Jesus Brought Before Pilot

Lesson #305

In the last lesson, Jesus was led across the courtyard to the house of Caiaphas as Peter was twice denied that he was a disciple of Jesus. After an unspecified period of time, “. . . they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover” (John 18:28 EST). The governor's headquarters is the house where Pilate lodged. It was also the place where he held his court, and tried cases. John doesn’t tell us what happened inside; the accusations brought against Jesus; the false witnesses; the insults which Jesus received in the house of the high priest; the assembling of the grand council, or the Sanhedrin.

John does tell us that the Jews did not enter the governor’s headquarters because they considered the touch of a Gentile to be a defilement, and on this occasion, at least, seemed to regard it as a pollution to enter the house of a Gentile. They are so concerned over this form of pollution, but yet were wholly unconcerned at the enormous crime they were committing by of putting Jesus to death without any evidence of wrong doing, and soiling their hands with the blood of their Messiah. How is it possible for a person to have such a double standard? Here they were in the process of committing one of the greatest of all crimes and yet were concerned about becoming ceremonial unclean, which would prevent them from eating the Passover meal. This is the blindness of sin and their accompanying religion where anything can be justified for your own advantage.

Since the Jews would not go in, “. . . Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”” (John 18:29 ESV). John 19:13 gives more insight on the meaning of “outside to them”: “So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha” (ESV). This is the place where the Jewish Sanhedrim used to sit because they would not come into Pilate’s court of judicature. Pilate, in a show of humility, would go out to them in compliance to their ceremonial customs.

Pilate went out to them to hear what accusation they brought against Jesus; what offence he had committed. He wanted to know what evidence they had to support their accusation. As a judge, he wanted to judge fairly according to Roman law. He wanted a fair trial, but that will be impossible when bringing to trial a sinless man with false charges and plans to incite mob unrest to distract Pilot from making correct decisions.

Prayer

Father, I think about Jesus who is brought to trial on false charges and I immediately think of my brothers and sisters in countries of persecution who are likewise brought to trial on false charges for the purpose of removing the ones charged from further Christian influence. As I watch the reaction of Jesus I notice a similar behavior among those being persecuted on false charges. In both cases they release justice to God, allowing them to love and forgive their persecutors, providing a powerful witness to them. This may be the only way they will hear the gospel and be given an opportunity to believe. Father, if I should find myself in this spot someday, I pray that you will have prepared me to remain faithful to my faith and to Jesus.