Jesus Before Pilate

Introduction. (Mark 15:1) After Jesus was betrayed and arrested in the garden, He spent a rough night of questioning before the Jewish council. When that concluded His trial before the civil authorities began. One of these would be Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee (Luke 3:1). This was the man responsible for the death of John the Baptist. On this day, however, it would not be Herod who sentanced Jesus to death. Instead it would be the Roman governor (or Procurator) of Judea. This morning we are going to look closely at the accounts of this trial before Pilate and some powerful lessons which it illustrates.

I. “Lest They Should Be Defiled.” (John 18:28-29).

Those Who Deliever the ”Lamb of God” to Death Worried About Defilement!

II. “You Take Him.” (John 18:30-31). You can feel Pilate’s frustration in this account. He cares nothing for their religious quarrels. What concerns him is peace! Matthew tells us that he finally concedes only because a riot was beginning (Matthew 27:24).

  1. The Accusations. (Luke 23:2) Note: 1. Perverting Nation; 2. Forbidding Taxes; 3. Himself as king. These things cause Pilate concern. Imagine if they were true! Pilate served as what the Romans called Procurator. A Procurator was like a steward. They were responsible for the emperor's possessions. If Jesus was doing all of these things, Pilate would have to answer to Caesar.

III. “Are You A King Then?” (John 18:33-38a). The Biblical account of Jesus’ time before Pilate (for the most part) characterizes Pilate’s interest in Jesus as ranging from either:

Here, for just a second, I think Pilate has some genuine concern. Two things dispell this concern: 1. Jesus' servants don't fight for Him, and 2. He believes in truth. Note: It is not the fact that Jesus claims to be a king of another world that he questions. Romans believed in other worlds. What he questions is the notion that there is truth.

Example: Today people aren't much different. We believe in alien worlds, alternate diminsions, galaxies “long ago and far away,” past lives, telepathic, telekenetic, psychic connections and scores of other things. But speak about truth, and you are talking about what is inconceivable! (John 18:38b). To Pilate Jesus is no threat, He is a mad man who believe in one universal truth.

IV. “A Galilean.” (Luke 23:4-7) Note: Pilate is looking for a way out. Perhaps now more than ever. Jesus is no military threat - but He does believe in the impossible - truth. What do you do when you are threatened with a notion that you cannot accept nor disprove? Avoid it! Pass the buck. Change the subject.

So Jesus goes to Herod - the man who had John beheaded rather than face truth! Will he solve Pilate’s problem? (Luke 23:8-12). Herod doesn't help at all! Why do they become friends?
Those Who Avoid Truth Find
Comfort in Others Who Do The Same

V. “I Have Found No Fault in This Man.” (Luke 23:13-16) Pilate didn't realize how true his statement in vs. 14 was! Jesus was without sin at all. So, Pilate will release Him, but first he will “chastise” Him. No big deal? Wrong! Let’s put it in accurate terms.

Pilate says - “I find no fault in this man, so let’s take a Roman flagellum, a multi-tailed whip with knots, bone or metal attached to it and rip the flesh off Jesus back until He is almost dead - then release Him.”

But, wait Pilate, this is an innocent man! How could he do this?

Any Person Who Rejects Truth Is
Inconsistent in What They Consider to Be Right

Example: Someone says - “I don’t need Jesus. I don’t need religion. I’m a good person. I treat others nice. I’m a good husband, father, son, worker, citizen!” What would have to happen to change all that? Will you still do good if you're wronged? How quickly could that all fall apart? Or, how consistent is your standard of what is good?

VI. “Because of Envy.” (Matthew 27:15-18; 20-22) Here once again we see Pilate’s interest in keeping peace and his disregard for justice. He knew Jesus was innocent, he knew it was because of envy but he barters Him together with a criminal: murder in the insurection (Mark 15:7); and a robber (John 18:40). Why didn’t Pilate rebuke the Jewish leaders?

Those Who Reject Truth Can’t Correct
Others Even When They Should
  1. A Warning. (Matthew 27:19). We know nothing about the nature of this dream. Divine? Natural? Whatever, it was accurate! When we are about to do wrong - when we choose to reject truth - there is always some way out. Often there is some warning - if we will heed it.

    If We Reject the Way of Escape We Fall

VII. “Pilate Went Out Again.” (John 19:1-7). Pilate had authority here. He could have refused to be a party to such a farse. But he had no strength of character. He was scared. What? This man of authority was scared?

VIII. “He Was The More Afraid.” (John 19:8-11). I don’t know if Pilate ever considered the possibility that Jesus could be who He was. The claim to be “the Son of God” made him afraid, but notice that Jesus - this man who is bound, beaten, and facing death speaks to him about power. Pilate’s power was given “from above.”

  1. Caesar's Friend. (John 19:12,13). Had Pilate's power come from Caesar? He thinks so. He thinks that he is doing what is best for Caesar. He failed to consider the true source of power. God.

IX. “He Took Water and Washed His Hands.” (Matthew 27:24-26). Pilate tried to cleanse himself from the stain of this farse. It didn’t work. The only one who could remove such a stain stood before him - and he missed it. Pilate could have turned to Jesus later. Some early Christians liked to imagine that he did. The record of Pilate’s fiendship with Herod seems to contradict this.

Some try to cleanse themselves. It can't be done. Some like Pilate stand in the presence of their savior and miss it. Will you?