What fears do you have? Does that fear control the decisions that you make? These are two questions that are sometimes asked and ones that we often try to avoid because they force us to take a look into our hearts. Pontius Pilate will have to make some decisions concerning the Lord Jesus Christ because the religious leaders have brought some serious charges against Jesus. Please read Mark 15:6-15 as Pilate is forced to make a decision concerning the charges brought against the Lord Jesus. We learned last week that Pilate was amazed at Jesus’ response to the charges that were brought against him. We must understand that Pilate is a career politician. The one who helped him get the governorship over Judea was found to be guilty of treason against Caesar. He doesn’t want to be next. Pilate must make a decision as they bring charges of treason against Jesus concerning Caesar. Pilates thought that he had a way to set Jesus free because of a custom of releasing someone to the crowd who was deserving of death. As you have read the passage of Scripture you know that Pilate gives them a choice between choosing Jesus- who is the King of the Jews and Barabbas who is a rebel and murderer. Pilate through this whole matter made an important observation. The religious leaders handed Jesus over to him because of their envy for him. What is envy? Basically envy is a state of ill will toward another because of something they have. Some of the religious leaders who struggled with envy toward Jesus knew that he had something that they didn’t have. Some of these men saw the miracles others only heard of miracles that Jesus was doing. Envy is a very close cousin to jealousy. Let’s stop long enough to examine ourselves for a second. In your mind are you longing for what some else had just like the religious leaders long for what Jesus has? When you think about this object that you long for, how does it affect your emotions? What is your response? For the religious leaders they are doing everything they can to get Jesus Christ out of the way. Pilate’s observation is correct. The religious leaders were controlled by fear because everyone including the gentiles were now seeking after Jesus. They feared that Rome would come and take away their control over the people and give it to someone else. Pilate was also controlled by fear. If he let Jesus Christ go, the news about Pilate letting someone go who claimed to be King of the Jews would reach Caesar’s ear and he would end up dead like the man who appointed him to his governor’s position. Jesus was controlled by God peace because he had surrendered himself and submitted himself to obey his Father’s will. Isaiah 26:3 “You (God) will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” If you surrender the control of your life to the Lord he will watch over you and you will have his peace surrounding you. Will you surrender the control of your life to Jesus today?
Categories: Weekly Sermon