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==CHAPTER 50==  

==CHAPTER 50==  

===THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE===

===THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE===

SHORTLY after six o'clock on this Friday morning, April 7, A.D. 30, Jesus was brought before Pilate. Though Pilate conducted much of Jesus' examination within the praetorium halls, the public trial was held outside on the steps leading up to the main entrance. When Jesus and his accusers had gathered in front of Pilate's judgment hall, the Roman governor came out, and addressing the company assembled, asked:

SHORTLY after six o'clock on this Friday morning, April 7, A.D. 30, Jesus was brought before Pilate.  

 

Though Pilate conducted much of Jesus' examination within the praetorium halls, the public trial was held outside on the steps leading up to the main entrance.  

 

When Jesus and his accusers had gathered in front of Pilate's judgment hall, the Roman governor came out, and addressing the company assembled, asked:

*"What accusation do you bring against this fellow?"  

*"What accusation do you bring against this fellow?"  

**"3. Calling himself the king of the Jews and teaching the founding of a new kingdom."

**"3. Calling himself the king of the Jews and teaching the founding of a new kingdom."

Jesus had not been regularly tried nor legally convicted on any of these charges. Pilate was so astonished at the unfairness of the whole proceeding and so impressed by Jesus' silent and masterly bearing that he decided to take the prisoner inside the hall and examine him privately. Pilate took Jesus and John Zebedee into a private chamber, leaving the guards outside in the hall, and requesting the prisoner to sit down, he sat down by his side. Pilate began his talk with Jesus by assuring him that he did not believe the first count against him: that he was a perverter of the nation and an inciter to rebellion.  

Jesus had not been regularly tried nor legally convicted on any of these charges.  

 

Pilate was so astonished at the unfairness of the whole proceeding and so impressed by Jesus' silent and masterly bearing that he decided to take the prisoner inside the hall and examine him privately.

 

 

 

Pilate took Jesus and John Zebedee into a private chamber, leaving the guards outside in the hall, and requesting the prisoner to sit down, he sat down by his side. Pilate began his talk with Jesus by assuring him that he did not believe the first count against him: that he was a perverter of the nation and an inciter to rebellion.  

Then he asked:  

Then he asked:  

*"Ask him or any other man who has heard my teaching."   

*"Ask him or any other man who has heard my teaching."   

Then Pilate questioned John about this matter of tribute, and John testified concerning his Master's teaching and explained that Jesus and his apostles paid taxes both to Caesar and to the temple. When Pilate had questioned John, he said:

Then Pilate questioned John about this matter of tribute, and John testified concerning his Master's teaching and explained that Jesus and his apostles paid taxes both to Caesar and to the temple.  

 

When Pilate had questioned John, he said:

*"See that you tell no man that I talked with you."

*"See that you tell no man that I talked with you."

*"Truth, what is truth -- who knows?"

*"Truth, what is truth -- who knows?"

After questioning the Master, Pilate went back to the chief priests and the accusers of Jesus and said:  

After questioning the Master, Pilate went back to the chief priests and the accusers of Jesus and said:  

*"I have examined this man, and I find no fault in him. I do not think he is guilty of the charges you have made against him. I think he ought to be set free."  

*"I have examined this man, and I find no fault in him. I do not think he is guilty of the charges you have made against him. I think he ought to be set free."  

And when the Jews heard this, they were moved with great anger, so much so that they wildly shouted that Jesus should die. One of the Sanhedrists boldly stepped up by the side of Pilate, saying:  

And when the Jews heard this, they were moved with great anger, so much so that they wildly shouted that Jesus should die.  

 

One of the Sanhedrists boldly stepped up by the side of Pilate, saying:  

*"This man stirs up the people, beginning in Galilee and continuing throughout all Judea. He is a mischief-maker and an evildoer. You will long regret it if you let this wicked man go free."

*"This man stirs up the people, beginning in Galilee and continuing throughout all Judea. He is a mischief-maker and an evildoer. You will long regret it if you let this wicked man go free."

Pilate was hard pressed to know what to do with Jesus. Pilate, calling the guards, said:  

Pilate was hard pressed to know what to do with Jesus.  

 

Pilate, calling the guards, said:  

*"This man is a Galilean. Take him forthwith to Herod, and when he has examined him, report his findings to me."  

*"This man is a Galilean. Take him forthwith to Herod, and when he has examined him, report his findings to me."  

Said Pilate:  

Said Pilate:  

*"Which, therefore, would you prefer that I release to you, this Barabbas, the murderer, or this Jesus of Galilee?"  

*"'''Which, therefore, would you prefer that I release to you, this Barabbas, the murderer, or this Jesus of Galilee'''?"  

And when Pilate had thus spoken, the chief priests and the Sanhedrin councilors all shouted at the top of their voices:  

And when Pilate had thus spoken, the chief priests and the Sanhedrin councilors all shouted at the top of their voices:  

*"Barabbas, Barabbas!"  

*"Barabbas, Barabbas!"  

