And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Pilate's question declared that no evil was proved against Jesus, for he repeatedly found no fault in Him and it was met with no answer because there was nothing to accuse Him of. The crowd answered that appeal for justice with an even louder, more insistent demand that He be crucified, stirred by priests and rulers to choose Barabbas, a robber and murderer, over the pure and guiltless One. Though knowing Jesus was innocent, Pilate failed in his duty to do justice and yielded his judgment to a lawless, enraged mob, submitting the sentence to their will. The cry was prompted by Satan working through priests and people to reject Jesus and oppose the love revealing God's character, and this malicious rejection exposed his hatred and malice to the loyal universe without defeating the plan of salvation. That judgment-hall choice between Christ and Barabbas symbolizes the choice in earth's final crisis to accept Christ, the Truth, or Satan, the rebel and murderer, and that same choosing is still being made by every person in life today.
Trial Scene Before Pilate
The question belongs to the hearing before Pilate, where Jesus stood bound as a prisoner while the Jewish officials sought to have their own sentence carried out. His calm, dignified appearance bore no sign of guilt, and Pilate was reluctant to condemn Him without a substantiated charge. The episode belongs to the history of professedly pious Jews, and its place in the account links the crowd's demand for His death to the procession from Pilate's hall to Calvary.
Pilate attempted to save Jesus by setting Him alongside Barabbas, hoping the contrast between Jesus' innocence and Barabbas' guilt would lead the people to choose Jesus. He did so because he recognized Jesus as innocent and no ordinary man, yet the people rejected the choice and demanded crucifixion. When Pilate asked whom to release they shouted for Barabbas, and when he asked what to do with Jesus they cried the more for crucifixion. Pilate declared he found no fault in Him and washed his hands as innocent of His blood, yet delivered Christ into their hands, and they called for His blood to be on them and on their children.
The demand for Barabbas chose a robber and murderer rather than the Son of God, and those who made it crucified Him. The voices that cried out against Jesus even after the governor asked what evil He had done were the same voices that later praised Herod as a god.
Pilate Declares Then Yields
The question what evil had been done affirms that no evil had been proved against Jesus, for the governor had repeatedly declared Him innocent and found no fault in Him. The challenge to name His wrongdoing was met with no answer because there was nothing to accuse Him of. The crowd answered only by intensifying its demand that He be crucified, showing determination to have Him suffer death despite the lack of any proved fault and despite their own recognition of His innocence. Their insistence displayed rejection of the sinless Christ and choice of violence and injustice, with religious bigotry and prejudice at work. The priests had stirred the people to fury, and attempts to move them to pity failed.
Though knowing Jesus was innocent, the governor failed in his duty to do justice, even while wishing to avoid appearing guilty. He yielded his own judgment and lost control of the crowd, which now swayed him at its will. He submitted the sentence and the question of life to a lawless, enraged and furious mob, revealing weakness and failure to uphold justice and to judge fairly. Priests and rulers thus forced the Roman governor to work their will. His earlier compromises of conscience had left him nearly helpless, and envy and malice were allowed to overwhelm justice so that the death of an innocent man was demanded.
To appease the mob he protested that they were putting to death a man against whom they could prove nothing, yet he proposed to have Jesus beaten and released. His appeal for justice was answered with an even louder demand for crucifixion, though no proven charge stood against Him. That offer to punish instead of acquit exposed his weakness and disregard for duty.
Crowd Demands Crucifixion Unjustly
Pilate's appeal for justice — asking what evil had been done — was answered with an even louder, more insistent demand that He be crucified, showing determination to have Him suffer death despite the lack of any proved fault. The insistence persisted although Pilate had repeatedly declared Him innocent and found no fault in Him, and although the crowd itself recognized His innocence, and Pilate's attempts to move them to pity failed. Pilate protested that they were putting to death a man against whom they could prove nothing, yet proposed to have Jesus beaten and released to appease them.
The demand for crucifixion followed the cry to release Barabbas, and it was stirred to fury by the priests and rulers, the chief priests and elders, and the rabbis urging the people on. Pilate yielded to the pressure of the mob despite the failure to substantiate the charges against Jesus.
