Pilate
4TH and 1
Before Pilate
After
Jesus’ arrest, the 4th Gospel reports that He was taken to Annas
(the former High Priest) and Caiaphas (the current High Priest) before the
Jewish authorities ultimately handed Him over to the Roman authority (Pilate)
to be crucified. Pilate was a delegate of Emperor Tiberius, charged with
keeping the peace in the province of Judea (from AD 26-36). This ‘Pilate’ section
may be divided into seven sections.
Dialogue
b/w Pilate & Jewish Authorities (18:28-32)
Dialogue b/w Pilate & Jesus
(18:33-38a)
Dialogue b/w Pilate & Jewish
Authorities (18:38b-40)
Jesus flogged, mocked, beaten
(19:1-3)
Dialogue b/w Pilate & Jewish Authorities (19:4-7)
Dialogue b/w Pilate & Jesus (19:8-11)
Dialogue
b/w Pilate & Jewish Authorities (19:12-16a)
Pilate’s First Dialogue
w/Authorities (18:28-32)
The
Jewish authorities wanted to have Jesus executed, so they brought Him to Pilate
(their right to execute had been taken away by Rome). Because Pilate would not
have cared about a religious charge (blasphemy), they focused on the kingly
aspects of Jesus’ Messianic claims, hoping to persuade Pilate that Jesus was a
threat to Rome. This ensured that Jesus would die on a cross, fulfilling His
own prediction.
Pilate’s First Dialogue
w/Jesus (18:33-38a)
Inside
the palace, Pilate interrogated Jesus to determine what sort of king He
supposed Himself to be. Jesus explained that His kingdom was otherworldly and
non-violent. He was the kind of king who was concerned with witness and truth.
Jesus even gave Pilate an opportunity to respond to Him, but Pilate evaded the
invitation.
Pilate’s Second Dialogue
w/Authorities (18:38b-40)
Convinced
that Jesus was not a threat to Rome and yet aware that the Jewish authorities
wanted Him dead, Pilate mockingly offered them an opportunity to free Jesus
(there was a custom to release one prisoner at the time of Passover). But the
leaders called for the release of the rebel Barabbas rather than Jesus.
Jesus Flogged, Mocked,
Beaten (19:1-3)
Thinking
that it may appease the authorities, Pilate had Jesus flogged. The soldiers
mocked Jesus by dressing and addressing Him as a king as they struck Him on the
face.
Pilate’s Third Dialogue
w/Authorities (19:4-7)
Pilate’s
strategy did not work. When he paraded the beaten and bloodied Jesus before
them and insisted that the charges against Him didn’t stick, the Jewish
authorities likewise insisted on Jesus’ crucifixion. Their true motivations
(religious opposition to Jesus for claiming to be divine) finally came out.
Pilate’s Second Dialogue
w/Jesus (19:8-11)
When
Pilate heard this new charge (that Jesus claimed to be divine), he was afraid
(perhaps a bit superstitious) and questioned Jesus about His origins. But Jesus
remained silent… the time for revelation had passed. When Pilate tried to
strong-arm Him into answering, Jesus put him in his place.
Pilate’s Fourth Dialogue
w/Authorities (19:12-16a)
More
convinced than ever of the seriousness of the situation, Pilate wanted to
release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders threatened that if Pilate released Him it
would be an act of opposition to Caesar himself! As the Jewish authorities
pledged allegiance to Caesar, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.
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