Life of Jesus Give us Barabbas!

Matthew 27:20-26
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. Which of the two do you want me to release to you? asked the governor. Barabbas, they answered. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ? Pilate asked. They all answered, Crucify Him! Why? What crime has He committed? asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, Crucify Him! (20-23) Pilate did not expect the choice for release to be Barabbas, having underestimated the intensity of the effort on the part of Jewish religious leaders to do away with Jesus The governor continues to uphold Jesus innocence and appealed to the crowd for mercy Pilates only concern on behalf of Rome was the threat of insurrection, and it was clear that Jesus was not politically motivated so he asks, what crime has He committed? The crowd had no answer, so in calling for crucifixion they shouted all the louder This is a typical expression of unrepentant sin when logic fails, increase the volume When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this mans blood, he said. It is your responsibility! All the people answered, Let His blood be on us and on our children! The he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. (24-26) Pilate warned Jesus, Dont You realize I have power to free You or crucify You? to which Jesus responds that he had no power other than given from above (John 19:10-11) Even on a human level, Pilate demonstrates a lack of courage, decisiveness, and leadership Though he claimed no responsibility and ceremonially washed his hands, Pilate was not innocent of this mans blood for Jesus made atonement for his sin as well as our own Led by the Pharisees, the mob mentality of the people expressed a curse upon themselves Jerusalems destruction in 70 AD has been interpreted as the fulfillment of these words After releasing Barabbas, Pilate had Jesus flogged prior to the actual crucifixion Roman floggings were brutal Pilate possibly thought this torture would satisfy the crowd A leather whip called a flagellum was made of multiple straps of leather with metal and bone knotted into its thongs which sliced the flesh as the whip was pulled with each lash It was common for victims of Roman floggings to die as a result of blood loss and shock The Jews limited the number of lashes to forty, but the Romans recognized no limitation As a result of facial blows and the flogging, Jesus was literally beaten beyond recognition He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised and we esteemed Him not (Isaiah 53:3)