Luke 23:13-25

content/bible_journal/luke_23:13-25.md

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+title = "Luke 23:13–25"
+date = "2023-02-16"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk23.13-25)
+
+Seeing that Herod had not punished Jesus, Pilate again asserts His innocence
+and his intention to let Him go.Clearly Jesus has done something to upset the
+Sanhedrin, but it hasn't been misleading the people or trying to set Himself up
+as their king. In an attempt to appease the Jewish leaders, he says he will
+punish Jesus, which probably means flogging Him.
+
+The Council members will have none of it. They want Jesus dead and they want it
+done today. It was Pilate's custom to release a prisoner for the Passover
+feast, and they demand Pilate release Barabbas. This might be the greatest
+irony of the whole story, for Luke tells us that Barabbas was actually guilty
+of the things they accuesd Jesus of: insurrection. On top of that, he was a
+murderer as well. It's the perfect example of what Jesus's crucifixion is all
+about. A guilty man goes free and the innocent man takes his place and his
+punishment. Justice is served because Jesus chose to do this, and by His
+perfectly righteous life, He is qualified to take the punishment as a
+substitute for all of us and atone for the sins of everyone.
+
+Eventually, Pilate gives in to the mob's demands. As might be expected, he was
+not a popular ruler, and the Jews were fractious under his harsh rule. He
+likely felt that he couldn't afford a riot or any other fallout caused by the
+Sanhedrin whipping up the people if they didn't get the blood they were
+clamoring for. A man makes his decision, and God's plan is fulfilled through it
+as was promised long ago.
+
+* * *
+
+Only You, O Lord, can take what was meant for evil and use it for good.