LUKE 23:1-25 NO FAULT IN THIS MAN The religious leaders had already made their decision that they wanted to kill Jesus, no matter what the truth was regarding His Person. How like that group that led Jesus to Pilate are those today who don't want to be "confused by the truth." It often happens that there are those who have their minds made up about a matter or person, and look for some way to justify what they intend to do or say. These men of the Sanhedrin, were not satisfied with their own religious decision and condemnation. They wanted Jesus dead. The only way this could come about was through a political decision that would demand the death sentence. The office of the procurator would be such that Pilate, as the official representative of the Roman government was the only one with power to execute political prisoners. It was on this premise the religious leaders charged the Lord Jesus Christ with saying He was a King. In the Gospel of Luke there is no lengthy account of the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate. Pilate had heard Him say, "My kingdom is not of this world..." So the first verdict Pilate made was, "I find no fault in this Man." Three times he gave the same verdict and also said, "No, nor yet Herod..." The innocence of the Lord was well documented.
Pilate's reputation was that of antagonism toward the Jews and of not caring at all about what was in their best interests. In the course of our life and witness for the Lord, we will come across people who are disinterested in the Gospel. They are very self-centered individuals who may have never experienced kindness and gentleness themselves. The dignity and calmness of the Savior in front of Pilate impressed him in spite of his reputation. The Lord Jesus "witnessed a good confession before Pontus Pilate." We do well to consider every human being of value to God, even if their reputation precedes them and they are known as bitter antagonists against the Gospel. No man or woman is too hard for the Holy Spirit of God to convict of their sin. We need to always remember that "Christ died for the ungodly," and "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."
As far as the written accounts in the Gospels record, Herod is the only man the Lord Jesus wouldn't speak to. This evil, dark-hearted man was known for his careless cruelty. One man previously had gotten to his conscience. John the Baptist had charged him with his guilt in an adulterous relationship with his brother's wife. The outcome of that was the messenger of God was imprisoned and beheaded. When people hear the message of God preached, whether it be warning or entreaty, and deliberately reject it, they have made a serious decision. In the appearance of the Lord Jesus before Herod, there was no exchange of words. There was only mockery and scorn from Herod and those who attended him. We learn from this the impact of the presentation of the Gospel when we preach it. To not pay attention to the messenger is taken personally by the Master who sent him. No John - no Jesus. This should make us take very seriously what we are doing when we speak for the Lord. Herod found no fault in "this Man." "No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him."
A third man is spoken of in this account of the trial of the Lord. Barabbas was in prison for insurrection, the same crime they were trying Jesus for, and on top of that he had committed murder while doing it. This man truly deserved to die. From his prison cell Barabbas probably heard his name being shouted and the repeated word, "Crucify, crucify" attached to it. He would have figured out this was the day of his death. How surprised he must have been when his cell door was opened and he was free to go. Whatever happened to him after that we don't know, but we know he would not have forgotten that the One who died without fault had died in his place. We may never know the outcome of our work for the Lord or the results of proclaiming the Gospel publicly. But we do know what our responsibility is and we must leave the results to be revealed in a future day.
All of those people associated with the perversion of justice that took place in Jerusalem that day remind us that when we present Christ in the Gospel, we are telling people of a man in whom is no fault. "He was led as a lamb to the slaughter..." Pilate, Herod and Barabbas all were affected by their brief encounter with the perfect Son of Man. What ever happened later in their lives in regard to the Lord Jesus, we know that now they know who He is and what they could have, and should have done with Him then. There was no valid reason for rejecting the One in whom "is no fault at all."
May we always be urgent in presenting God's Gospel in kindness and gentleness, and yet be firm in declaring the consequences of accepting or rejecting the Savior. The names - Pilate, Herod and Barabbas are names that are used for vicious dogs - not for those who are righteous, honorable people known for their integrity.
Stop, and listen to the egregious words that they say - Deceptive spiritual leaders accused Him of not being willing to pay What was owed to Caesar, and of setting up a throne That would make Him king of a nation of His own. But they would not admit the kingdom of God was here, And the One they were condemning the diadem would wear - When righteousness will sometime spread to every place - In the kingdom when the One they condemned would reign in peace.
Look, and watch this self-important man use his authority To question the Son of Man who answers his questions quietly, "My kingdom is not of this world, else would My servants fight."
But in spite of his verdict of "no fault" Pilate refuses to right A wrong he knew was being propagated, and goes along instead With this perversion of justice when this innocent One was led As a lamb to the slaughter and in faultlessness He stands In dignity and grace before Pilate, that sinful, spineless man.
Listen, and you will hear shocking words and scorn Come from Herod and his men, but none from Jesus come To a man who despised and rejected warnings given to him When John made it clear he was condemned by God for his sin. The refusal of the Gospel and the one God uses to tell - Is the same as refusing the only One who can save you from hell. In that setting there was no blame, Herod found Him faultless too - That testing time left them all more guilty when their mockery was through.
The sound of a door opening would spell doom to that murderous man. Insurrection and murder are capital punishment in every land. But in this case, it meant freedom, because another One would die. Barabbas must have wondered who He was, and also wondered why. We know behind all of this was a redemptive price to pay - By the "determinate counsel of God," the Lord was crucified that day. But no one is exempt from guilt when this faultless Man Met the requirements we could not, to fulfill God's righteous plan.
"Father, I praise and thank Thee that the Lord Jesus Christ did not turn aside from that which was set before Him. Thy word was truly fulfilled when He was willing to be led by feeble, sinful men to be condemned by a cowardly governor like Pilate. I thank Thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."