John 19:
Previously, Pilate had questioned Jesus apart from the crowds and asked if He is a king. Now, after having had Jesus scourged 39 times and coming out to the barely controlled crowds of Jerusalem, Pilate will question this ‘man’ a second time in his judge’s chambers within the palace.
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What has prompted Pilate’s new interrogation of Jesus?
- This ‘man’ kept silent during all 39 lashes, confessing no crimes to receive some mercy from the whip.
- When Rome’s Prefect had asked why Jesus should be crucified, the Jews answered Pilate, ‘.. because he made himself the Son of God.’
Pilate may have also been a religious man, though as we pointed out previously the Romans had many gods.
Could this man Jesus be one of them?
In a private appeal
Pilate said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me?
Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”
John 19:10b Pilate’s claim of authority to ‘the man’ Jesus
Roman Authority
Before we hear Jesus breaking the silence of Roman interrogation, let’s consider briefly an earlier encounter of Jesus in Galilee with a Roman officer.
This healing by Jesus not only illustrates an absolute no questions asked authority of Roman Legions, but by his own high position, Pilate might have heard from this Roman leader who helped build a synagogue in Capernaum.
Matthew 8:
When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him..
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.
And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Judean Authority
Make no mistake about the authority of Rome’s governor Pontius Pilate. Rome revoked the kingdom of Herod Archelaus of Judah just two years after he failed to govern as Rome expected. They renamed the new Roman province Judea and placed a Roman Prefect in charge.
Pilate governs with political authority similar to Antipas in Galilee to the north. Jesus of Nazareth is technically a subject of Herod Antipas. Pilate, however, may have heard of Jesus from a fellow Roman legion in the region of Galilee.
Authority – Pilate’s understanding
Pilate said to Him, .. Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”
ἐξουσία, the Greek word for authority simply means, power. I am in charge. I can do whatever I please.
It could mean, I have influence and the privilege of judging you. In Pilate’s case, authority means: the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed). And specifically, the power of judicial decisions and authority to manage domestic affairs.
And Jesus remains silent, Pilate must have thought? Silent even when scourged 39 times and questioned by the Prefect with authority to sentence the ‘Man’ to a Cross?
Finally the Lord answers the authority of the governor in charge of this high Judean court.
The Authority of Christ
Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above..
John 19:11a NASB
Don’t miss this: Jesus in essence refers to a higher authority (from above).
Pilate is a religious man with many gods. Rome acknowledges these higher authorities as had Greece. These are gods defined as: the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates (that is, kings and Caesars).
Again, perhaps Pilate has heard the buzz of the crowds witnessing Jesus healing the sick and even raising the dead. Romans kept close to the everyday happenings in Judea. Had he perhaps heard about the Galilean legion’s servant who Jesus healed?
Some dilemma, that a human judge should judge a god!
12 As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him..
A Greater Sin
Perhaps, in a sense, Pilate considers or acknowledges the Higher Authority of Jesus. To some extent Jesus’ answer actually exonerates Pilate, but convicts another.
Listen to the second part of the Lord’s answer to Pilate:
Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”
John 19:11 NASB
A greater sin than Pontius Pilate? For Christ-followers remember by our creeds the the Lord Jesus “was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate?”
Yet Jesus says that one who handed Him over to Pilate has the greater sin.
Does the Lord mean to say that Pilate’s sin is forgivable? Perhaps.
We assume here that Jesus refers to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him to the Jews, is the one with the greater sin.
- Have you ever considered that Annas or Caiaphas are truly the ones who handed Jesus over to the gentiles?
- These High Priests of the Jews handed Jesus over to Pilate for crucifixion.
- Annas, Caiaphas and other Jewish officials of the Sanhedrin, who betray their own Messiah, have greater sins than Pilate!
Had you have not known of the Highest Authority of Jesus until now, you may be forgiven for not knowing. But now that you know Jesus, you must accept Christ or oppose God Almighty.
Who will rule over you now?
Opposition to Authority
12 As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him; but the Jews shouted, saying,
“If you release this Man, you are not a friend of Caesar;
everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!”
Pilate their Governor rules over those in the crowds and as Judea’s Governor. He appoints their religious authorities (who have consistently incited the crowds against the Authority of their Messiah) and outranks every member of the Sanhedrin in all civil matters.
But the Jewish authorities cite a technical argument, not a religious reason – a political reason for Pilate to condemn their messianic opponent.
- Jesus claims to be a king.
- Caesar, a king and a god to the Romans also commands their loyalty.
Will Pilate actually oppose the authority of Caesar by releasing a Man who makes claim as a king of the Jew?
Of course, the Governor cannot allow the crowds to think that. Now he must sentence the Man. Rome’s judge returns Jesus to the public court of crowd justice.
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.
From the hour of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas under cover of darkness in Gethsemane until now, these trials, interrogations and cruel punishments have all been completed by morning’s end.
14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour..
The Jewish Authorities Prevail
No one likes to see the opposition win — not you, not me — and not even Pilate.
But in fact, here it would seem that evil prevails. Evil destroys its opponent in the agenda of those religious leaders who have stoked the hatred of the crowds.
Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!” They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”
The chief priests answered,
We have no king but Caesar.
John 19:15b KJV
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. KJV
Who are ‘they’ who crucify Christ?
We will explore the verdict, which would seem to suggest that the majority rules.
Who crucified the Man of God, Christ Jesus? This we must ask NEXT as we follow Christ with His Cross to the skull where criminals hang from a tree.
To be continued...
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