Political Rule over the Jews

The Gospels may leave us with an impression that Herod and Temple officials like Annas and Caiaphas of the Sanhedrin governed Jerusalem. They didn’t.

In this subjugated captive city, like any other ruled by Roman legions, these Jewish leaders had no authority which did not go through its Roman Prefect.

Pontius Pilate

Previously, we outlined Pilate’s curriculum vitae as Judea’s Governor.

Kings, Governors, Politicians & Priests 2– Pontius Pilate

Now let’s glance at Pilate’s Roman religion for which the Jews had no tolerance.

The Roman Religion of Pilate
rendering of ancient temple grounds in Baalbek
Roman Temple of Jupiter – Baalbek (ruins in modern Lebanon)

The Romans had many gods, mothers of gods, etc. which they worshiped as ‘Saints’ of a sort bringing good luck, fair weather, victory over enemies and much more. Roman political correctness accepted many Greek and foreign gods, later adding Rome’s Caesars as gods requiring worship.

Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com
politics and religion - imaginary view of Roman temple of Jupiter

Numerous diverse temples with hundreds of gods became part of religious culture throughout the Roman Empire.

For more background look back to our previous post:

1st century Rome – an awkward embrace of RELIGION & politics

John 19:

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and clothed him in a purple robe. 3 And they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” and were slapping his face.

Mocking the Enemy

How do you humiliate those who threaten your political power?

You beat them mercilessly in public to show their supporters that your enemy of government has no power or hope of winning. Although the political poison beating of this day are literal, Rome mercilessly beat their opposition into submission literally.

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

Here is the Governor politician Pilate seeking to placate Jerusalem’s religious elite. He orders his legions to beat Jesus in the usual Roman manner.

This ‘king of the Jews’ could receive limited mercy by confessing to any of His offences.

Jesus, as He did when questioned by Pilate, kept silent except sounds of His feeling the lash.

Roman Scourging

soldier whipping Jesus Christ
Jesus receiving 39 lashes!
Once again, from the commentary of Chuck Smith:

The scourging was a whipping that was done to examine the prisoners. It was a third degree technique of the Roman Empire. They did not have amnesty in those days, or human rights. 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.

Forty is the number of judgment, thirty-nine the number of mercy. So, judgment must be tempered by mercy, so they would lay thirty-nine stripes.

As they would lay the stripe across his back, the prisoner would cry out a crime that he had committed. And every time he would cry out a crime, the lash would be a little less severe…

But, if the prisoner would not confess a crime, then every stripe would be harder and harder and harder, until he would be forced to scream out in sheer agony the crimes that he had committed.

.. 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.

Guilty, until more guilt confessed!

It is NOT enough to placate Jerusalem’s religious rulers.

The innocent Lamb of God has no sins to confess.

What is truth?

Jesus is a Son of Man without sin.

Yet justice will sacrifice truth for expedient political gain.

John 19:

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.”

The Governor compromisingly acknowledges, ‘I find your defendant NOT GUILTY’ (by means of Roman scourging)!

from passion of the Christ film Pilate and Jesus

5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe.

Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”

These ‘men of God’ certainly must see that this innocent man has already suffered greatly. (Surly they will see my mercy for their ‘king.’)

6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him…

Religious Rulers & Political Leaders: Playing the crowds

“Crucify, crucify!”

Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”

Again, ‘NOT GUILTY; CASE DISMISSED.’ (We don’t really care what you Jews do with your king.)

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.”

Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again…

to be continued...

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