Handed Over In Exchange for a Sinner

Luke 23:1-25

Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate

1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."

3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
He answered him and said, "It is as you say."

4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."

5 But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."

Jesus Faces Herod

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" 17 (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

18 And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"— 19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"

22 Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."

23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Jesus as handed over by the religious leaders and people of Israel who were under their influence to the occupying Roman authority (the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria) in exchange for a known sinner who was a murdered and insurrectionist.  When the mob dragged Jesus to Pontius Pilate they accused Him of starting an uprising in the nation, of telling people not to pay taxes, and of making Himself out to be king and Christ.  For the first count, Jesus was falsely a of doing what Barrabas actually had done because Jesus never taught disobedience to the state.  On the second count, Jesus actually told even His followers to pay taxes to whom they are due (Matthew 17:25-27, Mark 12:17) because it was the money of the government who minted it anyway.  On them third and final count, the Lord was accused of being the Christ (guilty!) and therefore a king.  However, Jesus as the Christ was king of heaven and not of a particular country in competition or a threat to Caesar the king of the Roman occupiers who were to judge Jesus he condemn Him to death.  When Pilate questioned Him Jesus admitted He was king of the Jews and the Roman ruler understood that He was no legitimate threat to Romemas He pronounced Him innocent of the accusation at first.  The Jews grew angry and told how this man had stirred up the people (which they perceived as a threat to their religious control over them).  Pilate sought a way out by sending Jesus to Herod the governor since as a Galilean the case fell under his purview.  This Herod had been desiring to listen to Jesus for quite some time and was glad to hear Him, but unfortunately nothing moved him to deliver Him.  Herod expected to see the miracles reported to him but was disappointed and so unmoved that he treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, put a gorgeous robe on Jesus, and sent Him back to Pilate as an act of friendship with Pilate in a political move for popularity.  Pilate told the crowd that neither he nor Herod found Jesus guilty and was ready to beat and release Him.  The crowd went wild because they had been stirred up and so forced a decision and the insurrectionist was spared instead of the Christ, even though his crime was committed against the government letting him go free, which is quite shocking compared to a Jewish man accused of being a spiritual king of a conquered nation.  Jesus was delivered to die for the sins of His people in exchange for a sinner for whom He also died a sacrifial atoning death!  Such is the sovereign plan of God in His wisdom who moved the heart of kings like diverting a river (Proverbs 21:1) to accomplish His purpose set forth from the beginning (Genesis 3:15, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Galatians 4:4-5) of time.  He exchanged His life for sinners and took our sentence of death and judgment!