Mark 15:2-20
Matthew 27:11-31
Luke 23:1-25
John 18:28-19:16
Matthew 27:19-25, “…as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.’ Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So, the governor asked again, ‘Which of these two do you want me to release to you?’ The crowd shouted back, ‘Barabbas!’ Pilate responded, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ ‘Why?’ Pilate demanded. ‘What crime has he committed?’ But the mob roared even louder, ‘Crucify him!’ Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So, he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!’ And all the people yelled back, ‘We will take responsibility for his death — we and our children!’”
It seems those with the loudest voices often have the least desirable things to say, while those who could add wisdom and calm to the situation wait their turn to speak — and are often overlooked or quieted when they attempt to do so. It leaves us to wonder why more sensible minds fail to prevail. But without hope, those who could intervene often just wash their hands of the situation instead.
As we read the depiction of the crowd — the mob choosing Jesus’ fate of crucifixion — Pilate, the one person who could have shut the crowd down, literally washes his hands of the situation even after a warning from his wife that Jesus was innocent. We can easily imagine the hopelessness felt by Jesus’ followers. Had they been wrong? Surely, He’ll use the miraculous power they saw to heal others, to save himself now…right?
Thankfully, we know the end of the story. And through His ultimate victory, we gain insight into how we can navigate life successfully. When the loudest voices are screaming things that don’t make sense and issues arise that cause us to wonder if God is still here, take heart in the example before us. Even when all seemed lost to His followers, He was in control, knowing the painful journey before Him would bring salvation for those who believe.
There is hope. When your voice is drowned out, and nothing seems to make sense, know that God sees you and hears you. He is in control. His will always prevails.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope that only You can bring. Although life can feel hopeless at times, I know that You are in control and Your will always prevails. In Jesus’ name, Amen.