Participants: Taj Pacleb
Series Code: ROHB
Program Code: ROHB000020
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00:39 Our message tonight entitled
00:40 "the greatest coward in the Bible." 00:46 This man was born in the Roman Empire 00:49 as the very lowest of slaves. 00:51 And as a slave he ended up in the arm services 00:54 of the Roman Empire and friends, 00:55 you can imagine the lack of loyalty 00:58 in one who is forced to be a soldier 01:01 because he is a slave. 01:03 But this man was ambitious. 01:05 Not only was he ambitious 01:06 but he was also brave and courageous 01:08 and he worked hard and he did a lot of things 01:11 in the armies of Romans and perhaps 01:13 he felt like there was nothing to lose. 01:15 His skill and his leadership 01:16 and that will become an great asset 01:18 for the Roman Empire and the Roman armies. 01:21 And he ascended as high as he could go 01:24 in the legions of Rome. 01:26 And his courageous exploits one day were finally brought 01:29 before the attention of the Caesar 01:32 and in recognition of his bravery and his achievements 01:36 Caesar authorized a change of his status. 01:41 He granted him his freedom so that he could rise up 01:46 in leadership positions in the legions of Rome. 01:50 And so he became 01:51 one of the most loyal servants of the emperor 01:54 winning many victories for Rome 01:56 and winning the favor of the citizens of the empire 02:00 and finally after years of faithful service 02:03 this man retired as a great hero of the people. 02:07 He returned back to Rome amidst the applause 02:10 and the appreciation of entire nation and entire kingdom 02:15 and he was taken into Caesars household 02:17 to live out his years of retirement. 02:20 And there he met and married 02:22 a woman by the name of Claudia Procula 02:25 who was actually a relative of Caesar 02:26 and so now he is a part of Caesars very own family 02:30 from beginning as a slave. 02:32 Now then to be free and risen up high and higher 02:35 in the legions of Rome and now he is living in Caesars 02:38 own household as a family member. 02:40 Oh, friends, what a story of success. 02:43 But unfortunately it doesn't stop there. 02:48 As the years went by this man 02:50 became restless for something to do. 02:52 You see the quiet lazy life of retirement 02:54 was not agreeable to him 02:56 because he was a man of action not idleness. 02:59 He lived his life amidst the clash of arms 03:01 and so in his retirement 03:03 he was anxious to do something else. 03:06 He was anxious for another assignment. 03:08 And so friends, at that time 03:11 there was only one great trouble spot 03:13 in the vast Roman Empire and that was Palestine. 03:17 That was the one trouble spot in the Roman territory. 03:22 You see Palestine and Jerusalem 03:24 it was a sizzling ceding boiling part of unrest and sedition. 03:28 And here was a challenge that this man was confident 03:32 that he could conquer. 03:33 And so he was assigned to be the governor of this land 03:36 and he took his wife and his family 03:38 and moved to Jerusalem. 03:39 Friends, who is this man that we are talking about tonight? 03:44 Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate. 03:47 The proud but pitiful Pontus Pilate 03:49 he was furious and dogmatic in his administration. 03:53 You see he hated the Jews with the passion 03:55 and they thought the exact same way about him 03:58 and he was confident in moving to Jerusalem. 04:00 He was confident to conquer this territory 04:04 and to make sure that the Jews were kept in subjection. 04:10 He was a very cruel governor he was a man of war by heart. 04:14 And friends, the tension between the Jews and the Romans 04:17 specifically Governor Pilate it continued to build 04:20 until early one morning Pilate was rudely awaken 04:24 to confront a day not like any day before. 04:29 Because this day friends, he was well face to face 04:31 with choices and decisions just like tonight 04:34 we are about face to face with important choices. 04:39 And this day the choice was this. 04:42 What would he do with the man 04:44 that could change his destiny for eternity? 04:49 He was well face to face with the individual man 04:52 that he had to make a decision 04:54 what he would do about this individual this criminal 04:57 that was accused before him and this and whatever decision 05:00 he would make would determine his eternal destiny. 05:04 And friends, on this day Pilate made ten miserable mistakes. 05:10 How many mistakes? 05:12 We're gonna look at them tonight-- 05:13 look at all of them tonight. 05:15 And friends, these mistakes 05:18 led him step by step downward to prudish. 05:24 Of course, of self condemnation and destruction and friends, 05:27 as we trace these steps through the scriptures tonight 05:30 we need to ask ourselves the question, 05:31 how I made these steps 05:34 or am I making the steps even tonight. 05:39 I want you to take your Bible with me 05:41 and go through the Book of John Chapter 19 05:44 as we read about this day unlike any other day before. 05:49 Friends as Pilate was rudely awakened 05:52 I could imagine that morning he was irritated 05:54 just like many must get irritated with someone 05:56 who wakes up early in the morning. 05:58 He was irritated. 06:00 You see he was disturbed from his sleep 06:02 summoned by the very people he passionately hated 06:06 and held at up most contempt. 06:08 And so as Pilate was awaken 06:10 he was determined to take care of business very quickly 06:13 so that he could get back to bed and go back to sleep 06:16 but here was a situation 06:18 that required far more than a quick fix. 06:21 What exactly happened on this fateful day? 06:25 We begin with the story now in the Book of John Chapter 18. 06:28 Notice with me in John Chapter 18 06:30 beginning with verse 28. 06:33 "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas 06:35 unto the hall of judgment and it was early, 06:39 and they themselves would not go into the judgment hall, 06:42 lest they should be defiled, 06:45 but that they might eat the passover." 06:48 Verse 29 "Pilate then went out unto them, and said, 06:51 What accusation bring ye against this man?" 06:56 And so now notice Pilate comes out to ask, 06:58 what is your acquisition? 06:59 And I want you notice their indictment against Christ. 07:02 Notice what it says in verse 30, the Bible says. 07:06 "And they answered and said unto him, 07:08 If he were not a malefactor, 07:10 we would not have delivered him up unto thee." 07:14 Friends, notice what their acquisition is. 07:16 What is missing in verse 30? 07:20 What is missing? 07:22 There is no indictment. 07:24 In response to the question of Pilate 07:25 what acquisition you bring they say 07:28 "If you were not a malefactor, 07:29 we wouldn't have bring him to you." 07:30 In other words what the Jews are doing 07:32 is they are trying to impress Pilate 07:35 of a sense of their importance. 07:37 They were not giving any real reason 07:39 for condemning Jesus 07:41 because they had no grounds on which condemn in to death. 07:45 They knew that Jesus did nothing worthy of death 07:48 in a Roman court. 07:49 And these Jews they feared a trial because they knew that 07:52 they could not substantiate their acquisitions. 07:54 They wanted the death sentence ratified in haste. 07:58 They wanted to skip all the preliminaries. 08:00 They were thirsting for the blood of Jesus 08:02 and they were seeking a favor from Pilate 08:05 on the day of their national holiday 08:07 and friends, they hoped to impress Pilate 08:09 with the sense of their importance. 