Pilate’s Compromise
August 21, 2020
Commentary
Pilate sought to compromise to please both sides. Long before His arrest in the garden, the Jewish leaders had planned to kill Jesus (John 11:47-51), but they lacked the right to execute him. Seeking Roman approval, they brought Jesus before Pilate (v. 28). Pilate wasn’t anxious to get involved in a Jewish court case, especially at Passover. He asked them for a formal accusation against Jesus, which they lacked (v. 29). They wanted Pilate to just accept that Jesus was a criminal (v. 30). Pilate asked them why they hadn’t pass sentence on Him according to their own law (v. 31). The Jews were limited to stoning as a method of execution. If Pilate authorized it, Jesus would be crucified (v. 32), the method Jesus had predicted (Matt. 20:17-19). In a private interview, Pilate asks Jesus if He was the “King of the Jews” (v.33-35). Jesus said He had no political motives in mind, as His kingdom is a spiritual one (vv. 36-37). Pilate declared Jesus’ innocence three times yet subjected Him to a terrible beating (18:38-19:1). His actions spoke louder than his words. He was a weak-willed man who hoped to find a happy compromise. Pilate asks the question, “What is truth?” (v. 38), only to turn away from the one who is “The Truth” without waiting for an answer.
Satisfied that Jesus wasn’t a political threat to Rome, he declared Him innocent. Pilate should have set Him free but instead compromised, trying to bargain with the Jewish leaders. Pilate attempted to shift responsivity back on to the Jews by taking advantage of an established precedent, the release of a prisoner during Passover. Counting on Jesus’ popularity with the people, Pilate offered to release either Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious criminal (vv. 39-40). The crowd, manipulated by their leaders, asked for Barabbas. In an atmosphere of patriotic fervor, they acted according to their feelings, abandoning logic. National feelings increased during Passover, and a vote for Barabbas was a vote against Rome.
Application
Pilate was a very indecisive man. He was only interested in protecting himself and his job. When have I had an opportunity to help someone but just didn’t want to get involved so passed it on?
John 18:28– 40 (NET)
28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor’s residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal. 29 So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They replied, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!” The Jewish leaders replied, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” 32 (This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die.)
33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
39 But it is your custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” 40 Then they shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.)