The following sermon was preached by Rev. Calum I. Macleod on the Sabbath Evening, 14th of March, 2010. When Pontius Pilate was in the presence of Jesus Christ he was at first careless and arrogant but at the last he was afraid. He affirmed that Jesus was innocent but he did not treat Him as an innocent man. He then deferred the matter over to Herod in the hope that he would deal with Christ and after that he sought to bargain with Christ; offering to free Him to the Jews rather than to release a common criminal. Finally, he tried in vain to wash away his guilt; washing his hands with water and said to the Jews, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.” Oh, this is a fearful message, because no man can wash away his sins without a sin bearer. It was the Jews and Pilate, not Christ, who stood trial before the Judge of all the earth in that awful day. The Jews, more so, for they their only Saviour and King in favour of a murderer. Dear reader, what will you do today with Jesus Christ now that you are confronted with His claims upon your life?
The text is Luke 23:18-19…And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas