Bible Text

Luke 23:13-25 (ESV)

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. ¹⁶ I will therefore punish and release him.”

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.

• The crowd wanted to crucify Jesus despite the truth of his innocence.  What was it about Jesus that made the crowd so irrational?
• Are there things about God or his words that provoke a similar response in me?

Luke 23:23-24

• Although Pilate was in the position to release Jesus, in the end he was utterly powerless to do so.  What was it about Pilate that ultimately allowed the voice of the crowd to prevail?  What did he lack?
• What can I learn about compromise from the progression of Pilate’s responses (Luke 23:4, 16, 22, 24)?
• What kinds of “loud cries” demand me to deny Jesus or compromise my beliefs?
• What will determine my response to these “loud cries”?

Luke 23:25

• What is ironic about the outcome of the trial?
• How does this mirror what has taken place in my life?