Jesus Delivered to be Crucified

Lesson #314

As the last lesson ended, so did the conversation between Pilate and Jesus. “From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”” (John 19:12 ESV). Pilate continued to grow in his conviction that Jesus was innocence and became more unwilling to condemn him to death as the Jews wanted, but one way or another they would get what they wanted because it was the will of God that Jesus die on the cross for our sin. The Jews now turn on Pilate and point out that he is not acting like a friend of Caesar.

At the time the reigning emperor was Tiberius, but since the reign of Julius Caesar all emperors were called Caesar. During the latter part of his reign, Tiberius was the most cruel, jealous and wicked king to sit on the Roman throne. If the Jews passed the information on that Jesus had called himself a king and that Pilate had done nothing about it, this would put Pilate in a very bad light with Tiberius, which is something he could not allow to happen. “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” (John 19:13 ESV). With Pilate now personally at risk he is ready to pronounce the final sentence and brings Jesus out to a place called The Stone Pavement and sits down on the judgment seat. The judgment seat is believed to be a raised area used for official judgments, but its exact location is uncertain.

“Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”” (John 19:14 ESV). Since there is disagreement on the time mentioned here I will say nothing in addition to what John has written. The important point is that Pilate has surrendered to the demand of the Jews as he says to them, “Behold your King!” “[The Jews] cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”” (John 19:15 ESV). Pilate seems to taunt them with the statement, “Behold your King!” and with their hatred of Jesus they shout back with passion to have him crucified. Once more Pilate questions them by saying to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” With the reply from the Jews that they have no king but Caesar, Pilate yields to their demands and delivers Jesus to be crucified: “So he delivered him over to them to be crucified” (John 19:16 ESV). The crucifixion will be carried out by the Roman soldiers, acting under the direction of the chief priests.

Prayer

Father, here is an example where justice did not prevail; where evil won out and the power of darkness, working through the Jewish leadership, claim the victory. Little do they know that their victory, which will ensure that Jesus goes to the cross, is actually what you were planning on. In a similar way in countries of persecution where justice does not prevail, Christians are being falsely charged and condemned, some to death. Like in the case with Jesus, you are using this perversion of justice to advance the gospel. It is clear that you allow trials in our lives and use them to produce in us Christ-like character. I don’t believe the western church embraces this belief very strongly because it upsets our desire for comfort.