Post by Admin on Jan 19, 2017 7:32:06 GMT
Tonight we opened with a discussion about who and what influences our decision-making; sometimes we take in all kinds of information and opinions and sort through them to make a “final answer,” and sometimes we find ourselves just going along with the most recent advice. That was the context for considering how Pontius Pilate came to his decision to order the crucifixion of Jesus.
Actually, we debated about whether Pilate made a decision, or allowed the Jews to make the decision (by washing his hands). We definitely understood that Pilate was calculating his actions based on politics, and that he knew the Jewish leaders were also manipulating the situation for their own political reasons. Looking at how Jesus uprooted long-standing laws, traditions, and authority, we might understand that the Jews were genuinely upset that Jesus was a rabble-rouser. On the other hand, as we read last week, the Jews also had evidence from their own prophets that should have helped them recognize Him as the Messiah. Instead, the Jewish leaders were quickly able to stir up a crowd of Jews to not only call for Jesus to be crucified, but willingly agree that His blood was on them.
More interesting was the realization that we can today be very much like Pilate: making decisions based on self-interest or the urging of others, rather than what we know is right in God’s view. And we are like the Jewish people sometimes as well: swayed by peers or the group mentality – and too often willing to take the easy option today without concern about the effects tomorrow.
We finished with the understanding that when the people say in verse 25 “the blood [of Jesus] is on us and our children,” they are in fact exactly describing us: our sin requires the blood of the Son of God for atonement, and that continues with our children.
Actually, we debated about whether Pilate made a decision, or allowed the Jews to make the decision (by washing his hands). We definitely understood that Pilate was calculating his actions based on politics, and that he knew the Jewish leaders were also manipulating the situation for their own political reasons. Looking at how Jesus uprooted long-standing laws, traditions, and authority, we might understand that the Jews were genuinely upset that Jesus was a rabble-rouser. On the other hand, as we read last week, the Jews also had evidence from their own prophets that should have helped them recognize Him as the Messiah. Instead, the Jewish leaders were quickly able to stir up a crowd of Jews to not only call for Jesus to be crucified, but willingly agree that His blood was on them.
More interesting was the realization that we can today be very much like Pilate: making decisions based on self-interest or the urging of others, rather than what we know is right in God’s view. And we are like the Jewish people sometimes as well: swayed by peers or the group mentality – and too often willing to take the easy option today without concern about the effects tomorrow.
We finished with the understanding that when the people say in verse 25 “the blood [of Jesus] is on us and our children,” they are in fact exactly describing us: our sin requires the blood of the Son of God for atonement, and that continues with our children.