The rejection was driven by jealousy and fear that Jesus would gain authority, draw the people away, do greater works, become higher in authority and king, by hatred of His righteous, self-denying life that rebuked sin and corruption, by envy and malice overwhelming justice, by religious bigotry and prejudice, and by conviction from His pure life and holy teaching. False testimony was arranged and privately hired to condemn Him to death, thinking that by taking His life they could prevent His becoming king, yet charges could not be substantiated. Their rejection of Jesus illustrates why people also hate God's word, because it exposes sin and troubles the conscience.
The unjust demand rejected the sinless Christ in favor of violence and injustice, choosing a robber and murderer over the pure and guiltless One. God's providential control turned the act to good without lessening guilt, for by murdering Him the leaders brought about the very outcome they sought to prevent, since through death Jesus became Redeemer and Saviour of the world, Redeemer of mankind, Saviour of the fallen race, and ruler over the whole world, yet their crime remained heinous.
The multitude that had hailed Jesus as king turned to hiss, revile, humiliate, and jeer at Him as a doomed man, a cruel jeering hooting rabble scorning Him who was doomed to the cross. The contrast made His condemnation a severe test for the disciples, who saw their beloved Teacher in the hands of wicked men with their own nation clamoring for His blood and who mourned. Jesus foresaw this fickleness and inconstant favor and brought about an earlier crisis to sift unbelieving, weak, undecided, and faint-hearted professed followers, so their apostasy in the hour of horror would not sink the rest beneath fear and disappointment, overwhelm the twelve with surprise, carry them all away, or add unbearable grief and ruin of hope. The faithful few, having seen turning before for less reason, were comforted, strengthened, and prepared not to hang faith on others' opinions when professed lovers turned from Him in trouble.
Satan Exposed, God Vindicated
The cry for crucifixion after the governor's question about what evil had been done was prompted by Satan working through priests and people to reject Jesus and to oppose the love and mercy that revealed God's character, the culmination of his effort to turn people against Christ and His love. Satan and his angels stirred Jesus' own nation to demand His blood and to heap cruelty and scorn upon Him, hoping the abuse would make Him abandon His humility and meekness. His influence turned the stirred crowd into liars and murderers, and their act was witnessed by heaven and recorded for time and eternity. Satan himself stood at the head of those reviling, crucifying, and abusing the Saviour and led the cruel mob in its abuse.
This malicious rejection exposed Satan's hatred, revenge, and malice to the loyal universe and helped reveal his character to the universe. Yet the plot did not defeat the plan of salvation. All rebellion against God is directly due to satanic influence, for those who set themselves against the government of God enter into alliance with Satan, who captivates the senses, misleads the understanding, and causes everything to appear in a false light. The Jewish scribes and elders, professing great zeal for the honor of God while crying out for His Son to be crucified, deceived themselves with the belief that they were serving God, giving strong evidence of Satan's delusive power.
As with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in rejecting Moses, in rejecting God's chosen instrument they rejected Christ and insulted the Spirit of God, and the same spirit still exists in those who follow their own will in opposition to the will of God. The choice of Barabbas and the cry for crucifixion was a yoking with Satan and a bearing of the insults of Satan and his agencies, showing Satan linked with men. Their triumphant shouting in blasphemy was directed against the Commander of all heaven, who came from heaven to save a perishing world and in whose heart zeal for right and justice and for the glory of God was the highest object. Those shouting made an outward appearance of sanctity and deceived the people, though Christ had declared them whited sepulchers, and their choice gave evidence that profession of piety and of love for God and a claim to know the Scriptures neither made them sons of God nor led them to represent His character.
Though utterly helpless when priests and rulers forced even the Roman governor to work their will, Jesus trusted the word of God and withstood the power of the whole world, giving an example of living faith by which the soul becomes a conquering power and righteousness triumphs. From the manger to the cross He lived a sinless life without swerving from allegiance to His Father, thus proving false Satan's assertion that God's law could not be kept. By suffering on Calvary a cruel death of shame He proved false Satan's charges against God and vindicated God in the sight of the angels in heaven as One willing to make in man's behalf the greatest sacrifice that could be made.
