Tag: pilate

  • Who IS this KING OF THE JEWS nailed to a Roman Cross?

    Who IS this KING OF THE JEWS nailed to a Roman Cross?

    “Are you the king of the Jews? ” the governor asked him. Jesus answered, You say so.”

    — Matthew 27:11 (CSB)

    Religion — Mingled with Politics – A.D. 30’s style

    You know the old expression about mixing religion and politics -- ('Don't do it' all warn. Yet in every century our religious and political leaders rely on it.) 

    Today, Good Friday 2025 of the Common Era, we will address both!

    The POLITICS of ROME mingling with the RELIGION of JEWISH rulers of first century Jerusalem.

    First, ROME and the rule of Pilate, the Roman Governors, several Caesars and captive/cooperative kings. This of course would include several King Herod’s and various Governor Herod‘s.

    The cooperative nature of the Roman peace made strange bedfellows, so to speak.

    Although it all comes to its pinnacle in the trial of Jesus Christ, the politics of these Roman and faux-Jewish governors and subject-kings will continue to affect the Apostles and saints well beyond Jerusalem’s destruction by Rome just forty years from this pivotal day in history.

    For MORE insight into the politics of first century Jerusalem take a look at the above post from September, A.D. 2020. - RH 

    The Governor’s Examination of the Jewish King Jesus

    From Pilate’s early-morning awakening by Jerusalem’s Jewish officials it began like this (as reported by Matthew, Jesus’ Disciple who had himself had an official tax-collecting post for Rome).

    After tying him [Jesus] up, they [the chief priests and elders of Jerusalem] led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

    — Matthew 27:2 (CSB)

    At this point Matthew reports nothing more of the examination of Jesus by Pilate.


    Let’s look at the testimony of the other Gospels.

    So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews? ”

    He answered him, “You say so.”

    3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.

    Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of! ”

    But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.

    – Mark 15:2-5 (CSB)

    (The Gospels witness this mix of the Jewish false charges and the examination of the Governor in this brief early-morning balcony scene of sorts.) 

    Let’s move back a bit further in the transition of the actions which brought the accused King Jesus of the Jews before the Roman Governor.

    Luke 23:

    Then the whole company of them [the gathering of the Council] arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying,

    “We found this man [Jesus] misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

    And Pilate asked him,

    “Are you the King of the Jews?”

    And he answered him, “You have said so.”

    Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,

    “I find no guilt in this man.”

    But they were urgent, saying,

    “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

    Gospel of Luke 23:1-5 ESV

    Do you see the political manipulation here?

    Can you see the contemptable REJECTION of Pilate’s authority by the same religious officials?

    They falsely claimed that JESUS would not allow Jewish followers to pay a Roman tax to Caesar — a tax which of course funds the Roman Governor and legions overseeing this captive city of Jerusalem.

    Therefore the next POLITICAL move of both the Governor and these Jewish religious officials is to send the case to a more mutually agreeable jurisdiction – that of the Roman-appointed King legitimately appointed by the Caesar’s from the ruling family of the Herod’s.

    The King’s Examination of King Jesus

    We refer, of course, to political Judean King receiving Jesus, the Christ of the Jews! 

    (How volatile this judgment challenging who is king?)

    And when he (the Roman Governor Pilate) learned that he [Jesus of Galilee] belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

    When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he [Jesus] made no answer.

    The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him [the Jewish Christ or Messiah, Jesus] with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he [King Herod] sent him [Christ Jesus] back to Pilate [the Roman Prefect/Governor].

    And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

    Gospel of Luke 23:7-12 ESV

    Yes, 'strange bedfellows' indeed, but not so out of the ordinary for the great Herod's - Kings of the Jews!
    family tree of the Herod's from Herod the Great

    Friends, Romans and Jewish countrymen.. (let us make pax–shalom)..

    Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them,

    “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.

    Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us.

    Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”

    Luke 23:13-16 ESV

    judge gavel

    a political verdict and sentence

    NOT Guilty .. but we will punish Him.


    JEWPAC

    Now don't get all bent out of shape over my fictional illustration of the San Hedren of A.D. first century Jerusalem -- religious leaders beholden to the politics of Rome. 

    WE all know and recognize the function of Political Action Committees -- even 21st century C.E. Christian Evangelical PAC's

    -- they raise and spend MONEY to influence a political outcome desired by leaders holding the purse-strings of THE PEOPLE.

    “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him [Judas Iscariot] thirty pieces of silver.

    Gospel of Matthew 26:15 ESV

    Let’s take a quick look back to how the religious leaders of Jerusalem sought to bring Jesus to trial and the Cross.

    instituted by Judas Maccabaeus [164 BC] in memory of the cleansing of the temple from the pollution of Antiochus Epiphanes 

    source

    Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,

    “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

    Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe

    “I and the Father are one.”

    The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.,,

    Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

    Gospel of John 10:22-39 ESV excerpt

    • Jesus’ Parable of the Wicked Tenants

    One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up..

    “.. But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ ..”

    The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

    Gospel of Luke 20 ESV excerpt

    Buying Betrayal

    Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

    Gospel of Mark 14:10-11 ESV

    Later Bribery against Truth

    • A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.
      • Governor Pilate had already ordered crosses readied for Barabbas and two others,
    • the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas
      • and to have Jesus executed
    • the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house …

    and they cried out—the whole multitude—saying, “Away with this One, and release Barabbas to us,” .. Pilate again then—wishing to release Jesus—called to them, but they were calling out, saying,

    “Crucify! Crucify Him!”

