In this daily Bible reading is the account of Jesus being taken before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate did not perceive that Jesus had done anything deserving of death. He wanted to set Jesus free. However, the Jewish chief priests and elders insisted that Jesus be put to death. They stirred up the people to also insist that Jesus be crucified. Pilate then washed his hands and said that he was innocent of Jesus’ death. He said that Jesus’ death was because of the Jews’ insistence that Jesus die.
The people answered Pilate and said, “His blood be on us and our children.” This was a very prophetic statement because the Jews have been severely punished since they had Jesus executed. In 70 A.D. the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and demolished their Jewish Temple. The Romans eventually drove the Jews out of Israel, and they were dispersed throughout the world. Jews were persecuted wherever they went. Their ultimate persecution occurred during World War II when Hitler murdered 6 million Jews.
The Jews are still being persecuted today. However, God promised to restore them to His favor and their land. In 1948 the nation Israel was reestablished. One day soon, Jesus will return to be their King.
