Read John 19:1-16
After the sham trial that Jesus is put through, Pilate begins to have second thoughts. He orders Jesus to be whipped in an effort to appease the Sanhedrin without crucifying Jesus. The soldiers begin mocking Jesus in a way that relates to the charge that he was “King of the Jews” by placing a crown of thorns on his head and a purple robe around his bloodied body. The hardness of human hearts is on full display and the contrast of Jesus’ silent endurance of these horrors has a large impact on Pilate, who senses that something is different about Jesus because of the way he is enduring suffering.
Pilate then has another dialogue with Jesus and tries to gain clarity about who exactly he is. Pilate has heard from the Jewish officials that the real reason that they want him put to death is that he claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate seems to have his fears confirmed as he becomes afraid at this saying. Something about Jesus being the Son of God resonated with him in such a way as he wants to have another conversation with Jesus. Pilate asks him where he is from in order to try and establish some type of biographical information about Jesus. When Jesus does not answer this question, Pilate reminds Jesus that he has authority over his life and he has the ability to set Jesus free.
Jesus then speaks and answers both of Pilate’s implied questions. Jesus reveals that it is he who has authority and that any authority that Pilate has is given by Jesus. This answers the question, but in a counter-intuitive way for Pilate. This is another way of Jesus telling Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world, but that his authority is absolute. Perhaps most importantly, Jesus establishes that he is not a powerless victim, but he is a willing sacrifice.
The fervor of the crowds reaches a climax as they clamor for Jesus’ crucifixion. This seen is the most haunting and depraved picture of the power and destruction of sin. The very people who Jesus had come to redeem, to lead out of captivity to sin and into the freedom of the sons of God, it is those people who vehemently cry out for Jesus’ gory death. Pilate again pronounces Jesus’ innocence and removes himself from the scene, which immediately precedes Jesus’ death by crucifixion.
Questions
What are your thoughts about Jesus’ interactions with Pilate?
Why is it important that Jesus is not having his life taken from him, but that he is laying it down of his own accord?
What does the crowd shouting for Jesus’ crucifixion tell us about human nature?
Why does Jesus willingly give himself up to be crucified?