Sunday, March 27, 2022

Posted on Mar 25 2022

John 18:28-40 Jesus and Pilate
Bible Background: In John’s Gospel, all the opponents of Jesus are responsible for the death of Jesus. It falls to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, to issue the actual death penalty. Pilate was governor of that region from 26-36 CE, and lived in Caesarea (a wonderful, Roman port city). He likely came to Jerusalem during the massive Passover celebration to make sure things stayed “in order”. He ends up with the fate of Jesus on his hands.

Digging Deeper: 1. The ‘case’ against Jesus is flimsy. His opponents bring him to Pilate. They cannot enter Pilate’s courtyard, without risking ceremonial ‘defilement’, which would leave them ‘unclean’ to celebrate the Passover. So Jesus is taken inside. Pilate moves in and out, between Jesus and the Jewish leaders-caught in the middle!

2. As we noted earlier in chapter 18, John shows Jesus clearly “in charge”. Pilate can’t really get anywhere with questioning Jesus. Jesus does admit to having a ‘kingdom’, but it’s not “of this world” and something that Pilate sees is no threat to the Roman empire.

3. Jesus states: “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world-to testify to the truth! Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asks “What is truth?” One of the “I Am” claims Jesus makes in John 14 is: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The “Truth” is standing before Pilate-who is clueless. Does Pilate want to know the truth? Or does it not matter? Is political expediency and keeping the peace, the only thing that matters?

4. Pilate declares Jesus innocent. (He will do that 2 more times!) But this upsets the crowd. Pilate discovers that he doesn’t have as much power as he maybe thought he had in this situation. He is an example of how people in authority are always torn between what is “truth” and what is “right” and what they can actually insist upon.

5. Again, remember, John wants us to be moved by Jesus’ courage, commitment, and will. He does not want us to pity Jesus. You might even feel a bit sorry for Pilate in this scene! (But don’t go too far: history suggests that Pilate was removed from office for a bloody crackdown-perhaps against the Jews a few years later.)

6. How does Jesus help us picture ‘moral power’? Think of turning points in history when military power or political power or the power of wealth have failed, and when a more important source of power has arisen! In John’s Gospel, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus oddly and wonderfully display God’s power of love for the world-a power greater than even the threat of death or the power of the empire!