Retribution and Final Reckoning
The sentence they demanded for Christ later fell upon the demanders themselves, for during Jerusalem's destruction many Jews were crucified with crosses planted around the city in great numbers. Having refused mercy and persisted in rebellion, God permitted them to follow their own purposes and withdrew the protection of heavenly intelligences, so Jerusalem was humiliated and brought low, illustrating the result of an unrighteous, disobedient course. By calling for His blood to be upon themselves and their children they brought consequences upon themselves, those words continued to trouble them and God's curse rested on them, while their hands were not cleansed from shedding the Redeemer's blood. The swelling cry had Jesus executed as a criminal, but many who joined it later realized the calamity when Jesus was missing from the feast and they learned He was dead. They would have as eagerly cried for Jesus had He still been alive, and their mourning over the sick and dying left without His healing showed that a great light had gone out leaving a blank that could not be supplied.
Those who later listened at Pentecost had taken an active part in His death with their voices mingling with the rabble throng, yet they trembled with conviction and anguish when the disciples declared by the Holy Spirit that the humiliated, spit-upon, smitten, thorn-crowned, crucified Man is the Prince of Life now at God's right hand. Those who rejected and crucified Him will see Him in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. At the final judgment sinners compelled to look upon Him still wearing humanity will remember with indescribable confusion how His love was slighted and His compassion abused.
Finite man rejected the Prince of Life and cast Christ out while heaven received Him, choosing Barabbas, crowning Christ with thorns, and calling for His death. His death brings upon the rejector of mercy God's wrath and judgments unmixed with mercy, the wrath of the Lamb, but to all who receive and believe Him it is hope and eternal life, for God exalted Him and crowned Him with royal majesty. The demand was disloyalty and denial dishonoring God by traitors in disguise whom Christ fully knows. For the unrepentant punishment hereafter is measured by light and position, so the higher the position and the greater the light of one becoming disloyal, the greater the punishment.
Choosing Barabbas Still Today
The choice in the judgment hall between Christ and Barabbas stands for the choice in earth's final crisis to accept Christ, the Truth, or Satan, the rebel, liar, robber, and murderer. Jesus is the Son of God who made the world and all things in it, while Barabbas stands for Satan personified. The roaring demand for Barabbas and for Christ to be crucified chose Satan before the Son of God and exalted Satan above Him.
That same choosing is still being made in the world today, with each person individually demonstrating by life whether he chooses Barabbas or Christ. The issue still stands whether to have Christ Jesus to rule or to have Barabbas. Rejecting the message of mercy concerning God's commandments and the faith of Jesus turns from the Son of God and joins those disloyal to Him. Rejecting the light of heaven likewise rejects Christ and the only means of cleansing from sin, leaving those who reject Him accountable to God, to be reckoned with at the final judgment. Rejecting truth when presented rejects Christ, chooses Barabbas over Him, and bears responsibility for His death, which is crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting Him to open shame.
The choice revealed character in contradiction to observed religious ceremonies. Outward appearance of sanctity deceived the people, yet a profession of piety and of love for God and a claim to know the Scriptures neither made men sons of God nor led them to represent His character. They were as whited sepulchers, reviling One who came to save a perishing world and in whose heart zeal for right and justice and for the glory of God was the highest object. Jesus rejects religious hypocrisy but never spurns a sincere penitent. Blindness came upon the people because they overlooked the word of Life and failed to search the Scriptures, and the same neglect in these last days causes many to be weighed in the balances and found wanting, when minds engrossed with things of little importance set aside eternal truth.
Their rejection shows why people hate God's word, because it exposes sin and troubles the conscience, since His pure life and holy teaching convicted them of sin. Their treatment of the innocent Jesus tests professed love for Christ. The demand was part of the apostate effort to destroy Christ, the champion of God and truth, and to sever the world's communication with heaven. Yet His death was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
The same disloyal subjects exist now and would make the same demand were Christ on earth today in human form. Their cry for His blood is like the demand of the Roman zealots that Luther be killed because he opposed their institutions and appealed to the Bible. That same eager cry for blood was repeated by the papacy against Luther when he was summoned to Worms, determined to stop the mouth of that fearless advocate of truth and to make him answer for his folly, ready to take any measure to silence him.
