Temple that caused lots of sacrifices to be released. He messed with the money changers. Who does that.... "Lock Him Up" .... wait.... "Crucify Him.... Crucify Him" Give us Barrabus... he's, our guy.
The trial that would have taken the United States months or years to complete, was over in less than 24 hours. Jesus was beaten and the death sentence was handed down. They used a whip on Him. It was inlaid with stone and bone. It ripped skin with every blow. Jesus was left naked and bleeding when someone said.... "That's enough, time to get to the Cross". Jesus must have thought "finally!".
"Crucify Him"
