By Bob Benson, Houghton Lake, Grayling & Mio Seventh-day Adventist pastor
I’ll never forget that day when I encountered Jesus!!! Early one morning: “Pilate, wake up, the priests are demanding to see you!”
When I finally went out to meet them, that was when I first saw Jesus.
“What charge are you bringing against this Man?”
Bottom line, they wanted Jesus crucified, had already “tried” Him, and wanted me to sign off on their trumped-up charges without investigating them. Accusation? They accused Jesus of being a rival to Caesar. [Since when did they care about Caesar?].
I questioned, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus wanted to know if I had a personal interest in the question. Why would I? I’m just a judge, it’s my job. “What is your kingdom all about?”
“My kingdom is not of this world.” So He wasn’t a political threat. Yet there was something compelling about Jesus which made me feel insecure.
“Are you a King?”
“I am the King of Truth. Whoever is on the side of truth listens to Me.”
Truth? You find 12 people and get 13 different opinions. (Flippant) “What is truth,” I said and walked out.
One thing is clear: Jesus is innocent and no threat to Rome. Problem: they wanted Him dead, and they could make things difficult for me.
I fought to save Jesus. As it was customary to release a prisoner at Passover, I offered them a choice between Jesus and the most notorious murderer, “Barabbas.” They chose Barabbas!!!
Now we’re stuck! The civil charges weren’t working for the priests (i.e. Jesus was no political threat). I either had to change their minds about Jesus or release Jesus in the face of their wrath. The latter would be the right thing, but that could get me fired!
Doing the right thing by Jesus versus what appeared best for me were 2 different things. I’d never felt so confused before.
I ordered Jesus scourged, hoping to arouse the mob’s sympathy, but they started chanting, “Crucify Him!”
I said decidedly: “There is no basis for a charge against Him.”
Then they threw a real curve at me. “According to our religious law, He is a blasphemer and must die because He claims to be God.”
Could Jesus be God? “Where are You from?” No answer.
“Don’t You know that I have the power to free You or to crucify You?”
Jesus was incredible! He looked like He understood what I was going through and felt sorry for Me! [I’m the governor, He’s the prisoner. Imagine, Him feeling sorry for me!!!] Jesus said, “You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above.”
I knew what I had to do: set Jesus free regardless of the cost to me personally. When I announced my intentions, I heard these words: “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.”
There it was: I had to choose to do what was right by Jesus OR do what seemed in my own best interest! Life is like that. You want it all, but you can’t have it all sometimes. You have to make choices.
Ultimately, I ordered Jesus crucified, thinking to save myself. Instead, I experienced the world’s greatest regret!!!
It would be easy for someone to criticize me for how I handled Jesus’ case. So, let me ask you, before you begin to judge me: If you had been in my shoes on that day, what would you have done about Jesus? Would you really have let Jesus go against the riotous mob’s fury, and the likelihood of being recalled by Caesar for letting a rival King to Caesar off the hook? Or would you have saved your job and sent Jesus to the cross? Let me ask you specifically, in your choice between living for Jesus, or living for yourself, for which are you living now? And when your name comes up before the judgment of God for your decision, what will be the verdict: acquitted (living for Jesus), or condemned (living for self)? My choice cost me eternity!!! Where is your choice taking you?
[Note: Pilate later committed suicide].
Bob Benson, pastor of the 13th St., Cadillac Seventh-day Adventist church.
