The whole troop of Sanhedrin, Temple Guards and assorted others arrived at Pilate's Palace.
Now Pilate was not actually the ruler in Jerusalem but from another region called Caesarea. Thus, I'm not really sure why they would take Jesus to him. However, to Pilate they went.
Due to the influx of Jewish people from all directions beyond Jerusalem, come to celebrate the Passover Feast, Pilate had come with a contingent of soldiers to help control the crowds. They didn't want any riots or attempted coups. No sirree!
Those crafty members of the Sanhedrin realized they needed to change tactics. What accusations against Jesus would work among the Jewish crowd, would not be effective among the Romans.
You see, Pilate was Roman and the Romans were the Jewish people's overlords and conquerors. So 'crimes' worthy of death had to be conjured up to satisfy Roman rules. The religious leaders don't have much to go on so they fabricate the accusations.
They accused Jesus of having misled the people telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor. This was an outright lie! Jesus had said no such thing! In fact, He had said the exact opposite.
He had said,
"Give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar; and to God what belongs to God" (Luke 20:25).
There was absolutely no misleading there that I could detect...of course, what do I know, I'm only a woman in a culture that sees women as more of a possession than a respected person in their own right.
Another accusation was that Jesus claimed Himself to be the Jews Messiah -- a KING. At least this was a true statement. This was also something that would get Pilate's attention. That, and, that they claimed He was starting, or stirring up, a riot and that all throughout Judea and beginning at Galilee -- Jesus' hometown.
Pilate then queried Jesus, and asked Him if He were a king. Jesus answered, "It is as you say." Pilate concluded...Jesus was an innocent man. I'm not sure how he got that out of that but I'm happy He at least acknowledged Jesus' innocence.
However, the Sanhedrin INSISTED more strongly that Jesus was instigating riots; another LIE! They also implied to Pilate that Jesus was a political activist and a threat to the Roman Kingdom, and this must be quelled and gotten rid of.
These charges Pilate could not be ignored. Yet, Pilate saw through the subterfuge and wished to exonerate Jesus. Thus his asking whether Jesus was a King. Jesus explained that He was but not one of an earthly kingdom.
Maybe Pilate thought Jesus was a little off balance in His thinking cuz whoever heard of a kingdom not from Earth. If a person didn't know much about Jesus, they might think that. However, Pilate seemed to want to declared Jesus an innocent man.
Pilate also realized the connection with Herod who was also "in town" to control Jewish crowds and keep peace, and whose jurisdiction encompassed Jesus' (our) hometown of Galilee. Pilate got the "bright idea" -- or maybe the "passing-the-buck idea" to send Jesus to Herod. So off they all went to Herod's court bringing Jesus who was somewhat battered already from the Temple Guards' beatings.
I heard that Herod was very pleased to see Jesus. He wished Jesus to "perform" for him. He wanted to see a miracle. Jesus knew Herod was not a sincere seeker and so did not answer his questions.
If Herod had been sincere, Jesus would not have refused to answer him.. I firmly believe that and that any person of faith even to this day, would get an answer in God's good time. We should always pray and seek humbly and expectantly.
Jesus got more aggressive treatment at the hands of Herod and his men. Disrespect and contempt were on that menu of mockery. Herod's soldiers put a fin robe on Jesus and pretended obeisance and sent Him back to Pilate, perhaps offended at Jesus' non-compliance to "perform". Despite this, Herod could not find anything legal with which to charge Jesus.
I don't really consider this a particularly good thing that came out of this but Pilate and Herod became friends that day where beforehand they'd been rivals.
This is a good thing to beware of...what makes one person a friend of another? What is it that binds us to another? Is it something 'good'?
Back at Pilate's palace, Pilate called together three groups: the chief priests, the leaders and the Jewish people. He once again tells them that neither he nor Herod found Jesus of any crime deserving death. He would just whip Jesus (for good measure, I suppose -- preemptive strike) and release Him.
Boy-oh-boy, the crowd's response played right into the Sanhedrin's agenda! It was sickening. The pit of my stomach does all sorts of contortions just thinking back on it.
"Kill Him!" they shout.
"Free Barabbas!" they cry.
What a wicked alternative! Barabbas was a rebellious murderer! How could the people have chosen him!! He was the one instigating riots and committing crimes worthy of death.
Jesus, on the other hand, did not create riots. He came to give life, not take it. He was (and still is) Perfect Man -- Son of Man, who loved and cared for the crowd -- had done so much for so many of them. He had not committed any crime worthy of death!
In the end, Pilate had declared Jesus innocent three times and wished to let Him go. On the third appeal to the people he said he found nothing worthy of death in Jesus (v. 22).
The same crowds who had once clung and hung on to Jesus' words; who had been healed and fed by Jesus; who had had demons cast out; who'd even joyfully welcomed Him into Jerusalem less than a week prior, shouting "Hosanna!" and "Blessed be the Son of David" and "save us" as He rode in on a donkey, now SHOUT at the top of their lungs, the ugly words,
"Crucify Him!"
"Crucify Him!"
It was so difficult to imagine Jesus betrayed by His own people. Being rejected by religious leadership who couldn't or wouldn't recognize their Messiah. These have been very bitter pills to swallow.
The people power swayed the verdict to just what the Sanhedrin wanted; to be rid of Jesus.
I gasp in anguish, again.
The boisterous, shouting, clambering crowds caused Pilate to relent and give the Sanhedrin what they wanted. He, too, likely afraid of riot. He was there to quell and control the crowd NOT create turmoil.
Pilate released the Barabbas murderer and handed Jesus, the ever loving One, over to the Sanhedrin to do as they wished with Jesus.
How awful is that!
Does it make you want to weep for Jesus?
Pilate had known what the right thing to do had been. He declared three times Jesus' innocence. However, due to fear of riot or because of "popular opinion" he unjustly condemned Jesus to death anyway.
It was a case of human influence and Satan's evil schemes at work. Yet Pilate also had free will to operate and choose the right thing to do and could have gone against popular opinion.
He valued other things above the 'right thing' though. For one, his newfound friendship with Herod and secondly, pleasing the crowds more than giving justice to Jesus.
We should stop and think though, if there have been times when we were in just such a tight, sticky situation. We knew the "right" thing to do was but did not do it because we were afraid of what others would say or think of you or even do to you in retribution?
These times of challenge do come I'm very well aware. I also know we can call out to our Lord for mercy and grace to do the right thing that would please Him.
Pray and ask for help and courage.
I'm so glad He hears and answers us.
After all, despite the injustice, Jesus came with love to bring us salvation, and that again, despite, the horrendous way He died.
~ERC November 2020~
Based on Luke 23:1-5; 6-121; 13-35 NIV
SPM Luke Study Guide
Sing, Jesus Paid It All, All to Him I Owe
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