And when the people saw that the chief priests were minded to have Jesus put to death, they quickly joined in the clamor for his life while they loudly shouted for the release of Barabbas. Pilate was angered at the sight of the chief priests clamoring for the pardon of a notorious murderer while they shouted for the blood of Jesus. He said to them:  

And when the people saw that the chief priests were minded to have Jesus put to death, they quickly joined in the clamor for his life while they loudly shouted for the release of Barabbas. Pilate was angered at the sight of the chief priests clamoring for the pardon of a notorious murderer while they shouted for the blood of Jesus.  

 

He said to them:  

*"How could you choose the life of a murderer in preference to this man's whose worst crime is that he figuratively calls himself the king of the Jews?"   

*"How could you choose the life of a murderer in preference to this man's whose worst crime is that he figuratively calls himself the king of the Jews?"   

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against him, and had he been a just and courageous judge, he would have acquitted him and turned him loose. But he was afraid to defy these angry Jews, and while he hesitated to do his duty, a messenger came up and presented him with a sealed message from his wife, Claudia. When Pilate opened this letter from his wife, he read:  

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against him, and had he been a just and courageous judge, he would have acquitted him and turned him loose. But he was afraid to defy these angry Jews, and while he hesitated to do his duty, a messenger came up and presented him with a sealed message from his wife, Claudia.  

 

When Pilate opened this letter from his wife, he read:  

*"I pray you have nothing to do with this innocent and just man whom they call Jesus. I have suffered many things in a dream this night because of him."  

*"I pray you have nothing to do with this innocent and just man whom they call Jesus. I have suffered many things in a dream this night because of him."  

This note from Claudia not only greatly upset Pilate and thereby delayed the adjudication of this matter, but it unfortunately also provided considerable time in which the Jewish rulers freely circulated among the crowd and urged the people to call for the release of Barabbas and to clamor for the crucifixion of Jesus. Finally, Pilate addressed himself once more to the solution of the problem that confronted him, by asking the mixed assembly of Jewish rulers and the pardon-seeking crowd:  

This note from Claudia not only greatly upset Pilate and thereby delayed the adjudication of this matter, but it unfortunately also provided considerable time in which the Jewish rulers freely circulated among the crowd and urged the people to call for the release of Barabbas and to clamor for the crucifixion of Jesus.  

 

Finally, Pilate addressed himself once more to the solution of the problem that confronted him, by asking the mixed assembly of Jewish rulers and the pardon-seeking crowd:  

*"What shall I do with him who is called the king of the Jews?"  

*"What shall I do with him who is called the king of the Jews?"  

====Pilate’s Last Appeal====

====Pilate’s Last Appeal====

   

   

Being afraid to defy the clamor of this misled mob that cried for the blood of Jesus, he ordered the Jewish guards and the Roman soldiers to take Jesus and scourge him. This was in itself an unjust and illegal procedure since the Roman law provided that only those condemned to die by crucifixion should be thus subjected to scourging. The guards took Jesus into the open courtyard of the praetorium for this ordeal. Though his enemies did not witness this scourging, Pilate did, and before they had finished this wicked abuse, he directed the scourgers to desist and indicated that Jesus should be brought to him. Before the scourgers laid their knotted whips upon Jesus as he was bound to the whipping post, they again put upon him the purple robe, and plaiting a crown of thorns, they placed it upon his brow. And when they had put a reed in his hand as a mock scepter, they knelt before him and mocked him, saying:  

Being afraid to defy the clamor of this misled mob that cried for the blood of Jesus, he ordered the Jewish guards and the Roman soldiers to take Jesus and scourge him. This was in itself an unjust and illegal procedure since the Roman law provided that only those condemned to die by crucifixion should be thus subjected to scourging.  

 

The guards took Jesus into the open courtyard of the praetorium for this ordeal. Though his enemies did not witness this scourging, Pilate did, and before they had finished this wicked abuse, he directed the scourgers to desist and indicated that Jesus should be brought to him.  

 

Before the scourgers laid their knotted whips upon Jesus as he was bound to the whipping post, they again put upon him the purple robe, and plaiting a crown of thorns, they placed it upon his brow.  

 

And when they had put a reed in his hand as a mock scepter, they knelt before him and mocked him, saying:  

*"Hail, king of the Jews!"  

*"Hail, king of the Jews!"  

They spit upon him and struck him in the face with their hands. One of them, before they returned him to Pilate, took the reed from his hand and struck him upon the head. Then Pilate led forth this bleeding and lacerated prisoner, and presenting him before the mixed multitude, said:  

They spit upon him and struck him in the face with their hands. One of them, before they returned him to Pilate, took the reed from his hand and struck him upon the head.  

 

Then Pilate led forth this bleeding and lacerated prisoner, and presenting him before the mixed multitude, said:  

*"Behold the man! Again I declare to you that I find no crime in him, and having scourged him, I would release him."

*"Behold the man! Again I declare to you that I find no crime in him, and having scourged him, I would release him."

