“For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.” (Matt. 27:18)
Pilate knew why the Lord Jesus Christ was brought to him by the people, the Lord did not need to open His mouth in any defense, the people made it clear as to why they had accused Him.
Rome did not send fools to govern territories or sit in their counsels, men who placed the honor of Rome above all else were chosen, and it was clear to Pilate why Christ was there. So, he acquiesced to their demands, for what was this one man to him?
“Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” (Matt. 27:26)
I am by no means a historian of what Rome was like in those days, but I do not understand why Pilot, who cared nothing for Christ, who only wanted to ensure that some form of peace was maintained decided to scourged the Lord of Glory. I do understand many of the prophecies that relate to that time when the Lord went to the cross for us, and so I must presume not just that the Almighty knew what was going to happen, but that He caused it to.
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Prov. 16:9)
How much free will we have after we have been crucified with the Lord Jesus Christ has always been the question, has it not my friends? How much free will does a slave have, how much does one who is dead to self have, who has given all to the service of the Most High for His glory? It is why I offer the following to you so many times in these short letters, for it is very important to contemplate.
The free will of man in the mind of man cannot be reconciled with the Sovereignty of God.
Did Pilate choose his words that day or did the Lord place what He wanted him to say and do in his mind? Does God, as the unlearned say, look through time and modify His response to any given situation that a man will do, or does He direct his steps? “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Romans 9:18)
If the Lord decides to send certain circumstances into your life, those circumstances will indeed arrive, how you react to them He knows, for the Most High is not bound by His creation of time, He is in all times all the time. We are not puppets, we have free will, but all things serve the will of God.
I speak not of the wicked here, but of those who have been chosen by the Living God to live eternally, of our free will and His Sovereignty. Is how much free will one who has died to Christ determined by that individual, or by the Almighty? You can pray for whatever you desire, but that does not mean the Lord has to give it to you, if you are one of His, you have nothing of value to offer, the Most High gains nothing from you existence.
Do you have free will? Can that free will choose not to obey? You should be able to answer that question my friends.
Love went to the cross, but not just a love for you, the Lord Jesus Christ obeyed the Father in all things, never once concerned for Himself. No person ever born besides Him has done so. Did Pilate have a choice? Did Judas Iscariot or Lucifer? Do you?
Not all who serve Christ are obedient in all things, but the humble soul recognizes what he is, a slave to Christ, and at the same time an heir to the Kingdom of heaven.
Every situation in your life should be accepted with “Thy will be done.”