THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

John: Believing On The Christ, The Son Of God, For Eternal Life

Part XLI: Trusting In Christ For His Conduct Before Pilate

B. Trusting In Christ For His Great Objectivity Under Duress

(John 18:38-19:16)

I. Introduction

A. John's Gospel presents Jesus as the Son of God (John 1:18) and "full of grace and truth," and His great objectivity before Pontius Pilate though under human duress exposes that grace, truth and deity.

B. We view the John 18:38-19:16 record of that event for our insight and edification (as follows):

II. Trusting In Christ For His Great Objectivity Under Duress, John 18:38-19:16.

A. When Pilate found Jesus innocent, he asked the religious leaders in view of the custom that he release to them a political prisoner at Passover if he should release Jesus, "the King of the Jews," unto them, John 18:39.

B. The Jews cried out that he should instead release Barabbas, John 18:40; Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 338.

C. Pilate tried a compromise action, hoping that drawing some blood would appease their appetite to kill Jesus without his having to crucify an innocent man, John 19:1-5:

1. First, Pilate had Jesus scourged, John 19:1, flogged across the bare back with "a leather whip that had pieces of bone or metal imbedded in its thongs" to draw blood, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Matt. 27:26. This treatment "was used by the Romans only on murderers and traitors," Ibid.

2. Second, Pilate's soldiers wove a crown of thorns and forced them roughly down on Jesus' head so that it drew lots of blood from His scalp, they put on him a purple robe of a king and said, mockingly, "Hail, King of the Jews," striking Him with their hands, John 19:2-3.

3. After this, Pilate went out to the Jews again, telling them that he was bringing Him out to them, intending to release Him since he had found no fault in Jesus worthy of death, John 19:4. Pilate thus brought Jesus out, still wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe, His body coated with blood and His face bruised and swollen by the soldiers' mistreatment, and Pilate announced, "Behold the man!" (John 19:5)

D. However, when the Jews saw Jesus in this state, they called out for Him to be crucified, John 19:6a.

E. Pilate responded, saying they should crucify Him themselves, for he found no fault in Jesus, but the Jews replied that Jesus had violated their Law with a capital crime in claiming to be the Son of God, John 19:6b, 7.

F. News of this claim by Jesus left Pilate more afraid to convict Him, Jn. 19:8: "(a)s a pagan he had heard stories of humanlike gods who visited men and judged them" (Ibid., B. K. C., N. T.), so he again questioned Jesus, asking, "Where do you come from?" (John 19:9a,b NIV), but Jesus did not answer this question, John 19:9c.

G. Pilate was astonished at Jesus' silence toward him, so he asked, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" (John 19:10 NIV)

H. With all the mistreatments Jesus had faced from the soldiers, the religious leaders and Pilate, a regular person would respond in one of two ways: (1) either he would speak pleadingly to Pilate, hoping he could persuade him to release him, or (2) if he felt he was already doomed, he might speak curtly to Pilate to infuriate him and hasten his own demise. However, Jesus replied with great objectivity, answering that Pilate could have no power against Him unless it were given him of God, so that the one, Caiaphas, who had delivered Jesus up to Pilate had the greater sin than did Pilate, John 19:11; Ibid. In place of either spiteful bitterness or catering to Pilate, Jesus charged Pilate with sin, but not nearly as severely as the one who had delivered Him to Pilate.

I. Unsettled by this disarmingly objective, even-tempered reply, and possibly convicted by Jesus' honesty since he knew Jesus was innocent of death, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews charged that if he freed Jesus, they would report that he was not Caesar's friend, a frightful charge for Pilate if such a report were to reach the emperor, Tiberius, a sick, suspicious, often violent ruler! Besides, Pilate had a lot to hide from the emperor, so he could not risk being investigated by him, John 19:12; Ibid., p. 338-339.

J. Thus, Pilate soon conceded to the wish of Israel's rulers and turned Jesus over to be crucified, John 19:13-16.

Lesson: Though He had already faced physical, mental, emotional and spiritual duress at the hands of His nation's religious rulers and the Romans, Jesus still verbalized a strikingly objective evaluation of His foes in a very even-tempered way, evidence of His great TRUTHFULNESS and GRACE as the SON of GOD!

Application: (1) May we trust in Christ to be saved, John 20:31. (2) Then, even under duress, may we rely on the Holy Spirit to heed Jesus' example to stay objective and even-tempered in fulfilling God's will, 1 Peter 2:21-23.