“UNDER PONTIUS PILATE” Introduction to John 18:28-19:16

“UNDER PONTIUS PILATE”
Introduction to John 18:28-19:16

Long before the Jewish leaders laid hold of Jesus in the garden, they had determined to kill Him (John 11:47–54). But the Jewish council had no right to execute prisoners, so they needed Rome's cooperation and approval. This meant a visit to the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilatus.

Both the Jewish “trial” and the Roman “trial” had three stages. After His arrest, Jesus was taken to the house of Annas and there questioned informally (John 18:12–14, 19–23). Annas wanted to obtain information that would make Jesus look like an enemy of the state. He wanted to show that His doctrine and His disciples were anti-Roman, and therefore He deserved to die.

The second stage of the Jewish trial was before Caiaphas and any members of the Sanhedrin the high priest could muster at this late hour of the night (Matt. 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65). When Jesus plainly confessed He was the Christ, the council declared Him guilty of blasphemy, and by their law, they condemned Him to death. The council, however, was obliged to meet the next morning early and render their verdict, for it was not lawful to try causes of life and death in the night. Thus the Jewish trial was pushed forward with all possible dispatch in its third stage, and the leaders condemned Jesus to death (Matt. 27:1; Luke 22:66-71).

The three parts of the Roman trial were the first appearance before Pilate (John 18:28-38), the appearance before Herod (Luke 23:6-12), and the second appearance before Pilate (John 18:39-19:16; cf. Matt. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25). As you can see, the apostle John only records the interrogations by Annas and Pilate and mentions Caiaphas in passing. His main focus is the Roman trial. When he wrote this gospel, the Jewish nation had been scattered by Rome and Jerusalem destroyed, and the only thing that mattered was Roman power.

Pontius Pilate served as governor from AD 26 to 36, and the Jews disliked him. He could be ruthless when he wanted to be (see Luke 13:1–2), but he also knew the Jewish power structures and how to use them. His behavior in the trial of Jesus shows a man indecisive, weak, and compromising. Rome's motto was, "Let justice be done though the heavens fall!" Pilate was not interested in justice; he was only interested in protecting himself, his job, and Rome. Alas, he failed in all three!

As you read John’s account, you see Pilate trying to discover some “loophole” that would satisfy both sides. He was afraid of the crowd, but then he became more and more afraid of the prisoner! No less than three times he pronounced Jesus innocent of any crime (Luke 23:14; John 19:4; Luke 23:22; John 19:6). But he would not let Him leave!

Four questions dominated Pilate’s Roman "trial."