My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension.
221: Jesus Before Pilate - Mt 27:1-2,11-14; Mk. 15:1-5; Lu. 23:1-5; Jn. 18:28-38
Matthew 27:1 ¶ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people
took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the
governor.
John 18:28 ¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early;
and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they
might eat the Passover.
After enduring an agonizing evening by being harangued by the High priest and the council,
Jesus must have spend a very lonely and agonizing night which waiting to be taken before
Pilate in the morning. He was all alone, his disciples having fled because of fear and timidity. I
find it ironic that the religious leaders would not enter the judgment hall, lest they be defiled
for Passover, but had no qualms putting the Lord of Glory to death on trumped up evidence.
That states the case for legalism quite well in my estimation!
Because they would not enter the hall, Pilate went out to them. In another show of ambiguity
they declared to Pilate that it wasn’t lawful for them to condemn any man to death. They
simply desired Pilate to do the job for them. This simply fulfilled the predictions of Jesus as
to the manner of His death.
Pilate questioned Jesus closely as to whether He was a king. Jesus simply stated, “Thou
saith.” Jesus went on the state that His kingdom was not of this world. If so, His disciples
would fight. It would be good if some of the warring Christian factions (political and church
government feuds included) would read these words of the Master.
Pilate went out once again to the council gathered outside his door and declared, “I find no
fault in Him.”
222: Jesus before Herod - Luke - 23:6-12
Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,
who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long
season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle
done by him.
9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a
gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at
enmity between themselves
Pilate found no fault in Jesus, but that doesn’t win him any kudos in my book. He had the
power to stop the whole proceeding, but quickly found a loophole by which he hoped to
escape responsibility for the death of Jesus. He would send Him to Herod who had authority
over Galilee. Evidently there had been some jurisdictional disputes between the two. Now
would be a good time to mend that political fence.
Herod had suffered a guilty conscience ever since allowing John the Baptist to be killed. He
had been wanting to see Jesus. Perhaps he would do a miracle for Him. Evidently Jesus
wasn’t up to performing miracles for Herod’s amusement.
Herod questioned Jesus extensively. Even though the chief priests and scribes brought railing
accusation, Jesus said nothing in His defense.
Herod was happy that Pilate had recognized his jurisdiction, but he would rather not have the
responsibility for the death of Jesus either. He sent Jesus back to Pilate. Before doing so, he
curried favor with the frenzied crowd by by joining his cohorts in mocking and abusing Jesus.
They adorned Him in a fine purple robe and sent Him back to Pilate. These two scoundrels
forgot their past difficulties and became friends. What timing!
223: Pilate’s attempt to Release Jesus - Mt. 27:15-26; Mk. 15:6-15; Lu 23:13-24; Jn.
18:39-40
Jn 18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover: will ye
therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
At Passover, there was an established custom that the Roman governor (Pilate) would release
on prisoner of the Jew’s choice. Pilate gave the Jews a choice between Jesus, in whom he
stated he could find no fault, and Barrabbas a robber. The crowd demanded that Jesus be
crucified while shouting, “Give us Barrabbas.”
224: The Appeal of Pilate’s Wife - Mt. 27:19
Matthew 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying,
Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a
dream because of him
225: Pilate Washes His Hands - Mt. 27:24-25
Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was
made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the
blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Pilate’s wife had suffered all night in torment because she could see that her husband was
about to condemn a “just man.” She begged her husband to have no further part in the
proceedings, but to no avail. Pilate the politician, symbolically washed his hands and declared
himself innocent of the blood of Jesus. The crowd cried out, “Let His blood be on us and our
children.”
226: Pilate Gives the Death Sentence - Mt. 27:26-30; Mk. 15:15; Lu. 23:24; Jn. 19:1-16
Pilate tried to get Jesus to defend Himself, but Jesus would not. Pilate stated to Him,” I have
the power to crucify you or set you free. Why not speak up?”
Jesus told him, “You really don’t have any power except that which God has allowed you.”
Pilate asked the Jews if he could give them Jesus as King of the Jews. The crowd cried out
Pilate released Barrabbas, and although he found no fault in Jesus, he still allowed Him to be
scourged and beaten. The soldiers placed a scarlet robe on Jesus and a crown of thorns on His
head. They placed a scepter of thorns in His right hand and while bowing they mockingly
cried “Hail, King of the Jews.”
The crowd reminded him that to recognize Jesus as King would be an insult to Caesar, even
crying out “We have no king but Caesar.’ Considering that the Caesars considered
themselves to be gods, it appears that Jews were actually committing idolatry.
227: Jesus Mocked - Mt. 27:30; Mk. 15:16-20; Jn. 19:1-3
Matthew 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own
raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled
to bear his cross.
The soldiers led a naked Jesus away to be crucified. On th way they continued to mock, spit
on and beat Him, while compelling Him to carry the cross on which He would be crucified.
Jesus fell beneath the load. A passer by named Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the cross
for Him. I hope that Simon appreciated this honor that was bestowed upon him. I’m
reminded of the words of an old song, “must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go
free.” The song concludes, “No, there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me.”
Something to consider.”
228: Suicide of Judas - Mt. 27:3-10; Acts 1:18-19
Judas finally woke up and was sorry, but it was too late. He tried to return the thirty pieces
of silver, but the council refused to take it because it was the price of blood. They purchased a
field to bury strangers. Judas couldn’t find repentance. He committed suicide and was the first
to be buried in the potter’s field. What irony!
Conclusion and Application:
This is the season when the suffering of our Lord is recalled even by the reshowing of
movies that depict the events in graphic detail. That's fine, but for the Christian these events
must be totally embedded in our consciousness. We must remember that Jesus suffered and
died in our stead that we might escape the penalty of our sins.
We live in an age when Christians feel a sense of entitlement, feeling that Jesus will give us
anything we ask. He will, if it advances the goals of His kingdom. He was crucified for the
kingdom, not for my selfish desires. I won't lay the price of earthly success on His back.
I am reminded of the Apostle Paul, who had many earthly attainment. He counted them as
nothing if he could only win Christ. He had already seen Him and heard His voice from
heaven. He was even caught up to heaven and the Lord talked to him there. Yet he said, "I
have not apprehended." He cried out, "Oh that I might know Him in the power of His
resurrection!" He then stated just how that goal could be realized. It was by being made
conformable unto His death (Philippians 3:4-14).
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Don and Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries
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Last modified: 08-11-2007
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