The Trial Before Pilate

The Trial Before Pilate

Rich Trotter

Matthew 27:11-31

Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, was perhaps one of the weakest individuals we read about in the entire New Testament. With Jesus standing before him, he went against his own conscience and lacked the courage to stand up for what he believed was right. He recognized that the Jewish leaders had envious motives in bringing Jesus to the Praetorium for a trial. Pilate tried hard to avoid sentencing Jesus, but gave in to the will of the people, not wanting to offend them. Eventually he had Jesus put to death when he clearly believed that Jesus was innocent.

It's easy to point a finger at Pilate and count him among the weak. But in reality, aren't we among that group as well? How often are we as weak as Peter was at times? How often do we make choices that betray us and eventually bring harm to ourselves and to others? How often do what we see as our strengths actually turn out to become our downfall? How often are we afraid to do the right, God-honoring thing because we fear the ramifications and how we will be perceived?

We are not the strong ones, but Jesus is our strength. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Jesus is the One who is in control. Just as He was in control when He was standing before Pilate, and just as He was in control of all things leading to His crucifixion, Jesus is still in control of our lives today as we yield and submit to Him.