The King Condemned

John 19:1-16

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”. 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin”. 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified

Notes

The Jews brought Jesus to Pilate, who interrogated Him. However, Pilate could not find any sign of guilt related to rebellion against Rome. Pilate would try to release Christ; however, the Jews would rally against him. One may observe a few major theological themes. The first is God’s sovereignty over the whole event. Second, one sees the commitment and faithfulness of the Lord Jesus to fulfill the mission to sacrifice Himself. Third, there is man's guilt for the unjust trial, a universal problem of man.

1. Mockery

   To appease the Jewish leaders, Pilate had Jesus flogged. Roman soldiers mocked Christ with a crown of thorns and a purple robe. They were known for their mockery of condemned prisoners who claimed royalty. Pilate spoke to the Jewish leaders, repeating an earlier statement that he had found no guilt in Christ.

   
   Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” (John 19:1-5).
   

   Application: People may mock Christ's name and claims, but like Christ, we will remain steadfast. The Lord endured the shame and pain because it was the Father’s will. Christ’s humility in suffering would lead to the salvation of all who believe. Let us believe and endure for His glory.
   

2. Rejection

   Pilate tried to free Jesus, but the Jews countered him with their law. When Pilate heard that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, the governor felt fear. Romans lived in superstition, believing that divine beings interacted with men. Pilate asked Jesus about the claim, but Jesus did not answer. However, Jesus alluded to God's sovereignty.
   
   6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin” (John 19:6-11).

   Application: Let us trust in God’s sovereign will over the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Let us also believe that His will is at work in our lives. People have no authority in our lives unless God gave it to them for His purpose.

3. Condemnation

   Pilate sought to release Christ because of His innocence, yet probably because Pilate thought that he might be in the presence of a divine. However, the Jews knew how to pressure Pilate’s political weakness. Pilate started calling Jesus, King of the Jews.

   
   12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified (John 19:12-16).

   Application: We shall proclaim that Jesus was the Lamb of God sacrificed for our sins. Though innocent, He took on the penalty of our guilt. Unlike Pilate, we will resist human pressure to reject Christ. Instead, we will proclaim who He is.

Reflection & Discussion

1. Why did Pilate have Jesus flogged even if he found Jesus not guilty?

2. Why did Pilate try to release Jesus? How did the Jews respond?

3. Explain God’s sovereignty from the text.