“他们大声催逼彼拉多，求他把耶稣钉在十字架上。他们的声音就得了胜。彼拉多这才照他们所求的定案。” - 路 23:23-24

犹大地的罗马巡抚彼拉多，是历史上一个可怜的人。尽管他犹疑不决是否应当判耶稣死罪，但碍于群众要钉耶稣十字架，彼拉多结果选择就范。

使徒信经为什么特别提到耶稣“在本丢彼拉手下”受难呢？这句话指出，耶稣是在当时掌权的人手下被定罪、受苦、和受死的。彼拉多代表罗马政府，虽然耶稣是完全清白无罪的，彼拉多的判决使耶稣被定罪和受苦这件事，成为一件有历史证据的事实。

我们每一个人都需要一位救主，因为我们都犯了罪，应该为罪受罚。在为我们成就救恩的过程中，上帝以祂不可思议的的智慧，使用了有瑕疵的罗马政府。因着“在本丢彼拉多手下”受难，耶稣亲自担当了我们该受的刑罚。藉着祂的受难，耶稣带给我们上帝的恩典、以祂自己的义覆庇我们、又因我们与上帝相交而赐予我们永远的平安和福乐。

因着彼拉多怯懦和错谬的判决，他宣判耶稣要接受残酷的刑罚。然而，因着上帝的能力和智慧，祂竟然使用了耶稣的受难来救赎我们。这是何等奇妙的恩典和慈爱啊！

祷告

父啊，是怎样的爱、令你差遣你的儿子降世来为我们受刑和受死呢？我们为你奇妙的慈爱和恩典感谢你。阿们。

路加福音 23:13-25

13彼拉多传齐了祭司长和官府并百姓，
14就对他们说：“你们解这人到我这里，说他是诱惑百姓的。看哪，我也曾将你们告他的事在你们面前审问他，并没有查出他什么罪来。
15就是希律也是如此，所以把他送回来。可见他没有做什么该死的事。
16故此，我要责打他，把他释放了。”
18众人却一齐喊着说：“除掉这个人！释放巴拉巴给我们！”
19这巴拉巴是因在城里作乱杀人，下在监里的。
20彼拉多愿意释放耶稣，就又劝解他们。
21无奈他们喊着说：“钉他十字架！钉他十字架！”
22彼拉多第三次对他们说：“为什么呢？这人做了什么恶事呢？我并没有查出他什么该死的罪来。所以，我要责打他，把他释放了。”
23他们大声催逼彼拉多，求他把耶稣钉在十字架上，他们的声音就得了胜。
24彼拉多这才照他们所求的定案，
25把他们所求的那作乱杀人下在监里的释放了，把耶稣交给他们，任凭他们的意思行。

Suffering Savior

“With loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand.” - Luke 23:23-24

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, is a pitiful figure in history. Though he was conflicted about sentencing Jesus to death, Pilate gave in to the mob calling for Jesus to be crucified.

Why does the Apostles’ Creed note that Jesus suffered “under Pontius Pilate”? This statement points out the historical fact that Jesus was condemned to suffer and die by the governing authority of that day. Pilate represented the Roman government, and his judgment made Jesus’ sentencing and suffering an official event in history, even though Jesus was totally innocent and without sin.

We all need a Savior because we are guilty of sin and deserving of punishment. And in his mysterious wisdom, God used the government of Rome, flawed as it was, in the process of bringing salvation for our sake. By suffering “under Pontius Pilate,” Jesus took on himself the condemnation we deserve. And through his suffering Jesus has extended God’s grace to us, covering us with his own righteousness and granting us peace and the blessings of fellowship with God forever.

Through his weak and wrongful judgment, Pilate served Jesus a hideous sentence. But God, through his power and wisdom, used Jesus’ suffering to redeem us. What amazing grace and love!

Prayer

What love is this, Father, that caused you to send your Son to suffer and die for us? Thank you for your amazing love and grace. Amen.