Pilate's question declared that no evil was proved against Jesus, for he repeatedly found no fault in Him and it was met with no answer because there was nothing to accuse Him of. The crowd answered that appeal for justice with an even louder, more insistent demand that He be crucified, stirred by priests and rulers to choose Barabbas, a robber and murderer, over the pure and guiltless One. Though knowing Jesus was innocent, Pilate failed in his duty to do justice and yielded his judgment to a lawless, enraged mob, submitting the sentence to their will. The cry was prompted by Satan working through priests and people to reject Jesus and oppose the love revealing God's character, and this malicious rejection exposed his hatred and malice to the loyal universe without defeating the plan of salvation. That judgment-hall choice between Christ and Barabbas symbolizes the choice in earth's final crisis to accept Christ, the Truth, or Satan, the rebel and murderer, and that same choosing is still being made by every person in life today.
Trial Scene Before Pilate
The question belongs to the hearing before Pilate, where Jesus stood bound as a prisoner while the Jewish officials sought to have their own sentence carried out. His calm, dignified appearance bore no sign of guilt, and Pilate was reluctant to condemn Him without a substantiated charge. The episode belongs to the history of professedly pious Jews, and its place in the account links the crowd's demand for His death to the procession from Pilate's hall to Calvary.
Pilate attempted to save Jesus by setting Him alongside Barabbas, hoping the contrast between Jesus' innocence and Barabbas' guilt would lead the people to choose Jesus. He did so because he recognized Jesus as innocent and no ordinary man, yet the people rejected the choice and demanded crucifixion. When Pilate asked whom to release they shouted for Barabbas, and when he asked what to do with Jesus they cried the more for crucifixion. Pilate declared he found no fault in Him and washed his hands as innocent of His blood, yet delivered Christ into their hands, and they called for His blood to be on them and on their children.
The demand for Barabbas chose a robber and murderer rather than the Son of God, and those who made it crucified Him. The voices that cried out against Jesus even after the governor asked what evil He had done were the same voices that later praised Herod as a god.
Pilate Declares Then Yields
The question what evil had been done affirms that no evil had been proved against Jesus, for the governor had repeatedly declared Him innocent and found no fault in Him. The challenge to name His wrongdoing was met with no answer because there was nothing to accuse Him of. The crowd answered only by intensifying its demand that He be crucified, showing determination to have Him suffer death despite the lack of any proved fault and despite their own recognition of His innocence. Their insistence displayed rejection of the sinless Christ and choice of violence and injustice, with religious bigotry and prejudice at work. The priests had stirred the people to fury, and attempts to move them to pity failed.
Though knowing Jesus was innocent, the governor failed in his duty to do justice, even while wishing to avoid appearing guilty. He yielded his own judgment and lost control of the crowd, which now swayed him at its will. He submitted the sentence and the question of life to a lawless, enraged and furious mob, revealing weakness and failure to uphold justice and to judge fairly. Priests and rulers thus forced the Roman governor to work their will. His earlier compromises of conscience had left him nearly helpless, and envy and malice were allowed to overwhelm justice so that the death of an innocent man was demanded.
To appease the mob he protested that they were putting to death a man against whom they could prove nothing, yet he proposed to have Jesus beaten and released. His appeal for justice was answered with an even louder demand for crucifixion, though no proven charge stood against Him. That offer to punish instead of acquit exposed his weakness and disregard for duty.
Crowd Demands Crucifixion Unjustly
Pilate's appeal for justice — asking what evil had been done — was answered with an even louder, more insistent demand that He be crucified, showing determination to have Him suffer death despite the lack of any proved fault. The insistence persisted although Pilate had repeatedly declared Him innocent and found no fault in Him, and although the crowd itself recognized His innocence, and Pilate's attempts to move them to pity failed. Pilate protested that they were putting to death a man against whom they could prove nothing, yet proposed to have Jesus beaten and released to appease them.
The demand for crucifixion followed the cry to release Barabbas, and it was stirred to fury by the priests and rulers, the chief priests and elders, and the rabbis urging the people on. Pilate yielded to the pressure of the mob despite the failure to substantiate the charges against Jesus.
