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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 6 - THE REPORT OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION (Luke 22 - 24)
10. Jesus in the Civil Trial Before Pilate and Herod (Luke 23:01-25)
LUKE 23:13-25
13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” 17 (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). 18 And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas” -- 19 who had be.en thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. 20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” 22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” 23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
The Roman governor was anxious to avoid any uproar among the people, for there had already been an attempted coup d’ẻtat in Caesar’s palace, which failed probably because of information brought to the people of the Court by the Jews. That was why Pilate kept silent and finally agreed with the Jewish groups. He was prepared to do as they wished lest they would complain against him to Rome as an unfaithful official.
Pilate invited the leaders of the people and the chief priests, allowing a great number of people to appear as witnesses. Shortly before the Jewish Passover, he stood and delivered his speech, proving that Jesus was not guilty, but innocent; and stating that he was willing to release him, after he had examined the case before the representatives of the high council. Now that the official investigation by experts had proved that Jesus was a peaceful man, all the complaints against him appeared as false and empty. In his decision, Pilate relied on the judgment of Herod, the citizen who was more familiar with the customs of his country, and the fox that had sent Jesus back to him robed in mockery.
Pilate was prepared to humor the Jews by having Jesus flagellated. He thought that such a punishment would both satisfy the multitudes and frighten the accused so that he would discontinue his call and preaching. Furthermore, the double-minded Pilate tried to make the people themselves responsible for the final decision, and gave them the choice to release one prisoner according to the Roman custom at the Jewish Passover. In this way, the representative of the civil right wished the people would choose Jesus, the meek and perfect One. But the multitudes cried out all together, “Release to us the great Barabbas, the murderous rebellious hero; and he who is quiet, calling us to repent and return, away with him.” The strange thing is that the name of the murderer “Barabbas” means “son of a father.” However, the people refused the true Son of the heavenly Father, for they were not abiding in the Lord, and consequently the voice of such people was not the voice of the Lord. We are all unrighteous and inclined to evil. The people’s judgment is worldly, and not divine.
After this shouting, Pilate tried once again to speak on behalf of the truth, and convince those concerned that Jesus was innocent.
Then the multitudes flared up, crying out with one voice the same word, which the chief priests uttered: “Crucify him, crucify him!” Crucifixion was not a Jewish custom, but a Roman punishment adopted by the Romans against runaway slaves and non-Roman criminals. The form of execution for Roman criminals was beheading. Thus we see that death on the accursed cross applied to non-Roman criminals.
Pilate was aware that the meek Jesus was innocent and not deserving death on the cross. So he asked openly: “What evil has he done?” Though he was aware of Jesus’ innocence, the complaisant Pilate was prepared to have the Just One flagellated to satisfy the mobs, and thereafter release Jesus.
But the multitudes grew more furious and outraged, and began to surge angrily. They were like beasts, which tasted blood and longed for new prey. They cried out with loud voices, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
The people did not stop their great commotion and outcries until Pilate, fearful and sorrowful, yielded to their demands. The governor was not prepared to sacrifice his office for the truth’s sake. Instead, he released the Romans’ mutinous enemy, and sentenced the Prince of Peace to death on the cross. This sentence was for a crime. It meant at the same time that the Lord of heaven was unjustly condemned by a representative of earth, but the judge failed to make truth prevail, for he was selfish as we are. If you were in Pilate’s place would you oppose the agitated mob for the sake of an unimportant poor young man?
PRAYER: O Lord, You are the sinless holy Righteous One. We glorify you and ask your pardon, for we know the truth and yet do unrighteous acts for personal reasons. Strengthen us that we may become deep-rooted in love, choosing to suffer for what is right rather than doing wrong.
QUESTION 138: How many times did Pilate state Jesus’ innocence?