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).
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:
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. 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.
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?
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.
But, wait Pilate, this is an innocent man! How could he
do this?
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? 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.”
Inconsistent in What They Consider to Be Right
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?
Others Even When They Should
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.”
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?