08:10 They are basically saying this Pilate listen, 08:12 if we the most important people in Israel 08:16 bring someone to you and condemn them to death 08:21 they must be guilty because we are important people. 08:24 Take our word for it. 08:26 Is really what they are saying do you see it? 08:28 They are not giving a real acquisition. 08:30 They're simply saying we're the most important people. 08:32 If we bring some to you it must be true take our word for it. 08:35 And friends, do you realize the many preachers 08:37 are doing exact same thing as the Jews did. 08:40 They are saying to their parishioners their members 08:42 just take my word for it. 08:44 I got direct degrees behind my name. 08:47 I have spent many years in school 08:49 when I know the word of God 08:50 and so if I say something it must be the truth. 08:53 And friends, just like Pilate 08:55 many church members are rejecting the truth 08:58 because they're believing in the words of a man. 09:02 You see friends, it was Pilate's responsibility 09:06 to know what truth was for himself. 09:08 Amen. 09:10 He could not just take their word for it. 09:12 And in the same way friends, 09:13 we can't take mans word for it you can't take my word for it. 09:16 It is your responsibility God holds you accountable 09:19 as an individual to find out what truth is for yourself 09:24 but notice how Pilate responds in verse 31. 09:28 In verse 31 Pilate said to them. 09:30 "Take ye him, and judge him according to your law." 09:34 So what has Pilate do? 09:36 Pilate does not care to know what the truth is. 09:39 He doesn't want to deal with Jesus 09:41 because he was rudely awakened from his sleep. 09:42 He wants to go back to bed. 09:45 And so he says to the Jews you judge them yourself. 09:47 He doesn't want-- you see he is the judge. 09:48 It's his responsibility to know what is the truth. 09:51 But here we find Pilate first mistake 09:54 and that is this write it down, friends. 09:56 He wasn't interested in knowing truth. 09:58 Oh, what a terrible mistake. 10:01 He was not interested in investigating 10:03 what the situation was and you see friends, 10:06 Pilate this morning 10:07 he did not sense the solemnity of the situation. 10:10 He didn't consider this matter of high priority. 10:13 He felt there were other things 10:15 that were more important to do with his time. 10:17 Surely, this was not something to lose sleep over. 10:20 And for as many people are esteeming 10:21 the truth of God's word in the same way. 10:25 They brush it of as something it is not very important. 10:28 Not something to lose sleep over friends. 10:30 It's your responsibility to know truth. 10:33 But Pilate was indifferent 10:35 many are repeating the same mistake today. 10:37 Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts 10:39 and they were not interested 10:40 in hearing in what he has to say. 10:43 Oh friends, I beg you on behalf of Christ 10:44 don't make this first mistake. 10:46 Don't cast the truth of God's word 10:47 and the truth of Jesus down to a level of unimportance. 10:50 You can't do it, brothers and sisters. 10:52 It is of eternal significance 10:54 more important than anything else in your life 10:56 because friends, when Jesus comes 10:57 what else is gonna matter. 10:59 Is it going to matter 11:00 how much money you have in your bank account? 11:02 Is it gonna matter how many people 11:03 respect you in this world? 11:05 Is it going to matter friends, 11:06 no nothing would matter except do you know Jesus. 11:11 Tonight friends, it's a message of life and death. 11:15 Please don't cast the truth down to the level of unimportance. 11:18 That's Pilates first mistake. 11:21 You see brothers and sisters, the Jews began to press 11:24 Pilate for the death sentence and now Pilate realizes 11:28 that it's a life and death situation. 11:31 Its not something you just can go can go back to sleep. 11:33 He has to deal with this, friends. 11:35 And you have to understand 11:36 that Pilate was not a just judge. 11:39 You see, many times in his career 11:41 Pilate had delivered innocent men to the deaths 11:44 without calmer consideration. 11:46 But friends, this day with this man 11:50 it was something different. 11:52 Because there is something that held Pilate back this day 11:55 from his calm and casual cruelty 11:57 because there was something that was different 12:00 in the face of the accusers. 12:03 It was the hatred that was different from the hatred 12:06 that he had seemed before. 12:08 Not only was there something different 12:09 in the face of the accusers 12:10 but also in the face of the accused. 12:14 Now as the waves of the acquisition beat upon Jesus 12:19 His whole baring stood firm in conscious innocence. 12:24 Heavy surges of raft broke about Him 12:27 but He remained unmoved by them to all the false charges 12:31 He answered not a word He stood there silent 12:34 but His silence was eloquence. 12:40 As Pilate looks upon the face of Jesus 12:43 I can imagine him thinking, how could this man 12:47 bear insult and mockery with such peace and dignity? 12:54 Without retaliation and without anguish 12:58 how could this man just stand there 13:01 with peace up on his brow 13:03 and these people are thirsty for His blood. 13:06 As Pilate looked upon the countenance of the accused 13:08 the Holy Spirit began to fastened upon his conscience. 13:12 A strong conviction began to urge Pilate 13:16 that this man was innocent 13:17 that he should leave this man alone. 13:21 This man has done nothing worthy of death 13:24 and Pilate begins to realize that the Jews bought Jesus 13:27 because of their envy towards Christ. 13:29 They strived that-- they desired to destroy the one 13:33 that would stand in their way 13:35 and Pilate knows that they want him 13:38 to sign the death warrant. 13:40 But the Holy Spirit convicts him that 13:42 to use his decision making power as the judge 13:46 to stop this injustice that is being heaped upon Christ. 13:51 But friends, listen Pilate knows 13:54 that if he lets the Jesus know 13:58 the Jews will cause him a lot of trouble. 14:02 The Jews would cause him a lot of trouble 14:05 if he would to do the right thing 14:06 and Pilate does not want to be inconvenience by the Jews. 14:11 And so now there is a conflict of conviction versus convenience 14:15 that is warring capturing his mind 14:17 and so Pilate brings the prisoner 14:19 into the judgment hall and begins the interrogation. 14:22 He has to do with it, friends. 14:24 It's a life and death situation. 14:26 And all alone notice what he asked Jesus in verse 33. 14:30 It says "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, 14:33 and called Jesus, and said unto Him, 14:35 Art thou the King of the Jews?" 14:39 Are you the king of the Jews? 14:42 And friends, I want you to notice 14:43 Christ responds to the question with the question. 14:46 In verse 34 "Jesus answered him, 14:49 Sayest thou this thing of thyself, 14:51 or did others tell it thee of me?" 14:55 Friends, do you realize what Jesus asking him? 14:57 And he answers the question with the question 14:59 and he is basically asking Pilate, 15:01 Pilate, are you saying this because this is what you think 15:04 or you are saying this because other people have told you 15:06 that I am the king of the Jews. 15:07 In other words what Jesus is asking Pilate, 15:10 what do you believe? 15:13 What did you believe Pilate? 15:15 He is throwing the ball in his courts. 15:18 What do you believe? 15:19 And friends, you have to understand that realizing 15:21 Jesus was asking this it wasn't 15:22 because He didn't knew the answer 15:24 because Jesus knew exactly what Pilate believed. 