Envy Crucified Jesus

by Terry Wane Benton

Pilate knew that it was only because of envy that the Jewish leaders had brought Jesus to his judgment seat (Matthew 27:18). He thought that their envy was not so great that they would want a “notorious prisoner,” Barabbas, released instead of Jesus, but this was not so. Some religious people let their envy run so deep that they will do just about anything to get rid of that person. Pilate learned just how deep the envy of the chief priests really was, and now an innocent man will pay a high price while a guilty man goes free.

It was because of envy that He was delivered to be tried and executed. When we envy others, we do it to Jesus. Being envious of others is a sure sign that we would have just as easily allowed ourselves to get wrapped up in the envy that killed Jesus, and again, if you do it to “one of the least of these,” Jesus says, “You did it to me.”

Is there a person “you can’t stand” because they seem to have the popularity you crave, the attention you crave, the looks, the talents you crave? If you hate them and wish bad things upon them, you were in that crowd that envied Jesus enough to want Him crucified. Jesus was crucified by envy.
We can’t say that those chief priests were worse sinners. It was our envy that perverted fairness and justice. We were there in spirit, crucifying that innocent man. “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to Me.” Envy backstabs a brother or sister in Christ, tries to undermine, and tries to get rid of someone, but that behind-the-scenes behavior was already mirrored by the envy that chose Barabbas over Jesus.

Didn’t we see this envy there? Were you there when they crucified Jesus? If envy was involved in crucifying Jesus, Jesus can see into our hearts and know that we are just extensions of that crowd. Were you there when envy crucified the Lord? What do you see in the mirror of God’s word? Be wise in your self-reflection!