There stood Jesus of Nazareth, clothed in an old purple royal robe with a crown of thorns piercing his kindly brow. His face was bloodstained and his form bowed down with suffering and grief. This sight sent a mighty shudder through the realms of a vast universe, but it did not touch the hearts of those who had set their minds to effect the destruction of Jesus. When they had recovered from the first shock of seeing the Master's plight, they only shouted the louder and the longer:  

There stood Jesus of Nazareth, clothed in an old purple royal robe with a crown of thorns piercing his kindly brow. His face was bloodstained and his form bowed down with suffering and grief. This sight sent a mighty shudder through the realms of a vast universe, but it did not touch the hearts of those who had set their minds to effect the destruction of Jesus.  

 

When they had recovered from the first shock of seeing the Master's plight, they only shouted the louder and the longer:  

*"Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!"

*"Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!"

And now did Pilate comprehend that it was futile to appeal to their supposed feelings of pity. He stepped forward and said:  

And now did Pilate comprehend that it was futile to appeal to their supposed feelings of pity.  

 

He stepped forward and said:  

*"I perceive that you are determined this man shall die, but what has he done to deserve death? Who will declare his crime?"

*"I perceive that you are determined this man shall die, but what has he done to deserve death? Who will declare his crime?"

   

   

Pilate’s Last Interview

====Pilate’s Last Interview====

As Pilate, trembling with fearful emotion, sat down by the side of Jesus, he inquired:

As Pilate, trembling with fearful emotion, sat down by the side of Jesus, he inquired:

*"Where do you come from? Really, who are you? What is this they say, that you are the Son of God?"

*"Where do you come from? Really, who are you? What is this they say, that you are the Son of God?"

Jesus looked Pilate straight in the face, but he did not answer him. Then said Pilate:  

Jesus looked Pilate straight in the face, but he did not answer him.  

 

Then said Pilate:  

*"Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not realize that I still have power to release you or to crucify you?"  

*"Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not realize that I still have power to release you or to crucify you?"  

*"You could have no power over me except it were permitted from above. You could exercise no authority over the Son of Man unless the Father in heaven allowed it. But you are not so guilty since you are ignorant of the gospel. He who betrayed me, and he who delivered me to you, they have the greater sin."

*"You could have no power over me except it were permitted from above. You could exercise no authority over the Son of Man unless the Father in heaven allowed it. But you are not so guilty since you are ignorant of the gospel. He who betrayed me, and he who delivered me to you, they have the greater sin."

This last talk with Jesus thoroughly frightened Pilate. This moral coward and judicial weakling now labored under the double weight of the superstitious fear of Jesus and mortal dread of the Jewish leaders. Again Pilate appeared before the crowd, saying:  

This last talk with Jesus thoroughly frightened Pilate. This moral coward and judicial weakling now labored under the double weight of the superstitious fear of Jesus and mortal dread of the Jewish leaders.  

 

Again Pilate appeared before the crowd, saying:  

*"I am certain this man is only a religious offender. You should take him and judge him by your law. Why should you expect that I would consent to his death because he has clashed with your traditions?"

*"I am certain this man is only a religious offender. You should take him and judge him by your law. Why should you expect that I would consent to his death because he has clashed with your traditions?"

*"If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend, and I will see that the emperor knows all."  

*"If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend, and I will see that the emperor knows all."  

This public threat was too much for Pilate. Fear for his personal fortunes now eclipsed all other considerations, and the cowardly governor ordered Jesus brought out before the judgment seat. As the Master stood there before them, he pointed to him and tauntingly said:  

This public threat was too much for Pilate. Fear for his personal fortunes now eclipsed all other considerations, and the cowardly governor ordered Jesus brought out before the judgment seat.  

 

As the Master stood there before them, he pointed to him and tauntingly said:  

*"Behold your king."  

*"Behold your king."  

And then did Pilate realize that there was no hope of saving Jesus since he was unwilling to defy the Jews.

And then did Pilate realize that there was no hope of saving Jesus since he was unwilling to defy the Jews.

 

====Pilate’s Tragic Surrender====

====Pilate’s Tragic Surrender====

Here stood the Son of God incarnate as the Son of Man. He was arrested without indictment, accused without evidence, adjudged without witnesses, punished without a verdict, and now was soon to be condemned to die by an unjust judge who confessed that he could find no fault in him. The mob cheered when he ordered the release of Barabbas. Then he ordered a basin and some water, and there before the multitude he washed his hands, saying:  

Here stood the Son of God incarnate as the Son of Man. He was arrested without indictment, accused without evidence, adjudged without witnesses, punished without a verdict, and now was soon to be condemned to die by an unjust judge who confessed that he could find no fault in him. The mob cheered when he ordered the release of Barabbas.  

 

Then he ordered a basin and some water, and there before the multitude he washed his hands, saying:  

*"I am innocent of the blood of this man. You are determined that he shall die, but I have found no guilt in him. See you to it. The soldiers will lead him forth."  

*"I am innocent of the blood of this man. You are determined that he shall die, but I have found no guilt in him. See you to it. The soldiers will lead him forth."