Pilate's question

I was raised in the church. Many of us in America were. Some of my earliest memories are being in church or gathered around the piano at my grandparent's home with my cousins, aunts, and uncles singing hymns out of a church hymnal. So, you could say I was well aware of Christian culture and Christian "stories." I did not become born again until I was 25-years-old, but I was well aware of the crucifixion story of Jesus from my youth. 

I'm 54-years-old now, so maybe my memory is failing me. But, in the vast majority of the times, when "the Easter Story" has been presented to me in most churches, I remember Pilate being presented as a man who was stuck in a place where he had no choice to do as he did. After all, he questioned Jesus personally and found no fault in him (John 18:38). He even went so far as to try and get Jesus off the hook by letting the people choose between him and Barabbas, a known murderer. (Matthew 27:16-26) 

But the mob was having none of it, so the poor guy had no choice to make the decision that he did. After all, Jesus was the lamb slain from the foundation of the earth. (Revelations 13:8) So the guy was well and truly stuck. God forced the poor man to decide to do what he did. 

If that wasn't the way it was presented to you, then this blog will not be much of a surprise to you. And, in the defense of those who presented it to me all these years, it is possible that I did not understand it in the way that they intended it to come across. Sometimes, as my wife can attest, I'm not the sharpest tack in the box. 

But, God did not force Pilate to make the choice that he did. 

How do I know? He left us a few clues in the scriptures. 

1) Jesus' ministry and arrest. John 18:1-9

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Jesus knew he was going to be arrested. He also knew he needed to defend his disciples. So, when the guards came to arrest him, he exercised his authority as God. When he asked them who they were seeking and they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth," he answered, "I AM" (the HE there was added by the King James translators for clarity- they thought). Upon Answering with the Old Testament name of God, power was released that knocked all these big and burly guards- trained warriors employed by the temple- onto their backsides. This, on top of all the miraculous signs and wonders Jesus had performed, was the icing on the cake for Pilate. He knew that Jesus was different and very powerful- beyond any mere mortal man.

Yes, Pilate, being who he was, knew all that had happened. People in his position are told every detail that pertains to any situation they are dealing with. 

2) Pilate's position.

John 19:9-11

9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

In mankind's view, Pilate actually had the power of granting life and/or death to his subjects. Our governors have the power to pardon in certain cases, but none of them have the authority to just order someone's death. 

Pilate did.

And he told Jesus in the strongest possible terms that he definitely had this power. You can almost hear Pilate's pleading voice. He was frustrated. Basically, in his own way, he seemed to be saying, "Work with me here, man! I'm trying to help you!" 

But, Jesus did not let him off the hook. 

He told Pilate that the only power that he had over Jesus was because it came from Heaven specifically for this situation. This, I believe, was a subtle reminder of what Pilate knew had happened during Jesus' arrest- where Jesus proved he was willingly surrendering, but definitely had the power to stop things at any time he chose to do so. 

He also told Pilate that a) those that had brought him in (the Pharisees/Sadducees) would be held accountable by God for this sin, and b) Pilate would be held accountable for his sinful part in the proceedings, as well. After all, he said the Sanhedrin (Pharisees/Sadducees) that delivered him (Jesus) had THE GREATER sin because they delivered him and called for the trial to happen- thereby rejecting their Messiah. However, He was definitely implying that Pilate himself shared a part of the sins. 

Why? 

The Sanhedrin had brought the charges, Pilate was governor. Didn't Pilate have a legal obligation to handle the case? 

No. 

As Pilate had said, if he had wanted to, he could've ignored the Sanhedrins power play altogether and dismissed the charges. It was within his power and authority to do so. In fact, This very thing happened in favor of Paul in Acts 18:12-16 by a deputy- a man with far less power than a Governor. 

But, the Jews were whipped to a frenzy and threatening riots, didn't Pilate have an obligation to try and quell them? 

Yes.

But, he did not have to do so by giving in to their demands. He had the most powerful military in the world at that time-Roman legions- at his command. He could have set Jesus free and forced the Jews to comply with his decision. 

But, the Jews threatened to tell Emperor Caesar (after they would have rioted) that Pilate was the one who could have stopped the chaos, but he didn't do what they wanted and this caused all the trouble. (John 19:12-13) 

Note: Doesn't this sound much like our situations today? Mobs are rioting and politicians who have the authority to quell the violence are refusing to do so. They are all playing politics and God will hold them accountable for it.

Indeed, Pilate tried on several occasions to release Jesus. (John 19, Luke 23). He even went so far as to have Jesus scourged with the cat of nine tails whip and present him before the Jews, hoping that this action would placate the Jews (John 19, Luke 23). Of course, Pilate had no way of knowing that his actions were prophesied centuries before they happened (by his stripes we are healed- Isaiah 53:5). 

Jesus, as God, knew Pilate would try and release him. So why did Jesus say Pilate was in sin by his actions? Didn't Pilate try and release him? He had no choice, right? 

As we've already pointed out, Pilate had the authority to release Jesus, no matter what the Jews did. But, Jesus said Pilate's hands, in spite of his own protestations to the contrary, were not clean of Jesus' blood. Why? 

3) The warning

Because Pilate had received a warning before he ever sat down to bring judgment on Jesus- a warning from God! 

Matthew 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

God had spoken to Pilate through a nightmare he had given Pilate's closest advisor- his wife. It was a warning to him that he had a choice in the matter. Pilate did not have to choose to crucify Jesus. Things did not have to play out the way that they did. 

Yes, Jesus would be crucified. It was God's plan from the very beginning of time. (Revelations 13:8) 

But, Pilate had a choice on whether or not to be the man to order it. Yes, things could've gone badly for him after that. Yes, riots could have occurred. Yes, the Jews could have brought the circumstances to the attention of Caesar and Pilate could have lost his position (and possibly his life) by not crucifying Jesus. But, God had given him a choice. 

Interestingly enough, it was the same question Pilate had given the Jews: 

Matthew 27:22

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

Pilate and the Jews had to choose what they would do with Jesus. Worship him? 

Or hate him? Believe and follow him? Ignore and/or vilify him?  

They rejected their Savior. They rejected their very creator. They made the wrong choice.

What choice will you make today about Jesus, my friend?

Don't be like Pilate. 

Please make the right choice.