Some decisions cannot be taken back. The damage has been done. Ask for forgiveness while it can be found. Do not wait until tomorrow to make things right, for tomorrow may not come.
We need to have more compassion for those who have different views than ours. We need to examine our feelings to see if jealousy, pride or envy is at the root of them. Legalism without compassion is spiritual death.
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."
And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"
5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14 But He answered him not one word, so that
the governor marveled greatly.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called 2Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes
that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"
They said, "Barabbas!"
22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"
They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"
23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?"
But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"
24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."
25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."
The NKJV Study Bible says this: This was the third Jewish trial. The first two were illegal because they were held at night. Because the Jews did not have authority to execute Jesus , they brought Him to Pilate. Judas felt remorse because he had not planned for this to happen; he may have betrayed Jesus in order to force Him to take action against His enemies and inaugurate His kingdom. But that was not God's timing and plan. The religious leaders, who had no problem condemning an innocent person to death, suddenly became very scrupulous about the Law. Because of Deut. 23:18, it was felt that blood money should not be used for religious purposes. Originally this plot of ground was known as the potter's field, a place where potters dug for clay. Consequently, it was full of holes, which would have made it easy to bury people who had no family tombs. It was purchased as a cemetery for strangers who died in Jerusalem. It is likely Gentiles were also buried there. Barabbas was notorious because he was an insurrectionist and a murderer. Evidently Pilate assumed the Jews would choose Jesus to be released over a murderer like Barabbas. Jesus had only gone about doing good. The tenure of Pilate had been rocked by conflicts with the Jews from the very beginning. He could scarcely have afforded another one on his record. Once again, Pilate pronounced Jesus to be innocent. The washing of his hands is recorded only by Matthew. The governor vainly attempted to rid himself of the guilt of condemning an innocent man to death. The destruction of Jerusalem was one of the results of this sin.
Central to Christian faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. By recording the resurrection appearances, the New Testament leaves no doubt about this event.
• In or around Jerusalem:
• To Mary Magdelene (Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18)
• To other women (28:8–10)
• To Peter (Luke 24:34)
• To ten disciples (Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–25)
• To the Eleven, including Thomas (Mark 16:14; John 20:26–29)
• At the Ascension (Mark 16:19, 20; Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:4–12)
• To the disciples on the Emmaus road (Mark 16:12, 13; Luke 24:13–35)
• In Galilee (28:16–20; John 21:1–24)
• To five hundred people (1 Cor. 15:6)
• To James and the apostles (1 Cor. 15:7)
• To Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–6; 22:1–10; 26:12–18; 1 Cor. 15:8)
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