The crowd before Pilate demanded the crucifixion of Jesus.  “Crucify, crucify Him!”
  And Pilate?  What of Pilate (the Roman governor)? 

(NASB) Luke 23:20-22 “Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,
21 but they kept on calling out, saying, ‘Crucify, crucify Him!”
22 And he said to them the third time, ‘Why, what evil has this man done?  I have found in him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.’”

  Pilate found no guilt in Jesus demanding His death.  For this reason Pilate wanted to appease the crowds’ demands by punishing Jesus…then releasing Him.  But that mob did not want Jesus punished, they wanted Him crucified!

(NASB) Luke 23:23 “But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified.  And their voices began to prevail.”

  Pilate – gave in to their demands.  He capitulated – he sentenced Jesus to crucifixion after he had Jesus scourged (whipped with a three tailed leather whip tipped in jagged rock, bone and even glass).

(NASB) Luke 23:24 “And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.”

  Pilate – gave in to their demands.  He released a man known to be guilty of insurrection and murder (Barabbas).

(NASB) Luke 23:25 “And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.”

  Seeming defeat for Jesus, seeming victory for the leaders in Jerusalem and the mob’s demands. 

  What people meant for evil, God used for His purposes.  Without the death of the Lamb of God (Jesus), you and I would not have salvation worked out by the living God.

  What demands are being made of you?  Pilate capitulated to the crowds insistent “Crucify, crucify Him!”  Followers of Christ are to hang onto faith in the living God Who raised the dead Jesus to life! 

  Jesus did die — Jesus was resurrected to life, bodily, physically He is alive.  Today, He sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.  One day, He will come back to earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  When He comes back, He will come back as He is now with His physical body.  He is alive, He is risen — He is risen indeed!