    Gospel of Luke 23:18-21 Literal Standard Version

    Surly, a pre-meditated placement of party members loyal to its leaders pressing against true judgment -- shouting down all opposition in order to create a consensus of social truth opposed to the True Savior of Jew and gentile. 

    These Chief Priests of Jerusalem had party leaders and blind sheep in their political pocket!

    No Jew would dare oppose the mammon of their political power and leadership.

    Buying the lies of status quo

    AFTER Jesus burial and resurrection these same Political Action Committee-men would have to counter true witness of over five hundred men who knew that the Christ – Jesus of Nazareth – was no longer in the grave.

    Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the day the tomb of Jesus is found empty and when the risen Messiah appears risen after His crucifixion on a Corss
    HE IS RISEN!

    .. some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.

    A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers,

    “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor [Pontius Pilate] hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.”

    So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say.

    Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

    [.. reports the Disciple Matthew Levi, who recorded his Gospel in Hebrew about 30 years later.

    Matthew 28:11-15 NLT


    Who IS this CHRIST JESUS –crucified for our sins and Risen?


    Talk of JESUS .com logo with earth Mark 16:15 Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
    TalkofJESUS.com

  • The Last Word on Authority – Jesus Son of God

    The Last Word on Authority – Jesus Son of God

    John 19:

    Yesus facing Pilate

    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.

    What has prompted Pilate’s new interrogation of Jesus?

    1. This ‘man’ kept silent during all 39 lashes, confessing no crimes to receive some mercy from the whip.
    2. 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.

    So they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” - John19:15 - collage of Jesus and Pilate with first and 21st century 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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  • CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY iēsous Crucify ben ‘elyown ‘elyown

    CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY iēsous Crucify ben ‘elyown ‘elyown

    Crowds incited against all righteousness

    Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him; for I find no grounds for charges in His case!”

    John 19:6b NASB

    Justice of the Crowds

    Though the politician in charge who happens to be Governor and Judge finds no case against Jesus Christ and mockingly charges those politicized religious officials to take justice into their own hands, the high profile trials of Jesus will continue before the watching eyes of the Jews ‘seeking justice.’

    We’ve been following the false accusations against Jesus and cruel punishments placed on the innocent Son of Man for revealing the truth of who He IS.

    No political correctness required here, only political expediency to please the crowds.

    From indictment of Truth to the Scapegoat of Sacrifice

    Where is mercy?

    You will not find it anywhere in the worldly darkness of this sacrificial scene. (Just read brief description of what has already taken place.)

    His face already bruised, swollen, bloodied by the blows from Caiaphas, they continued the abuse by smiting Him, putting on the crown of thorns, mocking Him.
    Chuck Smith commentary on John 19
    They had a third degree that was totally unmerciful. They would tie a prisoner to a post so that the back was stretched out. And then with a cat of nine tails whip, a leather whip with little bits of glass and lead imbedded in it designed to rip the flesh, they would lay the whip across the back of the prisoner thirty-nine times.
    .. Many times prisoners died as the result of these scourgings. Before the thirty-ninth stripe was laid upon them, they were already dead from the loss of blood and just from the extreme pain. But Jesus bore that suffering.

    The ruthless brutality (which pleases the crowds) charged to Rome by the captive Jews presumes death by suffering – a bloodied man – hung on crossbeams from a tree, by nails through outstretched hands and a hammer-driven nail through his taughtly-bound feet.

    Our own fear of pain so etched into this fragile flesh that scarcely can we look upon this Blood of Sacrifice for our own sins.

    Pilate governs a people ruled over by corrupt religious officials of Jerusalem and simmering in Rome’s unstable peace.

    What better way to eliminate all who threaten the Roman political peace?

    The murderous shouts of the crowds are no doubt incited by the powerful, seeking yet more power over an incited powerless people.

    Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com on religious & political leaders seeking influence

    The familiar Roman outcome of public trials is so matter-of-fact and suffering so severe that the other Gospels move through it quickly.

    Matthew 27:

    soldier whipping Jesus Christ

    And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

    When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”

    And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” .. Then he released Barabbas for them;

    .. but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

    Mark 15:

    from passion of the Christ film Pilate and Jesus

    The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. ..They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

    Luke 23:

    .. but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” .. But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

    .. And following Him was a large crowd of the people…

    מָשִׁיחַ מָשִׁיחַ talk of jesus dot com

    How will we judge the Son of God?

    They knew the truth of Jesus’ signs:

    Lazarus raised to life.

    The blind given sight.

    And most threatening to their religious rule, Jesus riding to the gate of Jerusalem like a victorious King David.

    ..“What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

    John 11:47b-48 NASB

    John 19:

    7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

    8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall..


    Brief respite from the crowds

    Now Pilate’s examination of Jesus becomes more honest and personal away from the hateful cries of the crowds to ‘CRUCIFY!’

    Yesus facing Pilate

    (.. the Son of God!)

    .. and [Pilate] said to Jesus, “Where are You from?”

    John 19:8,9 NASB

    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?”

    To be continued...
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