15:26 Amen? 15:27 Jesus could read His life like a little an open book. 15:30 Jesus is not asking because He doesn't know 15:33 because friends, listen whatever 15:34 God asked the question in the Bible 15:35 is because He wants us to think 15:37 about the answer to the question. 15:39 And so in asking Pilate, Pilate what do you believe 15:42 Jesus was asking this 15:43 because He saw that in the hoard of pilate 15:46 there was a little bit of faith 15:48 that He was trying to bring out. 15:50 You see Jesus longed for Pilate salvation 15:53 and He saw that there was hope for Pilate. 15:56 And so this question was calculated 15:58 to provoke a response of faith. 16:02 A response of what? 16:03 In other words He was giving Pilate an opportunity 16:06 to acknowledge the conviction of the Holy Spirit 16:10 that was in his heart. 16:11 What do you believe, Pilate? 16:12 Here's an opportunity for him to acknowledge the conviction. 16:17 And the reason is why friends, 16:18 because expression deepens impression. 16:21 When you express faith you are faith is impressed 16:24 even more strongly. 16:26 And friends, you have to understand that salvation 16:28 begins when we first hear to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 16:32 And so now, as the Jesus asks the question, 16:34 what do you believe? 16:35 Pilate is not brought face to face with a choice. 16:37 How is going to answer the question? 16:40 He is going to say him 16:41 on the path of bible life with death. 16:43 Will he acknowledge the conviction 16:44 of the Spirit of God or will he ignore 16:47 the conviction of his heart. 16:48 And friends, notice what he does. 16:49 He makes his second mistake in verse 35 16:52 "Pilate answered, Am I a Jew?" 16:55 What a sarcastic response. 16:57 "Am I a Jew? 16:58 Thine own nation and the chief priests 17:01 have delivered thee unto me, what hast thou done?" 17:04 Here we find Pilate second mistake write it down, friends. 17:06 Pilate brothers and sisters, 17:08 he ignored the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 17:11 He refused to answer the question 17:13 and acknowledged the conviction. 17:15 He did not want Jesus to know 17:16 that he sympathized with Him in his hearts. 17:19 And so pride forbade him from being honest. 17:25 He wouldn't acknowledge the conviction with him? 17:29 And friends, this mistake may seem small 17:31 just ignoring the voice of the Spirit of the God. 17:33 Ignoring the conviction and putting on an exterior 17:36 and being so evasive with the Spirit of God. 17:38 Friends, it seems small but one mistake leads another 17:41 and I want you to notice Jesus kept working with Pilate though. 17:45 Can you say, amen? 17:46 He did not give up so easily. 17:49 Jesus continued to work with Pilate 17:51 and notice how Jesus response to His question in verse 36. 17:54 Verse 36, notice what it says. 17:56 "Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. 17:59 If My kingdom were of this world, 18:00 My servants would fight, 18:01 so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, 18:03 but now is my kingdom not from hence." 18:07 You see Jesus assures Pilate 18:08 but he does not have to be 18:10 afraid of the acquisitions of the Jews. 18:12 He made it clear I am not the king 18:13 or My kingdom is not of this world. 18:15 You don't have to be afraid, Pilate. 18:17 The acquisition of the Jews are not-- 18:19 is not founded it's unfounded. 18:22 My kingdom is not of this world. 18:24 Is my kingdom is not formed 18:26 by mountains and rivers forebodes. 18:29 My kingdom is a heavenly a spiritual kingdom. 18:32 In fact notice in the next verse 18:34 the Bible tells us but you rightly 18:37 "You say rightly that I am a king. 18:40 For this cause I was born, and for this cause 18:43 I have come into the world, 18:44 that I should bear witness to the" what? 18:47 "Truth" and "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 18:53 Here we're find Jesus saying 18:56 My kingdom is a kingdom of truth. 19:00 It's a spiritual kingdom and My voice is not a voice 19:03 of insurrection and rebellion against the government of Rome. 19:08 No, my voice is a voice of truth 19:10 and as Pilate listens to the answer 19:12 now his curiosity is arose and now 19:14 Pilate responds by asking 19:16 Jesus the question of all questions. 19:20 Notice verse 38, 19:24 "Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?" 19:31 Friends, that was the question of all question. 19:33 And in that very moment on the outside the Jews afraid 19:37 that the Jesus would work some type of miracle 19:39 to escape the Jews began to make noise, they began to shout. 19:45 They made a loud commotion and they were shouting at Pilate 19:48 urging him to sign the death warrant. 19:50 And so friends, when Pilate heard the commotion 19:52 that was taking place on the outside 19:54 of the judgment hall remember 19:55 he is with the Jesus one and one 19:56 on the inside of the judgment hall. 19:58 He doesn't have to leave. 20:00 He asked the question of questions, 20:02 he didn't wait for the response. 20:03 Because when the commotion on the outside took place 20:07 he had to make another choice. 20:09 Either he would listen to the distractions of the crowd 20:12 or the doctrines of Christ. 20:14 And then friends, and friends, 20:15 instead of waiting for Jesus to answer 20:17 he succumbed to the cry of the crowd. 20:21 Here is the third miserable mistake that Pilate made 20:24 and what is that? 20:25 He allowed himself to be distracted from the truth. 20:29 Friends, he did not have to leave he was the governor 20:32 he was the judge nothing forced him to leave 20:35 and no one forced Jesus to be taken away. 20:40 He responded to the sound his of the ears 20:43 rather than the conviction of his heart. 20:45 Oh friends, have you done this? 20:47 Are you doing this? 20:50 The devil works daily to keep us from Him 20:52 the answered to the question, what is truth? 20:55 Satan uses whatever means he can such as the media. 20:59 Captivating our mind, our eyes and our ears drawing us away 21:02 he uses even family functions. 21:05 Keeping us away from hearing the answer to the question 21:08 what is truth appointments and commitments to employers 21:11 and jobs to things that are not really important 21:14 to someone that cannot save you. 21:16 Friends, what a foolish mistake to listen to an employer 21:20 who does not have a heaven to take 21:22 you to more than listening to God himself. 21:26 Will you sport as an excuse? 21:28 I remember so vividly a lady come to my meetings, 21:32 her name was Susan in the San Jose area. 21:35 She came every single night to the meetings 21:37 that she loved the message. 21:38 She embraced the Sabbath. 21:39 All these beautiful messages from the Word of God 21:41 she believed it in her mind but friends, 21:44 when it came to the end she could not make a decision. 21:48 And friends, you know it hurts the excuse 21:50 what's her reason was. 21:52 Every Saturday morning she was part of a swimming team 21:55 and that's how she had fellowship 21:57 in socialize and exercise. 22:00 So she chose her sport rather than her Savior. 22:04 Oh, friends, what a foolish mistake. 22:06 There are good stories as well that I have experienced. 22:08 Andrea came to our meeting just a few months ago 22:12 in San Jose in Mountain View, California 22:15 and she was the secretary of the local Catholic Church. 