The rejection was driven by jealousy and fear that Jesus would gain authority, draw the people away, do greater works, become higher in authority and king, by hatred of His righteous, self-denying life that rebuked sin and corruption, by envy and malice overwhelming justice, by religious bigotry and prejudice, and by conviction from His pure life and holy teaching. False testimony was arranged and privately hired to condemn Him to death, thinking that by taking His life they could prevent His becoming king, yet charges could not be substantiated. Their rejection of Jesus illustrates why people also hate God's word, because it exposes sin and troubles the conscience.
The unjust demand rejected the sinless Christ in favor of violence and injustice, choosing a robber and murderer over the pure and guiltless One. God's providential control turned the act to good without lessening guilt, for by murdering Him the leaders brought about the very outcome they sought to prevent, since through death Jesus became Redeemer and Saviour of the world, Redeemer of mankind, Saviour of the fallen race, and ruler over the whole world, yet their crime remained heinous.
The multitude that had hailed Jesus as king turned to hiss, revile, humiliate, and jeer at Him as a doomed man, a cruel jeering hooting rabble scorning Him who was doomed to the cross. The contrast made His condemnation a severe test for the disciples, who saw their beloved Teacher in the hands of wicked men with their own nation clamoring for His blood and who mourned. Jesus foresaw this fickleness and inconstant favor and brought about an earlier crisis to sift unbelieving, weak, undecided, and faint-hearted professed followers, so their apostasy in the hour of horror would not sink the rest beneath fear and disappointment, overwhelm the twelve with surprise, carry them all away, or add unbearable grief and ruin of hope. The faithful few, having seen turning before for less reason, were comforted, strengthened, and prepared not to hang faith on others' opinions when professed lovers turned from Him in trouble.
Satan Exposed, God Vindicated
The cry for crucifixion after the governor's question about what evil had been done was prompted by Satan working through priests and people to reject Jesus and to oppose the love and mercy that revealed God's character, the culmination of his effort to turn people against Christ and His love. Satan and his angels stirred Jesus' own nation to demand His blood and to heap cruelty and scorn upon Him, hoping the abuse would make Him abandon His humility and meekness. His influence turned the stirred crowd into liars and murderers, and their act was witnessed by heaven and recorded for time and eternity. Satan himself stood at the head of those reviling, crucifying, and abusing the Saviour and led the cruel mob in its abuse.
This malicious rejection exposed Satan's hatred, revenge, and malice to the loyal universe and helped reveal his character to the universe. Yet the plot did not defeat the plan of salvation. All rebellion against God is directly due to satanic influence, for those who set themselves against the government of God enter into alliance with Satan, who captivates the senses, misleads the understanding, and causes everything to appear in a false light. The Jewish scribes and elders, professing great zeal for the honor of God while crying out for His Son to be crucified, deceived themselves with the belief that they were serving God, giving strong evidence of Satan's delusive power.
As with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in rejecting Moses, in rejecting God's chosen instrument they rejected Christ and insulted the Spirit of God, and the same spirit still exists in those who follow their own will in opposition to the will of God. The choice of Barabbas and the cry for crucifixion was a yoking with Satan and a bearing of the insults of Satan and his agencies, showing Satan linked with men. Their triumphant shouting in blasphemy was directed against the Commander of all heaven, who came from heaven to save a perishing world and in whose heart zeal for right and justice and for the glory of God was the highest object. Those shouting made an outward appearance of sanctity and deceived the people, though Christ had declared them whited sepulchers, and their choice gave evidence that profession of piety and of love for God and a claim to know the Scriptures neither made them sons of God nor led them to represent His character.
Though utterly helpless when priests and rulers forced even the Roman governor to work their will, Jesus trusted the word of God and withstood the power of the whole world, giving an example of living faith by which the soul becomes a conquering power and righteousness triumphs. From the manger to the cross He lived a sinless life without swerving from allegiance to His Father, thus proving false Satan's assertion that God's law could not be kept. By suffering on Calvary a cruel death of shame He proved false Satan's charges against God and vindicated God in the sight of the angels in heaven as One willing to make in man's behalf the greatest sacrifice that could be made.
