After the high priest and the religious leaders interrogated Jesus, they handed Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman governor. From the hour of Jesus' interrogation before Pilate to the time of His crucifixion was between 5 am and 9 am. The reason the religious leaders handed Jesus over to Pilate was that they did not have the authority to execute Jesus. Only the Roman governor can execute a person. When Pilate interrogated Jesus, he asked Jesus if He was the king of the Jews. Jesus replied that He was the king of the Jews. However, Jesus did not come to establish His earthly kingdom but to save the world from sin. Pilate couldn't find any valid accusation against Jesus, and he realized that the religious leaders wanted Jesus to be executed because of their envy. So Pilate tried to release Jesus. Every year during the Passover, the Romans had the custom of releasing one prisoner whom the people requested. So Pilate gave the people a choice of whom they wanted to release. It was either Barabbas, who was a murderer, or Jesus. The people shouted to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus.
Pilate then released Barabbas, let Jesus be flogged, and handed over to be crucified. The Roman soldiers took Jesus, put a crown of thorns on His head, and put a purple robe on Him. They kept hitting him on the head with a staff and spitting on Him (Mark 15:1-21). Jesus suffered not only brutal physical punishment but also humiliation. The God who created the heavens, the earth, and everything in it, including us, was now in an agony of pain and suffering. Why would Jesus allow this to happen to Him? Did he lose His power? Could He at least defend Himself and beat those beating and spitting on Him? Where was God the Father at this time? It seems God had lost. But the truth of the matter is that it is not lost. All of these are part of God's plan. Jesus allowed Himself to suffer in the hands of the Roman soldiers and religious leaders because He must die and be crucified to die for our sins. Only through His death on the cross can we be forgiven of our sins.
Jesus could have defended Himself and destroyed all His enemies, but He accepted all the pain and suffering to save us. Jesus is absolutely in control during the hour of His suffering. When we doubt His love for us, let us remember what He had gone through to save us. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Be encouraged today that we are all loved by our Lord Jesus.
Ask yourself these questions: Why did Jesus allow Himself to suffer in the hands of the Romans and the religious leaders? How did God demonstrate His love for me? How should I live my life knowing that God loves me?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for allowing your Son, Jesus Christ, to die and pay the penalty of my sin. My Lord Jesus could have given up when He was in agony, but He persevered until the end because He loves me dearly. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me and sacrificing your life on my behalf. I am saved today through faith in you because of what you have done. May I continually praise and worship your name. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.