22:18 She has just got the job and she had insurance 22:21 and she had hours and it was a good job. 22:24 But as she came to the meeting and she heard the truth 22:26 of what the Bible says and she realized 22:28 that she had to make a decision to follow Lord Jesus 22:31 and even though it was difficult, 22:32 even though she needed the health insurance 22:34 that the job provided she took a stand and went to a priest 22:37 and said I can no longer work on Saturday, 22:39 Friday evening to Saturday evening. 22:42 She took a stand friends, 22:44 and God blessed her and honored her. 22:48 And think about Sister Yolanda in Bakersfield. 22:51 She had been living with her partner for 22 years 22:54 have three children's with this man. 22:57 This man was not interested in marriage. 22:59 Living together in sin. 23:02 And she came to the meeting but he would not come 23:03 but she was convicted of truth. 23:05 She wanted to serve Jesus but she realized 23:06 that she could not do it while living in sin, 23:09 living with someone that would was not her husband 23:12 even though he was the father for the three children. 23:16 And so because he would not choose to get married 23:18 she chose to move out. 23:19 And she followed Jesus and was baptized. 23:21 Can you say, amen? 23:23 Did not make any excuse oh, brothers and sisters, 23:25 that devil has so many different things to distract 23:27 this jobs and relationships and sports and family functions 23:30 and media you don't have to be 23:32 a slave to the devils distractions. 23:34 You have a choice, friends. 23:37 You're like Pilate have a choice to make tonight. 23:39 And by the way friends, this story about Pilate 23:41 is also recorded in the Book of Luke. 23:42 And I invite you to take your bible 23:44 and turn to the Book of Luke Chapter 23 23:46 because we find Pilate making mistake 23:48 after mistake after mistake and in Luke 23 23:51 we find Pilate's fourth miserable mistake. 23:54 Luke 23 beginning with verse 4. 23:56 I want you notice what takes place. 23:59 Luke 23:4 the Bible says 24:04 "Then said Pilate to the chief priests 24:06 and to the people, I find no" what? 24:10 "Fault in this man." 24:12 Now friends, Pilate who is the judge 24:15 just pronounce this prisoner innocent. 24:19 He said I find no fault in Him. 24:21 Your acquisitions are not founded 24:22 that I find no fault in Him. 24:24 And friends, what should Pilate do right now? 24:28 Turn Him lose, right. 24:29 What you do with a man that has no fault? 24:30 What do you with a man that is innocent? 24:31 You would let him go. 24:33 So friends, Pilate just declared as the judge 24:36 I find no fault the very next thing 24:38 he should do is let Jesus go 24:41 but notice what he does in verse 5. 24:44 "And they were the more fierce, saying, 24:45 He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, 24:49 beginning from Galilee to this place. 24:51 And when Pilate heard of Galilee, 24:56 he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 24:58 And as soon as he knew that 25:00 he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, 25:02 he sent him to Herod, 25:05 who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time." 25:08 Friends, I want you to notice he should have let Jesus gone. 25:12 But the fury of and the fierceness of the people 25:15 in demanding His death caused Pilate to waiver, 25:20 to compromise with the crowd. 25:22 You see he wanted to let Jesus go 25:24 but he dreaded the ill will of the people 25:27 and so now he found something to get out of the situation 25:30 when he realized that Jesus 25:32 was a part of Herod's jurisdiction 25:34 he set Him to Herod. 25:35 Friends, he should have let Him go 25:36 but this was an way out. 25:39 Not having to deal with the problem, 25:40 not having to offend and go against the will of the people 25:45 at the same time not having to do the wrong thing 25:47 in crucifying Jesus. 25:48 Oh, what a coward. 25:50 He should have let Jesus go, friends. 25:53 And instead of letting Him to go 25:54 he sentenced to Herod. 25:55 Here's Pilates fourth miserable mistake. 25:57 And what is that he put off making a decision. 26:00 He should have made the decision. 26:01 But he put it off. 26:02 What a coward. 26:04 He didn't want to deal with the situation 26:06 because it was inconvenient. 26:09 And so he sought to be released 26:10 from the responsibility of Jesus. 26:12 He was seeking to avoid the potential problem 26:15 and repercussions of doing the right thing 26:17 in letting Jesus go. 26:18 Oh friends, have you done this? 26:21 Are you doing this? 26:23 Jesus comes and knocks at the doors of our hearts 26:26 will you sent Him away 26:27 like Pilate sent Jesus away to Herod? 26:29 Will you brush Jesus of His unimportant? 26:32 You see the Holy Spirit brings this man to our conscience 26:36 and before it's over we all gonna have to decide 26:39 what we do with Jesus. 26:41 This is not a decision we can put off forever, friends. 26:44 We can't procrastinate this one for eternity. 26:46 It's a responsibility that none of us 26:48 can escape from either we are going to crown Him 26:51 in our lives or we are gonna crucify Him. 26:53 We can't remain neutral forever. 26:55 We must make a decision 26:57 and here we find Pilates fifth miserable mistake 27:00 and that is he tried to be neutral about it. 27:03 He put of making a decision. 27:05 He passed the responsibility to somebody else. 27:07 And number five he tries to remain neutral. 27:10 In other words I am not going to hurt Him 27:12 and I am not going to help Him I am just gonna give Him Herod. 27:15 Let somebody else deal with Him. 27:16 He wasn't taking aside. 27:18 He was trying to remain neutral. 27:19 Oh, what a coward in trying to be neutral. 27:23 Friends, when it comes to Christ claim upon our lives 27:25 it's impossible to be neutral with Jesus. 27:28 Jesus said in the Book of Matthew 12:30, 27:31 "He who is not with Me." Is what? 27:34 "Against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." 27:38 Friends, if you are in the valley of the decision 27:40 tonight you are against Christ. 27:42 Don't even think for a moment 27:43 that you are in decision is a neutral decision. 27:47 No, brother and sisters, there is no neutral gallant. 27:49 Either you are with Him or against Him. 27:51 Either you are saved or you're lost. 27:53 And friends, listen if you are almost saved 27:55 you are still completely lost. 27:59 But friends, God is trying to save someone tonight. 28:02 God is trying to wake someone up 28:04 who is comfortable in spiritual complacency, 28:06 comfortable in this world. 28:07 Oh, brothers and sisters, Jesus loves you. 28:10 He is trying to save I don't who you are. 28:13 But don't be neutral. 28:15 There are perhaps some people in this room this evening 28:18 who have been coming to this church for years 28:21 but have not made a full commitment to Christ. 28:23 Tonight, don't put Jesus off anymore. 28:28 Tonight make a decision for Him don't be a coward 28:33 be courageous and stand up. 28:36 You see, when it comes to Christ 28:37 we can't remain neutral. 28:38 Either we are gonna crown Him or crucify Him. 28:41 You see, we all born on a battle field 28:42 and we have to chose which side 28:44 we are gonna be on and friends, 28:46 we are on God side people are to be see it 28:48 and know we all to take firm public stand 28:51 and not be ashamed of who we are and who we serve. 28:55 Not being ashamed of the gospel 28:56 not trying to hide yourself. 28:58 Don't be afraid to stand up and stand out, friends. 29:02 Pilate feels relieved now and he sends Jesus away. 29:06 He doesn't have to deal with Him anymore. 29:08 Just pass off your responsibility. 