The Frustration of Pilate

Lesson #313

Since the Jews were not making any progress with Pilate with their charge of being a king, they make a new charge; that being the Son of God. This causes great concern for Pilate, so “He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer” (John 19:9 ESV). Pilate brought Jesus out to the people and announced to them that he found no guilt in him and now in the face of the charge of being the Son of God, Pilate takes him back into his headquarters again to ask Jesus privately where he was from. He wasn’t concern of his earthly beginning but more of his origin and nature. There are many suggestions of why Jesus remained silent at this point; each being a speculation. When Pilate asked Jesus, in John 18:37, if he were a king, “. . . Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” His answer implies that he was born as a baby in human flesh, but that he was from outside the world and that he came into the world to testify to the truth. Pilate treated that answer with impatience and so I believed Jesus thinks the same answer would not be received now and chooses to remain silent. Pilate was not ready to hear the truth from the voice of the Son of God, so that voice did not speak.

In frustration “. . . Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”” (John 19:10 ESV). Here is a man of pride who feels fear not knowing who he is really dealing with and he tries to increase the level of fear in Jesus by declaring that the life of Jesus resides in his hands. Pilate believes he has the power to condemn Jesus to death and he wants Jesus to fear him, but Jesus is in control and “[he] answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”” (John 19:11 ESV). Pilate is a proud Roman official who believes he has great power, but Jesus tells Pilate that any authority he has over him is granted from above. Any power that Pilate has over Jesus will be in accordance to God’s plan for why he sent Jesus into the world; to die for our sin. As we watch Pilate we sense that his conscience is bothering him, which indicates that he is involved in sin, but his sin is not as great as those who delivered Jesus up. That would include Judas who delivered Jesus to the Jews and the Sanhedrin, especially Caiaphas, the high priest, who as God’s representative, declared that he should die.

Prayer

Father, through our study of John we have clearly seen two layers of understanding: the natural and the spiritual. Many statements that Jesus made were viewed from the natural and not understood. For example, how can one be born again. Physically it is impossible, but at the spiritual level it is necessary and possible. Here on earth there is struggle between good and evil, but overlaying it like frosting on a cake is God’s will and sovereignty that allows and limits what happens to allow his plan to succeed. Father, we see that tension in this lesson as Pilate tries to free Jesus, but the Jews continue to press for his death. We will soon see Pilate break under this pressure and send Jesus off to be crucified, thus allowing your will to continue to be fulfilled. I find this to be true with my own life. I thank you for the transformation you are bringing about in my life.