Retribution and Final Reckoning
The sentence they demanded for Christ later fell upon the demanders themselves, for during Jerusalem's destruction many Jews were crucified with crosses planted around the city in great numbers. Having refused mercy and persisted in rebellion, God permitted them to follow their own purposes and withdrew the protection of heavenly intelligences, so Jerusalem was humiliated and brought low, illustrating the result of an unrighteous, disobedient course. By calling for His blood to be upon themselves and their children they brought consequences upon themselves, those words continued to trouble them and God's curse rested on them, while their hands were not cleansed from shedding the Redeemer's blood. The swelling cry had Jesus executed as a criminal, but many who joined it later realized the calamity when Jesus was missing from the feast and they learned He was dead. They would have as eagerly cried for Jesus had He still been alive, and their mourning over the sick and dying left without His healing showed that a great light had gone out leaving a blank that could not be supplied.
Those who later listened at Pentecost had taken an active part in His death with their voices mingling with the rabble throng, yet they trembled with conviction and anguish when the disciples declared by the Holy Spirit that the humiliated, spit-upon, smitten, thorn-crowned, crucified Man is the Prince of Life now at God's right hand. Those who rejected and crucified Him will see Him in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. At the final judgment sinners compelled to look upon Him still wearing humanity will remember with indescribable confusion how His love was slighted and His compassion abused.
Finite man rejected the Prince of Life and cast Christ out while heaven received Him, choosing Barabbas, crowning Christ with thorns, and calling for His death. His death brings upon the rejector of mercy God's wrath and judgments unmixed with mercy, the wrath of the Lamb, but to all who receive and believe Him it is hope and eternal life, for God exalted Him and crowned Him with royal majesty. The demand was disloyalty and denial dishonoring God by traitors in disguise whom Christ fully knows. For the unrepentant punishment hereafter is measured by light and position, so the higher the position and the greater the light of one becoming disloyal, the greater the punishment.
Choosing Barabbas Still Today
The choice in the judgment hall between Christ and Barabbas stands for the choice in earth's final crisis to accept Christ, the Truth, or Satan, the rebel, liar, robber, and murderer. Jesus is the Son of God who made the world and all things in it, while Barabbas stands for Satan personified. The roaring demand for Barabbas and for Christ to be crucified chose Satan before the Son of God and exalted Satan above Him.
That same choosing is still being made in the world today, with each person individually demonstrating by life whether he chooses Barabbas or Christ. The issue still stands whether to have Christ Jesus to rule or to have Barabbas. Rejecting the message of mercy concerning God's commandments and the faith of Jesus turns from the Son of God and joins those disloyal to Him. Rejecting the light of heaven likewise rejects Christ and the only means of cleansing from sin, leaving those who reject Him accountable to God, to be reckoned with at the final judgment. Rejecting truth when presented rejects Christ, chooses Barabbas over Him, and bears responsibility for His death, which is crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting Him to open shame.
The choice revealed character in contradiction to observed religious ceremonies. Outward appearance of sanctity deceived the people, yet a profession of piety and of love for God and a claim to know the Scriptures neither made men sons of God nor led them to represent His character. They were as whited sepulchers, reviling One who came to save a perishing world and in whose heart zeal for right and justice and for the glory of God was the highest object. Jesus rejects religious hypocrisy but never spurns a sincere penitent. Blindness came upon the people because they overlooked the word of Life and failed to search the Scriptures, and the same neglect in these last days causes many to be weighed in the balances and found wanting, when minds engrossed with things of little importance set aside eternal truth.
Their rejection shows why people hate God's word, because it exposes sin and troubles the conscience, since His pure life and holy teaching convicted them of sin. Their treatment of the innocent Jesus tests professed love for Christ. The demand was part of the apostate effort to destroy Christ, the champion of God and truth, and to sever the world's communication with heaven. Yet His death was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
The same disloyal subjects exist now and would make the same demand were Christ on earth today in human form. Their cry for His blood is like the demand of the Roman zealots that Luther be killed because he opposed their institutions and appealed to the Bible. That same eager cry for blood was repeated by the papacy against Luther when he was summoned to Worms, determined to stop the mouth of that fearless advocate of truth and to make him answer for his folly, ready to take any measure to silence him.