29:09 Just remain neutral don't help Him 29:10 and don't hurt Him, 29:11 just get rid of the-- just relieve Him 29:15 just get rid Him, get rid of the problem 29:19 until Herod sends him right back. 29:21 And by the way do you know 29:22 why Herod sent him right back. 29:24 You see you studied what happened 29:25 when Jesus encountered Herod. 29:27 Jesus had no words for Herod. 29:29 Jesus said not one word to Herod, you know why? 29:31 Because Herod had gone too far by this time. 29:34 He had opportunity after opportunity 29:36 by John the Baptist. 29:38 You see this was the same Herod 29:39 that was guilty of beheading John the Baptist. 29:42 And Herod had seared his conscience, 29:45 he committed the unpardonable sin. 29:47 He had gone too far and therefore Jesus knew that 29:49 whatever he said would just add more condemnation 29:52 to him in the judgment. 29:53 And so Jesus had no words for Herod anymore. 29:56 So Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate and Pilate realizes 30:00 that he cannot escape from this decision. 30:02 He must deal with Jesus sooner or later 30:05 and then notice what happens in verse 13 of Luke 23. 30:10 "And Pilate, when he had called together 30:12 the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 30:14 he said to them, You have brought this man unto me, 30:16 as one that perverteth the people and, behold, 30:19 I've examined Him before you." 30:21 And he repeats. 30:22 "And I've found no fault in this man touching 30:25 those things where of ye accuse him. 30:27 No, nor yet Herod 30:29 for I sent you to him, and, lo, 30:32 nothing worthy of death is done unto Him." 30:35 Here we find Pilate re-declares that Jesus is innocent 30:40 and now the conviction begins to grow 30:42 that Jesus is not guilty 30:44 and he should let Him go right there and then. 30:46 But Pilate begins to waiver and weakness. 30:49 He begins to vacillate. 30:51 He knows that he should let Jesus free. 30:53 Even Herod confirmed the conviction of his own mind. 30:57 But then notice what he does. 30:58 Oh friends, here is the next mistake verse 16. 31:01 It says "I'll therefore" do what? 31:04 "Chastise him and release him." 31:08 He just declared that Jesus was innocent. 31:10 No fault and yet even after that he chastises Jesus. 31:17 Why? 31:19 In order to pacify the people. 31:22 In order to please the crowd. 31:24 Here we find brothers and sisters, 31:25 the mistakes get bigger and bolder 31:28 and here is Pilate sixth miserable mistake 31:30 and what is that? 31:31 He compromises to a calm and please the crowd. 31:37 A Roman scourging was 39 times. 31:41 Thirty nine, that seems like an odd number isn't it? 31:44 The reason why it's 39 31:45 because the Romans believe that if you were to scourge 31:47 someone 40 times they would die. 31:49 So they did it to 39 times 31:51 and they did this twice to Jesus. 31:55 Pilate did it to an innocent man knowing and believing 31:57 that He was innocent and he did why simply 32:00 to calm the crowd, to please others. 32:02 Oh, brothers and sisters, 32:03 have you ever lowered your standard to please others? 32:07 Have you ever went down and compromised 32:10 because of the crowd? 32:12 The Bible tells us in the Book of James 32:15 that when we do this we are enemy of Christ. 32:20 James 4:4 the Bible tells us. 32:23 "Do you not know that friendship with the world 32:25 is enmity with God? 32:27 Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world 32:29 makes himself an enemy of God." 32:32 Oh friends, in pleasing man we are scourging Christ. 32:35 That's what we are doing friends. 32:37 In following the crowd and wanting to be popular, 32:39 wanting-- caring so much about what other people think of us. 32:42 Wonder what God think of us. 32:43 We are scourging Christ. 32:44 We are doing the exact same thing 32:46 that Pilate was doing. 32:48 Our compromises wound Him. 32:51 Bible says in Isaiah 53:5, 32:54 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, 32:56 He was bruised for our iniquities." 33:00 Friends, if you ever attempted to turn your back on Jesus 33:06 first take a look at His back. 33:09 Before you turn your back on God take a look at His back 33:12 and when you see those stripes 33:15 recognize that it's because of those stripes 33:17 that we are healed. 33:19 I remember our brother Will, he came to our meetings. 33:25 He came every single night at first 33:28 he was loving it embracing all the truth. 33:32 He came for another church 33:34 he was refused hearing things he never heard before 33:36 but he saw it from the Bible it was clear. 33:40 And after few weeks we noticed a drop in his attendance 33:45 He stopped coming. 33:46 So we went to go to visit him in home. 33:49 And this Brother, brother Will he was so friendly with us 33:51 every night he was joking with us and laughing with us 33:53 and just appreciating, he just real friendly open guy 33:55 but when we went to his door he was something different. 33:59 It was coldness, he was real short with us. 34:03 And we said Brother Will, we miss you at the meetings. 34:04 I mean, have you been busy, well, what's been going on? 34:08 We just wanted to stop by and let you know we missed you. 34:10 We hope you come back. 34:12 You know what he told us. 34:14 I believe everything you guys are teaching. 34:17 I believe everything you're teachings is the truth 34:19 from God's word but I have a problem. 34:21 You see my wife belongs to another church 34:25 and if I keep going to those meetings 34:26 it's gonna anger her and I want to have peace in my home. 34:32 Here he made a compromise. 34:34 He gave us the cold shoulder 34:36 but he wasn't giving us the cold shoulder 34:37 it was Jesus he was turning a shoulder against. 34:43 Why, in order to maintain an earthly relationship 34:48 he was in bondage to an earthly relationship. 34:50 Oh brother and sisters, if you have ever tempted 34:52 to confirm just a little bit to the pressures of the crowd 34:55 remember what it did to the Jesus 34:57 when Pilate did the same thing. 34:59 Friends, it wounded Christ. 35:02 It put Him in agony and pain. 35:06 Oh, stop hurting Jesus. 35:08 Pilate when he saw Jesus after the scourging was finished 35:11 he was almost like-- I can imagine 35:13 Pilate moved to tears by the patience 35:15 suffering of Jesus and he thought surely 35:17 that Jews sympathy will be arouse. 35:19 Surely there will be a content to let Jesus go now. 35:22 But friends, when the Pilate-- 35:24 when Pilate brought Jesus before the people and as the people 35:29 saw the compromising weakness of Pilate and how he set aside 35:34 justice and equity in condemning a man 35:37 that He himself said was innocent the people knew 35:41 that if they would just keep pressure on 35:43 that they would eventually get what they want. 35:46 Friends, you make one compromise with the crowd 35:49 they're gonna know that one compromise 35:51 leads to another. 35:53 They knew that if they just keep pressuring him 35:55 they eventually get what they want. 35:57 And so someone I can imagine 35:58 is as Pilate shows that Jesus to the people 36:01 I can imagine someone in the crowd saying 36:04 "Pilate you condemn, you scourge an innocent man. 36:08 You said you found no fault and yet you scourged him. 36:13 We are gonna report you to Herod. 36:14 And we are gonna report you to Caesar." 36:17 And friends, I can imagine 36:18 now Pilates mistakes are been compound. 