Pilate On TrialJOHN 18:39-19:16

Now to try the judge…•A Roman bust of Pilate•How would you like to be remembered after your death?•How about the biggest coward in recorded human history?•Confucius said “too see the right and not to do is cowardice”•Before Scripture, a quick biography…

And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

19 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to

come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. 4 Pilate came out again and *said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate *said to them, “Behold, the Man!” 6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate *said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him,

for I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and *said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate *said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words,

he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate *said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.

John 18:39-19:16, NASB

The Innocent for the Guilty…•Vv 39-40– Why would they want Barabbas?•Notorious Criminal, Robber, Murderer, insurrectionist…•That would be like letting Osama free instead of Jesus…•When people want away from Him, they replace Him with anyone or anything– even that which can steal, kill, or destroy them

“10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10, NASB

The Innocent for the Guilty…•The mob mentality is the most unstable, ignorant, and volatile mindset that goes from penthouse to outhouse in a heartbeat•Remember the riots in L.A. ofter Rodney King, or Baltimore this spring?•If anyone should understand what it means for Jesus to die in his place, it is Barabbas•Innocent for the Guilty…

Pilate’s Failing Proposals•Ch 19:1-4, Pilate was a politician– anything to worm out of something•So he played the sympathy card•Pilate had Him scourged, beaten, crowned with thorns…

Pilate’s Failing Proposals•Ch 19:1-4, Pilate was a politician– anything to worm out of something•So he played the sympathy card•Pilate had Him scourged, beaten, crowned with thorns…•Pilate thought the pathetic sight of this bloody, beaten man would gain the Jews’ sympathy and they’d want Him released…

Pilate’s Fatal Panic…•Vv 5-11, Ecce Homo in Latin means, “Behold the man”•It is this painting by Antonio Ciseri

Pilate’s Fatal Panic…•Pilate was so desperate to get out of this jam, that he gave THEM permission for crucifixion in verse 6•But they wanted him to do it•Let’s get into Pilate’s sandals for a moment…

Pilate’s Fatal Panic…•Son of God meant Hercules or the like, to him•Jesus had already impressed him with His words and demeanor; he’d never met a man like Him•Was HE indeed the Son of God come down to Earth?•If so, he just beat Him…•To make it worse, Mrs. Pilate…

Pilate’s Panic…•Why didn’t Jesus answer his question in V9?•Because He already HAD•Here’s a basic spiritual principal to take home today:•God does NOT reveal new aspects of His Truth to us if we FAIL to act on those we already know…

Pilate’s Panic…•Beside, he had already blown off truth– he didn’t want to know•All he cared about was keeping the peace and getting himself out of hot water•Fear and anger often cohabitate•He reacted by puffing up; and Jesus reminded him of true Authority

V11: 3 Points to Remember1. The power of authority is

granted by the Lord

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

John 19:1, NASB

V11: 3 Points to Remember1. The power of authority is

granted by the Lord•Jesus was in charge and in complete control of the whole situation•There are different degrees of sin and punishment in Hell for the “Rejecters” of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

John 19:1, NASB

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

John 19:1, NASB

Pilate’s Final Pronouncement…•Vv 12-16, Pilate was on the “Horns of Dilemma”•He couldn’t afford another Jewish revolt•He had two Choices– his soul or his neck•Matthew 16:26•Every man shares the same dilemma with Pilate•God forces us all to make the decision

Take Home1. Receiving Jesus Christ as

Savior and Lord is not cowardly, it is the most courageous thing anyone can do against the world’s cynicism toward Jesus

2. God does not reveal new aspects of truth to us if we fail to act on the truth we already know