Gospel of St. John

Pilate – 18:28-40

“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.  Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?  They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.  Then said Pilate unto them, take ye him, and judge him according to your law.  The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:  That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.”   John does not tell us what happened when Jesus appeared before Caiaphas.  Matthew, Mark and Luke cover that event.  John ignored Caiaphas because he was High Priest appointed by the Romans for administrative purposes.  Annas was still the High Priest for ecclesial matters.  It was in front of Caiaphas that two false witnesses were obtained to testify against Jesus.  This justified bringing Jesus to Pilate for Roman justice.  They brought Jesus to the Hall of Judgment but would not enter as that would defile them and there was not enough time to perform the purification ritual again.

Pilate knew they were bringing Jesus as the Roman soldiers would not have accompanied them to the Garden and he would not have come to the Judgment room early.  When Pilate asked what accusation was brought against him, the Jewish leadership tried to avoid specifics.  Pilate told them to judge him according to their law.  At this point they were forced to admit, they did not have the sovereignty necessary to put him to death.  The only punishment they could carry out was stoning.  It was not always fatal but more important, it was not the death predicted for Christ.

“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew?  Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me:  what hast thou done?”  Pilate violated Roman law by not forcing the accusers to face the accused in his presence.  Instead he ran from the Jews in the courtyard to Jesus in the Judgment room in his efforts to resolve and avoid the decision required by the situation.  When Pilate asked if he was the King of the Jews, Jesus asked whether Pilate said it or if others told him so.  Pilate showed his lack of personal interest in the matter with the trite response, “Am I a Jew”?  Then He violated the Roman law again by asking the accused to witness against himself.  Jesus was guilty of no political evil and had done nothing against Caesar so he did not answer what he had done.

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:  but now is my kingdom not from hence.  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?  Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”  Jesus’ answer about his kingship showed he was not a threat to Roman authority.  If his intent were to overthrow the Romans, his servants would be fighting to keep him from being prosecuted.  Pilate realized he was no threat to Caesar but was curious about his kingship.  Jesus responded that He came into the world to bear witness unto the truth for all that would hear it.  By that He meant witness unto God, the author of all truth.

“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?  And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.  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?  Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas.  Now Barabbas was a robber.”  Like all secular rulers, Pilate dismissed truth as a myth and went back to the Jews in the courtyard.  He admitted he found no fault in Jesus at all.  In looking for a compromise, he suggested that he could find him guilty and then release him to them as the Passover custom allowed.  This would allow the Jewish leadership to save face and allow him to avoid sentencing an innocent man to death.  The Jews were not receptive to a compromise.  Nothing but Jesus’ death could remove his preaching against their ritualism.

Pilate – 19:1-11

“When Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.  And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews!  And they smote him with their hands.  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you that ye may know that I find no fault in him.”  Pilate had Jesus scourged and mistreated in hopes that punishment would satisfy the rage of the crowd.  This is his last attempt to release him

“Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe.  And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!  When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.  Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him:  for I find no fault in him.  The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”  Pilate brings Jesus to the crowd with his bleeding back and crown of thorns.  He points out how he has suffered already.  But there was no pity in the crowd.  They would not relent on their demand to crucify him.  At this point, Pilate washes his hands of the whole matter.  He declared sentence on Jesus even while stating he found no fault in him.  The Jews rationalized the crucifixion by stating that he had violated their law and therefore deserved death.  By stating he was the Son of God, he was guilty of blasphemy in their eyes.  The truth in his statement fell on deaf ears.  They were so wrapped up in their ritual and self-importance;  they could not hear the truth.

“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;  And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou?  But Jesus gave him no answer.  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me?  Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:  therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”  Pilate was confused and more than a little fearful upon hearing the Jews’ comments.  He wanted to know from whence Jesus came.  Was He the Son of God?  Was he more than a man?  He went back into the Judgment hall with Jesus to ask about his origins.  Pilate undoubtedly hoped that Jesus would say something that would allow him release him.  Knowing he could not hear the truth, Jesus did not respond to that question.

That was the last straw for Pilate.  He vented his frustration at Jesus’ silence.  He bragged that he had the power to have him crucified or to have him released.  Pilate admitted that he was above the law in that he could release a guilty man or crucify an innocent one.  In spite of his position in this world, he already demonstrated that he had no desire to crucify Jesus.  The scripture we just covered proved he did not have the power to release him.

Annas’ part in this process was to try to get an ecclesial judgment that could be used in the Judgment hall.  Caiaphas’ part was to translate that ecclesial judgment into a threat against Rome.  Herod was only involved as one of several attempts Pilate made to avoid having to make the judgment.  Pilate’s position was very difficult.  He was required to make the decision as the highest ranking Roman official.  He must keep the Jews happy to avoid an uprising.  And yet, it pained him to punish an innocent man.

Ø      Pilate acknowledged seven times that Jesus was innocent.  “I find no fault in him.”

Ø      He was willing and sought to release Jesus.

Ø      He was urged by his wife not to sentence him.

Ø      He tried to facilitate his acquittal.

ü      Let the Jews judge him.

ü      Sent him to Herod.

ü      Tried to convict and then release him.

ü      He scourged and mistreated him so the Jews would have mercy and allow his release.

Ø      But finally he ordered that Christ be crucified.

Christ with Pilate

Christ with Caiaphas