36:21 As this threat is given being reported 36:24 to Caesar of practicing in justice 36:26 now Pilate begins to cover sin with more sin. 36:31 I want you to notice that Bible tell us in Isaiah 30:1 36:34 "Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, 36:37 who take counsel, but not of Me, 36:39 and who devise plans, but no of My Spirit, 36:41 that they may add" what? 36:43 "Sin to sin." 36:45 Now Pilate's mistakes are being compounded. 36:47 Now he must cover up sin with more sin. 36:50 And in Proverbs 5:22 the Bible says 36:53 "His own inequities entrap the wicked man, 36:56 and he is caught in the cords of his own sin." 37:00 Now Pilate is making mistake after mistake. 37:02 He begins to be tangled in the cords of his sin 37:04 to the point that he can't get out. 37:06 If he is reported to Caesar 37:09 of the injustice of condemning an innocent man 37:11 surely he is going to lose his position. 37:14 If this is known he is gonna lose his job. 37:17 And so now Pilate is on the path where there is no turning back 37:21 and now in his heart he makes decision 37:23 that no matter what the cause he must save his job. 37:29 And many people are making this same mistake today. 37:33 Number seven, Pilate was valuing the temporal above the eternal. 37:40 And friends, many people are doing the exact same thing. 37:43 When they hear the truth of God's word 37:44 in order to maintain peace in the family, in the home, 37:48 on the job they are sacrificing Jesus, 37:51 they are putting aside 37:52 the truth of Gods word and this causes 37:54 Jesus so much pain, brothers and sisters. 37:57 And if you do this you will never find peace. 38:01 If you put off a decision 38:02 you will never be at peace, friends. 38:04 You will not only miss on this life 38:06 but you will miss out on the life to come. 38:08 And friends, at this moment 38:09 Pilate was given even another chance. 38:11 Oh friends, God is merciful. 38:13 Can you say, amen? 38:14 Even though he has scourged Jesus caused Him so much pain 38:17 God gave him another chance as he was hesitating 38:20 on what he should do with Jesus 38:22 a messenger pressed through the crowd 38:24 and pressed a letter in the hand of Pilate 38:27 it was a message from his heathen wife. 38:31 And the message read, dear Pilate, 38:33 have nothing to do with this just man. 38:40 I have suffered many things in a-- 38:41 in a dream because of him. 38:43 Here it seems that God was now dealing with his wife. 38:47 Pilate I can imagine 38:48 took this as a warning message from God 38:51 now his wife is confirming the convictions of his heart. 38:54 Jesus is a just man, He is an innocent man. 38:57 And now Pilate face begins to grow pale, 38:59 sweat begin to pour and now he begins to tremble. 39:03 He is confused by his conflicted emotions. 39:06 The convictions of the Spirit of God 39:07 is becoming even more piercing, 39:09 the pressure of the Pharisees more demanding 39:12 and the decision is now being more and more difficult to make. 39:17 Friends, we need not make a decision when it first comes. 39:20 You put it off it's gonna be hard. 39:22 It's not going to be a more convenient time 39:25 it's just gonna get harder and harder and hard. 39:28 Oh, friends, someone 39:29 God is trying to save someone tonight. 39:35 How is he now gonna get out of this terrible situation? 39:39 Another idea now comes and flashes into his mind. 39:43 And Pilate remembers another way for him 39:47 to get out of the situation. 39:49 He remembers that-- that this was the time 39:52 where it was customary to release 39:53 one prisoner to the people. 39:56 And so Pilate thinking that this was his way of escape 40:00 to get out of this terrible situation 40:03 of doing the right thing and suffering 40:04 the ill will of the people 40:07 or doing the wrong thing to please the people. 40:09 He remembers and he calls for the most dangerous, 40:12 desperate prisoner deep into the dungeons 40:16 of the Roman Empire, Barabbas was called. 40:20 And friends, you have to understand Barabbas 40:23 was the one prisoner that was most feared 40:25 by all he people in the land. 40:28 He was a robber, he was murderer, 40:31 he terrorized all the people of that region 40:33 and he was sitting on his death role 40:35 for his crimes and his terror 40:37 and Pilate calls for the Barabbas 40:40 to be brought forth out of the dungeon 40:41 and now Pilate positions Barabbas right beside Jesus. 40:47 Pilate felt in his heart though 40:49 surely they're gonna chose Jesus about this murderer. 40:52 I mean, he was seeking to arouse within them 40:55 a sense of justice. 40:57 Don't let a guilty man go free 41:00 and don't condemn an innocent man. 41:02 Pilate was trying to arouse the sense of justice 41:04 in the hearts of the people. 41:05 But friends, they had already forsaken justice a long time ago 41:08 but justice would not forsake them. 41:11 Here is the eighth miserable mistake of Pilate. 41:13 What does he do? 41:14 He allows others to make the choice. 41:19 He was letting others decide his destiny in other words 41:22 and he was confidence in the question 41:24 whom of you that I will liaison to you. 41:25 He was confident that they would surely choose Jesus. 41:28 But like the bellowing of wild beast the mob cried 41:31 in response give us Barabbas. 41:37 And then he asked the question to the crowd 41:41 that must be answered by each one of us tonight. 41:45 He then said "What shall I do then with Jesus?" 41:52 Here is the question that we must answer for ourselves. 41:55 No one can answer for us 41:56 we must decide either for Christ or against Christ. 42:00 Friends, don't be a coward 42:01 and don't let others dictate your decisions. 42:05 You must make the decision for yourself. 42:07 And friends, when Pilate said 42:08 "What shall I do then with Jesus?" 42:11 Friends what was the decision of the crowd. 42:13 They then cried "Let him be crucified." 42:17 And I can imagine Pilate could not believe his ears 42:20 like the surging multitude rode 42:22 like demons crucify Him, crucify Him. 42:25 They were demon in the crowd in the form of men 42:28 hyping up the crowd into a satanic frenzy crucify Him. 42:31 We will not have this man to be rule over us. 42:34 Get rid of Him, give us Barabbas. 42:37 That's the cry of the crowd in His last days as well. 42:40 People already want the truth, friends. 42:43 People in the Christian world want to hear smooth things, 42:46 things that tickle their ears 42:48 and makes them feel good about themselves. 42:51 This prosperity gospel that is growing churches 42:54 into mega and gega churches people 42:56 are compromising on word of God 42:58 and watering down the clear message of Jesus. 43:03 Friends, in doing so what we are really doing 43:04 is crucifying the Lord of fresh. 43:09 Friends I want you to notice Pilate is now troubled. 43:14 Never he though it would ever come to this 43:18 to subject an innocent man 43:20 to the most cruel death, crucifixion. 43:24 And friends, in desperation now 43:26 he begins to plead with the crowd. 43:27 Notice what the says now in verse 20. 43:30 Pilate begins to plead with the crowd now. 43:32 In verse 20 he says, 43:34 "Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, 43:37 spoke again to them." 43:38 You see he really wanted to do the right thing. 43:40 He wanted to release Jesus. 43:41 He wanted to let Him go free 43:42 and now he is beginning to negotiate with the crowd. 43:44 But verse 21, "But they cried saying crucify him crucify him. 43:48 And then he said unto them the third time, Why, 43:51 what evil has he done? 43:53 I found no cause of death in Him, 43:55 therefore chastise him and let Him go. 43:59 And there were the more instinct with loud voices, 44:02 requiring that he might be crucified. 