In the Bible, the number three signifies ‘completeness’. When things are said three times, that’s considered the last word.
Innocent
Yesterday as I was reading Luke 23 I noticed that three times it is mentioned that Jesus is guilty of nothing:
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v4 – Pilate: “I don’t find him guilty of anything.”
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v15 – Pilate: “Herod didn’t find him guilty either and sent him back.”
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v22 – Pilate: “I have not found him guilty of anything…”
Three times Jesus is declared innocent by those in authority who had examined Him: He was found to be completely innocent.
Condemned
But three times there were calls for Jesus to be put to death:
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v18 – But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill Jesus!”
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v21 – But they [the crowd] kept shouting, “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!”
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v23 – The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death.
Three times there are demands for Jesus to be condemned to death: He was totally condemned.
Innocent Yet Condemned
As we read on, verse 24 reveals that Pilate ‘gave in’ to the demands of the crowd. A known murderer is granted the freedom he doesn’t deserve, whilst the King of kings is condemned to the death He doesn’t deserve. And yet, this is all part of God’s plan for salvation. Truly the last word…Happy Easter!