The Passion 8

Jesus Stands Before Pilate

            Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, wished to know one thing according to Matthew’s gospel. Was Jesus the king of the Jews? 

            Luke’s gospel makes the point that the entire council TOOK Jesus to Pilate. Matthew mentions that the leaders bound Jesus and LED Him to Pilate, but Luke has the governor speaking with the council while the Lord was standing before him. It is in Luke’s account that Pilate first says that he finds no guilt in Jesus. 

            John’s gospel gives a more detailed encounter. Seems the accusers of Christ didn’t go in to speak with Pilate for it would defile them and with the Passover coming they would be ceremonially unclean due to their interaction with a gentile, thus making them unable to celebrate the holy days. In John’s rendering Pilate asked what the charges were against Jesus. The Jewish leaders declared that they wouldn’t have brought Jesus to him if he weren’t a criminal. Pilate tells them to judge Jesus by their own laws, but their chilling response was, “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone.” According to John, THAT is when Pilate asked Jesus if He were the king of the Jews. His reply is a little more lengthy here, as He wants to know if Pilate himself wanted to know, or if others saying this had prompted the question.

Pilate then wanted to know what Jesus had done to bring about the ire of the Jews religious leaders. Jesus response reveals that His kingdom is not of this earth, for if it were His followers would have fought to defend Him. To that Pilate exclaims, “So You ARE a king?”

Jesus answer wasn’t direct with regards to the very specific question. Rather, He proclaims that He came into this world to reveal the truth and those who love the truth could see that what He had said was the truth. 

            Being cynical, Pilate was of the mind that all truth was relative. In other words, whatever the majority agreed was true was then true. To taint this idea, the people including the religious & political leaders would lean toward whatever thought or idea would best benefit them personally. So His cynicism led Pilate to ask the question: “What is truth?” 

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.