John 18:28-40 - After the High Priest Jesus is Brought to Pilate

The time is very near for the Lord Jesus to go to the cross.  He has been betrayed by Judas, arrested and has appeared before the high priest Caiaphas, to answer his questions.  Now Jesus is taken to Pontius Pilate.

V28-32 "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.  Pilate then went out unto them, and said What accusation bring ye against this man?  They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto thee.  Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.  The Jews therefore said unto him, it is not lawful for us to put any man to death: that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die."

Such hypocrisy, the Jews took the Lord Jesus to Pilate because they did not want to be the ones to put him to death, they did not want to "dirty their hands" as it were.  They believed they would be defiled if they entered the judgment hall and so Pilate came out to them.  They wanted to be "clean" so they could keep the Passover and yet they desired that Jesus be put to death.   So Pilate came out to them to ask what the accusation was against Jesus.  But the Jews did not tell Pilate exactly what their charge against Jesus was, they just said that he was a "malefactor".  When Pilate said that Jesus should be judged according to their law, they said that it was not lawful for them to put any man to death.  But we know that certainly that was not true,  as in the book of Acts, Stephen is stoned to death and the apostle Paul was also stoned although he did not die from the stoning.  But all this was unfolding according to God's plan, that the scripture would be fulfilled.  Previously Jesus said that he would be "lifted up" and this is crucifixion. 



V33-36 "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?  Pilate answered Am I a Jew?  Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

There was something about Jesus that made Pilate ask him if he were King of the Jews.  Perhaps he wondered why the Jews were so desperate to have Jesus put to death.  Jesus answers Pilate's question with a statement that probably shook him.  "My kingdom is not of this world."  By this Jesus is saying that yes, he is a King but his kingdom is not of this earth, if it were of this earth there would be soldiers fighting so that he would not have been arrested,  but this was accomplished because his kingdom is not an earthly one. 

V37-40 "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?  Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas.  Now Barabbas was a robber."

Pilate no longer asks Jesus if he is King of the Jews, but if he is a King.  Further Jesus says that this is the reason that he came into the world, to bear witness of the truth.  This is not like any other man that has ever been born.  Jesus came for a reason, to bear witness of his Father in heaven, that he (Jesus)  is the promised Redeemer that the Jews were all waiting for.  But further, Jesus is the Redeemer not only of the Jews, but the Gentiles as well.   To bear witness that all who believe on him will one day be with Jesus where he is.   "Unto you is born this day a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."   Pilate does not want to put Jesus to death,  he tells the Jews that "I find in him no fault at all."   He does not see Jesus as a threat to Rome.  He tried to have Jesus released by telling them of the custom that a prisoner can be released at the Passover, hoping that they will choose Jesus.  But if the Jews brought Jesus to Pilate to have him put to death, it is certain that they will not want him released.  And so they ask for Barabbas, a criminal.

Jesus is one step closer to his redeeming work, but first he must go through the cruelty of men.

Next post is Jesus suffering at the hands of Pilate's men, and another effort of Pilate to release Jesus.

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