1. FACES SURROUNDING the CROSS “A Face That Had a Dream!”
Matthew 27:15-26

2. Pilate knew that Jesus had been setup and delivered over out of envy; yet, he inquired of the crowd: “Whom do you want me to release for you; Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?”

3. …Pilate’s wife had a dream
…Pilate’s wife had a dream! Although none of the detail concerning this dream is given, it stirred Pilate’s wife…

4. Purpose:
to better understand Pilate’s inexcusable decision to not heed his wife’s dream

5. I Pilate Was POWER-HUNGRY
A. He Coveted His Job

6. Pilate loved his job… Appointed by Rome to oversee Judea… He was the commander of Roman forces there…

7. I Pilate Was POWER-HUNGRY
A. He Coveted His Job
B. He Wanted to Please the Jews

8. “…if you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar…”
John 19:12
“…if you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar…”

9. Upon hearing this, Pilate was torn: offend the Jews… or condemn Jesus, the sinless One…

10. I Pilate Was POWER-HUNGRY
A. He Coveted His Job
B. He Wanted to Please the Jews
C. Are We Power-Hungry

11. Too many are fearful that being a Christian costs too much…

12. II Pilate Was COWARDLY
A. He Was Governor

13. Pilate was one with legions of men under him; yet, he literally was afraid… afraid to set an innocent man free, one whom he knew to be righteous…

14. II Pilate Was COWARDLY
A. He Was Governor
B. He Was in Hot Water

15. Pilate refused the warning to let Jesus go simply because he was morally/spiritually a coward!

16. II Pilate Was COWARDLY A. He Was Governor B. He Was in Hot Water
C. Are We a Moral Coward

17. Revelation 21:8
“…the cowardly and unbelieving will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

18. Pilate was cowardly – how about you and me?

19. III Pilate Was PRESUMPTUOUS

20. Kath was the lead guitarist/vocalist of the original group called Chicago…

21. III Pilate Was PRESUMPTUOUS
A. He Washed His Hands

22. Pilate washed his hands as if the blood of Jesus could be removed with water…

23. III Pilate Was PRESUMPTUOUS
A. He Washed His Hands
B. Are We Presumptuous

24. IV Pilate Was DOUBLE-MINDED
A. He Had a Heart for the Right
B. He Had a Heart for the Wrong
C. Are We Double-Minded

26. Summary and Conclusion:
…Yes, Pilate was a power-hungry, cowardly, presumptuous, and double-minded. He was this in-spite of his wife’s warning – remember she was a face surrounding the cross of Christ that had a dream! But, how many loved ones, friends, and neighbors do we know who are none different?...