44:04 And the voices of them 44:05 and of the chief priest prevailed. 44:08 And Pilate gave sentence 44:10 that it should be as they require." 44:16 And in verse 28 to 30 of Matthew 27 44:19 it says "They stripped Him and put his scarlet robe on Him. 44:23 And when they had twisted a crown of thorns, 44:26 they put it on His head, and a reed in His hand." 44:30 And now they're mocked him, the king of the Jews 44:34 and put a crown of thorn on his brow. 44:37 And friends, those thorns came because of sin. 44:40 It came from the curse. 44:42 Here we find Jesus taking our curse 44:45 so that we could have His blessings. 44:47 He is crown not with the crown of gold 44:49 but a crown of thorns. 44:51 "And they bow the knee before Him and mocked Him, 44:53 saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 44:55 And they span on Him and took the reed 44:57 and struck Him on the head." 44:59 Oh, friends, can you imagine? 45:01 Have you ever someone-- have you ever have someone 45:03 come and spit in your face. 45:05 This is what man did to their Creator 45:08 spitting in the face of Jesus 45:10 they mocked Him and they humiliated Him. 45:13 And then John 19:3 it says 45:15 "And then they said, Hail, King of the Jews! 45:17 And they struck Him with their hands." 45:19 Here we find guilty hands 45:23 hitting the face of the holy one. 45:26 And yet He did not retaliate, friends. 45:29 And he did not give up, He did not tap out. 45:32 He did no respond with anger instead of vengeance 45:36 the blood of His love flowed out. 45:39 Jesus subjected Himself to the most cruel 45:41 and torture-- cruel torture and humiliation. 45:45 And now Pilate brings Him out one last time. 45:48 Now he is trying to excite not so much justice 45:51 but the pity and the mercy 45:54 from the hearts of the Pharisees. 45:56 And then notice what he says let's go now 45:57 to the Book of John 19:4. 46:00 The Bible says "Pilate therefore went forth again, 46:03 and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, 46:07 that ye may know that I find no fault in Him." 46:10 He is repeating it over and over he has no fault. 46:12 Then verse 5 "Then came Jesus forth, 46:14 wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. 46:16 And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" 46:21 In other words he is saying look at Him. 46:24 Look at Him hasn't He suffered enough. 46:28 Look at the blood, look at the pain. 46:32 Behold the man he is trying to excite 46:35 sympathy and mercy from their hardened hearts. 46:40 "And when the chief priest 46:41 therefore in the officers saw Him, 46:43 they cried out, saying, crucify him, crucify him. 46:45 Pilate said unto them, take ye and crucify Him 46:48 for I find no fault in Him." 46:51 Here we find brothers and sisters, 46:52 that Jews had forsaken justice and mercy and Pilate 46:56 is absolutely convinced that He is an innocent man 46:59 but now he just yells to the crowd 47:02 and gives in to what they want. 47:05 Take Him and crucify Him. 47:07 Then notice verse 7, "Then the Jews answered him, 47:09 We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, 47:12 because He made Himself the Son of God. 47:16 And when Pilate therefore heard that saying, 47:18 he was the more afraid." 47:20 You see now right here in this passage 47:22 Pilate for the first time 47:24 hears the real acquisition of the Jews. 47:27 This is the first time he heard it. 47:30 The acquisition is that he this man is making himself 47:33 the Son of God and so now Pilate begins to tremble. 47:38 He has paralyzed with terror. 47:41 You see his convictions are confirmed. 47:45 He thought the perhaps this one was truly the Messiah. 47:51 The one that the prophets had spoken about that he heard of 47:54 and so now Pilate rushes back to Jesus 47:58 and begins to seek the truth from Jesus 48:00 with all his heart. 48:01 Notice what it says in verse 9 48:02 when he heard the real acquisition verse 9. 48:04 It says "And went again into the judgment hall, 48:07 and saith the Jesus, Whence art thou?" 48:10 Friends, notice the question. 48:11 What did the Pilate ask? 48:13 Where do you come from? 48:14 Now friends, did Pilate already knew 48:15 where Jesus came from on the earth. 48:18 He knew that he was from Galilee, right. 48:20 And so when Pilate said where do you come from, 48:23 what he was really asking is what planet are you from? 48:26 Because you see friends, 48:27 there was a belief amongst the Romans 48:30 that sometimes the Gods the Roman Gods 48:33 would come to the world in human flash 48:37 to make sure that justice was being administered to. 48:41 And so Pilate begins to fear that perhaps this is truly 48:45 who the Jews say He claimed to be. 48:48 This is truly the Son of God in the flesh. 48:52 And now he begins to seek for truth. 48:54 Where do You come from but then notice 48:56 "But Jesus gave him no answer." 49:00 He had his opportunity but he wasted it. 49:04 And then in verse 10 "Then saith Pilate unto him, 49:06 Speakest thou not unto me? 49:09 knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, 49:12 and have power to release thee?" 49:14 Verse 11 "Jesus answered, 49:15 Thou couldest have no power at all against me, 49:17 except it were given thee from above, 49:20 therefore he that deliver's me unto thee hath the greater sin. 49:24 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him, 49:26 but the Jews cried out, saying, 49:28 If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend, 49:31 whoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 49:34 And when Pilate therefore heard that saying, 49:36 he brought Jesus forth, and sat down 49:38 in the judgment seat in the place 49:40 that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha." 49:43 Verse 14 "And it was the preparation of the passover, 49:46 and about the sixth hour and he saith unto the Jews, 49:48 Behold your King! 49:50 And they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, 49:52 crucify Him. 49:54 Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? 49:56 The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 50:00 Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. 50:04 And they took Jesus, and led Him away." 50:08 Oh friends, Pilate sought for truth 50:12 but here's his ninth mistake, friends. 50:14 He sought for truth but it was too late. 50:18 Now he wants to know where Jesus is from. 50:20 Who are you? 50:22 But he sought for truth when it was too late. 50:26 The golden opportunity had passed. 50:29 Jesus had no further life for him. 50:31 He went too far it was too late 50:33 and now he makes his final attempt to release Him. 50:35 Pilate now is a slave to the will of the people, 50:38 he is the puppet in their hands. 50:40 Oh what a coward his own indecision 50:43 and cowardice has caused his own ruin 50:45 and now he is guilty of crucifying the Son of God 50:49 and then Matthew 27:24 shows the last mistake 50:52 Pilate made after he condemned Jesus to death. 50:55 It says in Matthew 27:24 "When Pilate saw 50:58 that he could no prevail at all, but rather that a tumult 51:00 was rising, he took water and washed his hands 51:03 before the multitude, saying, 51:05 I am innocent of the blood of this just person. 51:09 You see to it." 51:10 Here we find Pilate tenth mistake, 51:12 he tries to wash himself of the guilt 51:17 that is heavy upon his conscience. 51:19 Pilate's tenth mistake was he thought 51:22 he could remove his own guilt by the works of his own hands 51:25 by some kind of performance some little penance some act 51:29 either he could remove the guilt but friends, 51:31 the only they can remove our guilt is the blood of Jesus. 