Again before Pilate
TRANSLATION
(13) Pilate then called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. (14) He said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. After having examined him in your presence, I have not found this man guilty of any of the charges you have brought against him. (15) Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing he has done deserves death. (16) I will, therefore, punish him and then release him.”
(17) But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” (19) (He was) the one who had been imprisoned for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. (20) Pilate spoke to them again, desiring to release Jesus, (21) but they shouted, “Crucify, crucify him!” (22) A third time he asked them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no reason why he should die. I will therefore punish and release him.” (23) But they were insistent with loud voices demanding that he be crucified, and their voices prevailed. (24) Pilate finally decided that what they were demanding should be granted. (25) He then released the man who had been imprisoned for insurrection and murder according to their request and surrendered Jesus to their will.
OBSERVATIONS
Several repetitions in this segment emphasized what was about to happen to Jesus: “find/found,” (in vss. 14 & 22), “death/die” (vss. 15 & 22), “punish and release” (vss. 16, 18, 20, 22, & 35), “insurrection and murder” (vss. 19 & 25), and “crucify/ crucified” (vss. 21 & 23). Throughout this segment, we observe Pilate’s reluctance to sentence to death one whom he considered to be innocent of the charges brought against him contrasted with the Jewish leadership’s insistent demands that Jesus be summarily executed.
OUTLINE
I. Pilate three times declared that Jesus had not committed any crime worthy of death. (13-16)
II. Pilate finally gave in to the Jewish leadership’s demand to have Jesus crucified. (17-24)
IDEA STATEMENT
The Jewish leadership prevailed upon Pilate to sentence Jesus to death despite his finding no reason to have him crucified.
APPLICATION
Synonyms for “expedient” include “convenient, advantageous, in one’s own interest.” These descriptions help explain why Pilate decided, against his own better judgment, to hand Jesus over for crucifixion. While he knew that he had no justifiable basis for doing this, it was more important for him to maintain a working relationship with the Jewish leadership and to keep the city calm than to do what was morally right, especially when the leaders threatened to report his failure to execute Jesus to Caesar.
Politicians in every era and in every culture have succumbed to the kind of pressure that Pilate experienced. Rather than act courageously to maintain justice, they choose to give in and do what those who can shout the loudest or exert the most influence demand. Pilate clearly wanted to act justly and release Jesus. He went as far as he felt he could to reason with the outraged Jewish leaders. In the end, he conceded defeat and authorized Jesus’ execution for the sake of expedience. For this cowardice he will forever be remembered as an accessory to murder and enabler of one of the worst miscarriages of justice in human history.