Saturday, July 27: “Wave Making Required”

Matthew 27: 18, 22, 26: “For Pilate knew that because of envy they had handed Jesus over … Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus Who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Crucify Him!’ … Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”

Pilate knew the truth, and so did his wife (v. 19); however, when the envy-driven chief priests and well-rehearsed crowds demanded Jesus be crucified, he caved in the name of crowd control–and sealed his place in history as the man who condemned God’s Son to suffering and death. If only he had ignored the advice of the Nelsons when they sang “Don’t Make Waves”, we wouldn’t be saying his name every time we confessed the Creed: “He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.” Sometimes the crowd is wrong, and we need to make a few waves.