THE SCRIPTURES TELL US OF A ROMAN GOVERNOR WHO PLAYED POLITICS TRYING TO LOOSE JESUS, AND LOST!

1. The saddest scene of History- when the Judge yielded to a lynch mob, knowing right, doing wrong
2. This part of the trial of Jesus shows the 2nd time Jesus appeared before Pilate
3. Pilate alone could send out the execution squad, and he valued public order more than the life of an innocent man!

Satan knows just how to attack every man- here with political threat

I.- PILATE HAD A PLAN TO FREE JESUS! Luke 23-

Prov 16:25 -"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"

A.- PILATE FOUND NO FAULT WITH JESUS THAT COULD SUBJECT HIM TO DEATH BY ROMAN LAW Luke 23:13

1. Pilate called the people together and announced his decision as Judge- "I find no fault" clean
2. After Luke 23:6-12 Herod also found no fault- and Pilate announced this- v.15 -these two agreed
3. The Coptic and Abyssinian churches sainted Pilate for this, though Western Churches not favor

B.- THERE WAS A CUSTOM (Mark 15:6) AND IT WOULD SEEM THAT PILATE TRIED TO USE IT TO FREE JESUS

1. The custom of freeing a political prisoner on each feast day was widespread, & crowd gathered
2. Pilate chose the worst man he could find- Barabbas (Son of a Father) - - sedition, murder, etc.
3. He took a Political trick- Offer them the Worst & Jesus- & they will choose to free Jesus!

There should not have to be a tricky way of doing right -Do it straightforward, or lose value

C.- PILATE'S WIFE SENT HIM A MESSAGE TO APPEAL TO HIM TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CONDEMNING JESUS

1. Matt 27:19 tells of the result of a dream- and some would call her a Christian because of it
2. She said that she had suffered many things in the dream- what?  An uneasy heart, fear- startling
3. But Romans gave greet credence to Dreams- and this also impressed Pilate! -fear/conscience

II. THE JEWS CHOSE BARABBAS, PILATE'S FAILURE!

Prov 14:12 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"

A.- PILATE SOUGHT TO OFFER THE PEOPLE A CHOICE; THE WORST OR THE BEST, TRUST DEMOCRACY -Matt 27:18

1. He knew that the leaders had condemned Jesus because of their envy - He was a leader of people
2. So he asked the gathering mob- will it be "Son of a Father", or Jesus, called the Christ??
3. He counted on the right choice-but some prove their freedom of choice by making wrong choice

B.- THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND LEADERS OF THE JEWS STIRRED THEM UP TO MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE Matt 27:20

1. The mob had grown- but the priest's men had been busy- to make sure vote came out right
2. A few trained infiltrators can guide a mob to do their dirty work- Communists work this way
3. I would judge that Pilate had staked his Eternal Soul on a Political trick -instead of standing firm

C.- THE MESSAGE OF THE CROWD CAME LOUD AND CLEAR, AND UNANIMOUS - "CRUCIFY HIM!  CRUCIFY HIM!"

1. Strange how in excitement a crowd would choose the worst criminal instead of God's perfect Son
2. Pilate kept trying- "What shall I do with Jesus"- v.22 - he kept hoping to change some votes
3. The mob cried the louder- Crucify him- let Him be crucified!  & the mob condemned themselves

Matt 27:24 Pilate washed his hands- The Mob cried "Let His blood be on us & our children"

III. PILATE'S SHORTCUT FAILED! John 18:19-

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"- Prov 14:12

A.- PILATE CONTINUED TO TRY TO CONVINCE THE MULTITUDE, TO FIND SOME WAY, EXCUSE FOR FREEING JESUS

1. He scourged Jesus- John 19:1 -sympathy trick, then v.5 "Behold the Man" Look and Live?
2. They cried "Crucify Him", Pilate yelled back at them-"Do it yourself, I find no crime"
3. Instead of taking a stand!- Saying NO! -Pilate kept trying to get a vote to do right?

B.- THE PRIESTS PUT THE POLITICAL PRESSURE BACK ON PILATE, THEY TOO KNEW TRICKS John 18:12-15

1. When Pilate tried to free Jesus- they said "Thou art not Caesar's friend"--We'll tell on you
2. The threat, shame, or what you want to call it sealed Pilate's doom!  What logic is this?
3. This man was too selfish for office and influence to suffer such an accusation-

C.- THE CROWD VOTED THEIR OWN DEATH AND SLAVERY BY ALLOWING PRIESTS TO TRICK THEM John 18:15-

1. Pilate sat Jesus down on the "Bema"-showing him on the very throne of judgement -Prophetic
2. He railed out to the Mob- "Behold your King!"  Was he mocking, or pleading for any support?
3. They cried- "We have no king but Caesar" -Can you imagine a Jewish mob praising Hitler?

Choose carefully - there is a way that seems right- but leads to eternal death!- For you!

ARE YOU WILLING TO PROCLAIM YOURSELF A FRIEND OF JESUS BEFORE THE MOB, OR POLITICAL TRICK FOR YOU!

1. The soul that trusts on Jesus & declares it,- need never fear any man, fear God instead
2. The soul that stands true to Christian Conscience- need never fear any fraud!-or trick!
3. Do what is right quickly, and Satan will not have time to trick you with false logic