28 Then they *led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and *said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 in order that the word of Jesus which He spoke would be fulfilled, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this from yourself, or did others tell you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what did You do?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be delivered over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not from here.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You yourself said I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate *said to Him, “What is truth?”
And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18: 28-40 LSB
John 18: 28-40
The permanent residence of the Roman governor of Palestine was in Caesarea (Acts 23:35). The governor had a residence in Jerusalem which he normally occupied only during principal feasts or in times of political unrest. The location of this building in Jerusalem is uncertain, but is probably one of two locations: either (1) the fortress or tower of Antonia, on the east hill north of the temple area, which is the traditional location of the Roman praetorium since the 12th century, or (2) the palace of Herod on the west hill near the present Jaffa Gate. According to Philo (Embassy 38 [299]) Pilate had some golden shields hung there, and according to Josephus (J. W. 2.14.8 [2.301], 2.15.5 [2.328]) the later Roman governor Florus stayed there. - Precept Austin
V. 28 So that they would not be defiled - The oral tradition of the Scribes was followed by these Pharisees and Sadducees. They were very careful not to "ceremonially" defile themselves by hanging out with Gentiles, but weren't worried about the unjust trial of Jesus, about false weights and balances being used in the temple courtyard. We certainly shouldn't add to what God says, but how arrogant is it when we put up our own rituals and preferences above the things He said and even think they offer a way around His precepts. The irony, "that they would not be defiled."
…8But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail. 9Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, 10and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?…
…11Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD. 12But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. 13And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer,… Jeremiah 7: 8-13
…23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.…
…26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.… Matthew 23: 23-28
V. 30 If this Man were not an evil doer, we would not have delivered Him to you - It's like social media court, "just take our word for it, someone was offended so this is justice."
V. 31 It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death - This is a difficult prophecy to bring to fruition. They have already tried to throw Him off cliffs, and at one point the crowds have wanted to make Him King, but before the Lion comes the Lamb. This they speak truly, because they do not have the power of death like Rome does. It would appear that Pilate would maybe even allow Him to be stoned, but they obviously want the spectacle of crucifixion. They have a business to run, a racket, and this will show that Rome is on their side, and they can also make the claim that Rome killed Him. There is something in the indignity of it that they find appealing, for they know the Scriptures, and cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree. Some may think, like David did, that this removes them from directly murdering Jesus, like when David had Uriah sent to the front line after he stole Uriah's life. "See, an enemy killed him." Israel was under Roman rule so capitol punishment would belong to the occupying empire. It was an old custom where those that won the battle would hang their enemy up on a tree or wall to degrade them and also warn others that this could be you. The Romans developed the technique of crucifixion which put your enemy, a criminal, someone you wanted to punish in the most excruciating way, up on a cross alive. Jesus was held there by nails, and the agony of death was prolonged. It offered quite a picture to those that Rome was trying to keep under control, and to the Jews it would mark Jesus as cursed. Who is going to follow that Guy after seeing this?
…12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.… Galatians 3: 12-14
V. 32 He spoke would be fulfilled - The OT was very clear on prophecies about Messiah and Jesus fulfills it with that same level of precision every time. There are no wasted words, no deviation.
…13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.… John 3: 13-15
…31Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.… John 12: 31-33
V. 34 Are you saying this from yourself or did others tell you about Me - Man, what a wild response, and people speculate all sorts of things here, but to be certain, God looks at the heart, and everyone will have to answer this one way or another, here in this life or at the judgment. He asked Jesus, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Let me ask any reader this, Who do you say that Jesus is, is your answer the regurgitation of someone else's opinion, or your own assumptions and vain meanderings based upon your gut or what you would like to think?
…9Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.… Philippians 2: 9-11
V. 35 Am I a Jew - Pilate seems confused by it all, unfamiliar with their customs or why they even think this is worth the escalation. It's all about to become real political.
V. 36 My Kingdom is not of this world - Pilate had stated that Jesus' own nation had turned Him in, so what kind of King could He be other than a lunatic? His answer reflects that He is not of this world or it's present system. This is all passing, the politics, the lying, the fighting over which system works the best. No, one day He will return and set all things right, but this is not the time, this is why He has Peter sheath his sword. He is here to die.
…12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.… Colossians 1: 12-14
37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”… Matthew 23: 37-39
10Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11On that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be as great as the wailing of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.… Zechariah 12: 10-11
Romans thought they knew about kingdoms and their might; that armies, navies, swords, and battles measured the strength of kingdoms. What Jesus knew was that His kingdom – though not of this world – was mightier than Rome and would continue to expand and influence when Rome passed away. - E Word
V. 37 So You are a king - The figure before him was not that impressive, where was the majesty? Pilate probably didn't like the Jewish leadership, but he has to do his due diligence to make sure there is no challenge to Rome standing before him, and he seems to have established that.
“The question could scarcely have been more sarcastic. Pilate, in his heart, despised the Jews as such, but here was a poor Jew, persecuted by his own people, helpless and friendless; it sounded like mockery to talk of a kingdom in connection with him.” (Spurgeon)
1Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. 3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.… Isaiah 53:1-3
V. 38 What is truth - And you thought this was just a post modern sort of question. Jesus represents the ultimate truth, a truth that is absolute and eternal, one that cannot be escaped, only put off in this time. It's wildly dismissive, yet if Pilate only knew, this is the accumulation of all truth, standing before him, the reconciliation of all knowledge. His perception that Jesus is not a king because he does not have a visible army, a crown, and the very people who He grew up amongst, the Jews, did not want Him, in no way shapes reality. He is actually the Son of God, through Whom all things were made, including Pilate, and is above all present rule. Jesus is not limited to armies, to palaces, and does not need the approval of men. Wow, to think of standing before the source, the origin of all pure truth and understanding, yet evaluating Him and coming up with maniac, eccentric, liar, snake oil salesman; perception just isn't reality, not even close. Jesus is God, He is the only Way, The Truth and the Life, and any other conclusion falls infinitely short of His person. He is the King of kings.
V. 39 Not this Man, but Barabbas - Pilate found Jesus not guilty of the charges, at least nothing warranting the kind of punishment the Pharisees and Sadducees sought. When offered the chance to let Him go, the religious rulers stirred the crowd into a blood thirsty frenzy, and they asked that a robber be released in His place. How fitting to the prophecies, "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities", and even now someone will go free, the innocent will take the place of the guilty.
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