SOAP >> Matthew 27:11-26

S.         Matthew 27:11-26   11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. 15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

O.        The second stage of the trial; the Jews maneuvering before the governor to influence him into doing their bidding. Jesus is identified as the “King of the Jews” by the governor and Jesus becomes silent. The Jews have a criminal released (Barabbas) and Jesus is sentenced to be CRUCIFIED!

A.        Pilate and his wife knew that Jesus was innocent. From within their very souls the truth cried out to them. I must free my soul to listen and obey the voice of God crying out to me each day. My soul knows right from wrong even when my mind swayed by man-made ideas. The knowledge of sin is resident in the soul of everyone. Like the crowd in Pilate’s Judgment Hall we can be led into failure and sin when we fail to follow the truth. Only one thing blocks the voice of God, SIN. There is only one way to conquer sin, JESUS. Pilate may have washed his hands in water... but he was not made clean.

P.         Father; wash me clean today and re-new a right spirit within me. I will follow your Holy Spirit,  use me as you will. I surrender my will into your hands as your servant. Amen.  

Four of my sweet grand babies when they were still little.