51:36 Pilate tries to remove his own guilt 51:38 but the water of his own works. 51:40 So mark the penance a performance of duty 51:43 but friends, what a wash away our sins 51:45 nothing but the blood of Jesus. 51:47 Pilate makes the last mistake thinking 51:50 that he could justify himself by some good works 51:53 and here we find ten miserable mistakes, friends. 51:56 Number one, he was disinterested in knowing truth. 51:59 Number two, he ignored the conviction of the spirit. 52:01 Number three, he was distracted away from the truth. 52:03 Four, he put off making any decision. 52:05 He tried to remain neutral about it. 52:07 He compromised with the crowd. 52:10 He valued the temporal above the eternal. 52:13 He allowed others to make his decision. 52:15 He sought for truth when it was too late. 52:17 And he thought he could remove his own guilt. 52:21 Oh friends, have you made these mistakes 52:26 are you making these mistakes tonight 52:29 as Jesus is led away to be crucified. 52:32 Barabbas the murderer goes free and by the way friends, 52:35 I want you think for a moment if anyone at that moment 52:37 could understand salvation surely it would be Barabbas. 52:42 Because as Jesus is taken away 52:43 to be crucified Barabbas goes free. 52:45 You see more than anyone else 52:47 Barabbas understood the simple gospel truth 52:50 I should have died but that man took my place. 52:58 I should have been crucified 53:01 but this man is dying in my place. 53:03 The innocent dying in place of the guilty 53:05 because friends, we are all Barabbas tonight. 53:07 We are not just Pilate we are also Barabbas. 53:10 We are guilty. 53:12 The guilty sons and daughters of the father 53:15 but Jesus the true Son of the Father died 53:19 so that we could go free. 53:22 And now what did they do with Jesus? 53:24 Instead of crowning Him they crucified. 53:28 When this day was finished 53:30 Pilate was relieved, 53:33 the day is over. 53:35 At first he was relieved 53:36 then he tried his best to forget about Jesus. 53:40 But you could sure the Holy Spirit 53:41 would not let him forget. 53:45 And after the death of Christ 53:46 Pilate few days later began to hear rumors 53:49 that troubled him. 53:51 Rumors that Jesus was not really dead. 53:55 Rumors that He actually roused from the grave. 53:59 And he tried to banish these horrifying thoughts 54:01 but his mind shake off the conviction 54:03 finally he could bare no longer 54:05 and he called hat centurion 54:07 that was in charge over the soldiers 54:08 that were guarding the tomb of Jesus 54:10 and he called the centurion. 54:11 Centurion, tell me the truth what happened? 54:13 I have been hearing these rumors and I know that no way 54:16 it could be true but I need you tell me 54:17 what exactly took place. 54:20 Is it true? 54:22 Tell me it is just rumor, right. 54:24 And I could imagine that centurion 54:26 he begins to stammer. 54:28 He begins to go pale. 54:30 He drops his head and Pilate begins to realize 54:33 that there is more to the story than he knew. 54:35 And Pilate demands to hear the whole truth 54:38 and now the centurion begins to tell 54:40 what happened at the tomb on the third day. 54:43 Yes, we were there guarding the tomb 54:46 and Pilate that tomb was sealed tight. 54:49 We were there. 54:50 And suddenly a bright light shown around us. 54:55 Brighter than noon day sun and we saw Pilate, 54:57 there is beautiful shining creature 54:59 roll back the stone and sit upon it. 55:02 And then this angel, this angelic being 55:04 he called in to the tomb an he said Son of God 55:07 come forth your Father calls you. 55:09 And friends, Pilate as he hears this terror strikes his heart. 55:16 And then this centurion says and we saw Jesus, 55:19 we saw Him come out of the grave. 55:20 He walked right out of the tomb and he was alive, Pilate. 55:25 We were terrified, we couldn't move. 55:26 We felt down as dead man 55:28 and upon regaining our consciousness 55:30 we went to report it and on our way 55:31 to report to the priest met us and he offered us money 55:34 bribing us not-- to say that 55:37 the disciples have stolen His body. 55:39 But we saw Him, we saw Him rise. 55:41 He is alive today. 55:42 And then Pilate suddenly realized for certain 55:45 that he had betrayed and crucified the Son of God. 55:51 He was ceased with uncontrollable 55:52 trembling from head to foot. 55:54 And shortly after this he was called back to Rome 55:58 to answer for some of the charges 55:59 brought against him by the Jews 56:01 and on his way back to the Rome 56:03 the Caesar that loved him so much 56:05 that he was so loyal to it that Caesar died 56:07 and now a new emperor took his place, 56:09 a new king is sitting upon the throne 56:11 and this king did not recognize 56:13 Pilate as a result of his injustice 56:16 and his compromising spirit 56:17 Pilate was displaced from his position 56:19 as governor by Caesar himself 56:22 and now we find Pilate wandering around the Roman streets 56:25 as a drunken wretch until finally a few days, 56:28 few weeks after that he took his own life in suicide. 56:35 He was a slave that was made free 56:38 but he died as a slave a slave to sin, 56:41 a slave to worldly ambition, 56:43 a slave to what other people thought. 56:45 You see friends, Pilate thought that he could 56:47 save something by giving into the crowd. 56:49 He thought that he could maintain a superficial peace. 56:52 But friends, in giving in, in compromising, 56:55 in procrastinating he ended up losing everything. 56:59 And friends, listen, this story is given in the Bible 57:04 as a solemn warning for us tonight. 57:08 A solemn warning not to lightly regard the choices 57:11 that we make day by day, a merciful invitation to chose 57:15 to crown Christ as our king today. 57:18 You see friends, by our choices 57:20 we have the power just like Pilate. 57:22 Are we to crown Jesus or to crucify Jesus? 57:26 And so as we close tonight 57:29 what we do with Jesus, friends? 57:33 We have been here four weeks. 57:36 We preached night after night after nights. 57:38 I poured out my heart and soul into these meetings. 57:43 The Holy Spirit is been here 57:45 and has blessed the study of his word, 57:49 He has let us into an understanding of truth. 57:52 Now the question tonight friends, 57:53 as we begin to close this meeting 57:55 what are you going to do with Jesus, 57:57 what are you going to do with the truth? 58:00 It's not enough time to understand it. 58:03 God calls us to walk into. 58:07 You see friends, tonight we are on the judgment, 58:12 we are sitting on judgment seat of Pilate 58:14 and Jesus is standing before us. 58:20 Question is what you are gonna do with Christ? 58:24 Are you gonna crown Him Lord of your life. 58:26 Are you gonna say yes Lord, I surrender all. 58:30 Begin small whatever it is I give it to You 58:35 or are you gonna continue to live your life? 58:38 How you want of it? 58:39 Or you are gonna continue to hold on 58:41 to your darling precious sins, your traditions? 58:46 Friends, if you do you're crucifying Christ. 58:48 You are adding to the weight of sin 58:51 that crushed His soul. 58:53 Don't do it tonight. 58:55 But one day we are-- we are sitting before judgment seat 58:59 Christ is standing before us 59:00 what you are gonna do with Him? 59:01 But friends, one day the picture is gonna be reversed. 59:04 One day Jesus will sit upon the judgment seat 59:06 and we are gonna be standing before Him. 59:09 And what we do with Christ tonight 59:14 will determine what Christ would do with us. |
Revised 2014-12-17