We continue to reflect on the final hours before Christ's crucifixion. When the elders and priests brought Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor, the accusations shifted from blasphemy to rebellion against Rome and refusal to pay taxes to Caesar.
Â
2And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." 3So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." 5But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." 6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer (Luke 23:2-9).
Â
The corrupt elders knew they could not have Pilate issue a judgment on Jesus based on an accusation of blasphemy, so they accused Christ of subversion against Caesar and teaching the people not to pay taxes to Rome. This charge was completely false. Jesus had already responded by saying to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's (Luke 20:25). They also claimed that Christ said He was a king (Luke 23:2) and that He had been subverting the nation (v.2), which was exactly the charge that Barabbas had been found guilty of. Barabbas was accused of murder and rebellion and was held at Pilate's residence, the fortress Antonia.
Â
Pilate wasn’t stupid. He was aware of what was happening. He knew the actions of the religious elite were driven by envy (Mark 15:10), but the Jewish leadership placed him in an awkward position. He was under pressure to prevent any riots against Rome, but he also saw the cunning of the high priest and his supporters in trying to get him to kill Jesus when he saw no wrong in the Man. To make matters worse, his wife approached him with a troubling dream. Her dream involved Jesus:
Â
While Pilate was sitting in the seat of judgment, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him" (Matthew 27:19).
Â
When the ruling priests let it slip that Christ was from Galilee, an area known for subversion to Rome, Pilate thought he could pass the buck to Herod Antipas, who had jurisdiction over that region. His reasoning was that Herod could get him off the hook and be the one to convict Christ. He saw this as his way out of a tough decision, so he sent Jesus to be questioned by Herod (v. 7). However, when they brought Jesus before Herod, Christ answered none of his questions.
Â
After Herodias manipulated Herod Antipas into killing John the Baptist, something inside him died. His heart grew hardened, and where he once listened to spiritual truths with John the Baptist, now all he cared for was a religious spectacle. Herod tried to have Jesus amaze him with His miracle-working power, but when Jesus remained silent, he finally gave up and sent Him back to Pilate. Herod’s conscience became numb due to his rejection of the truth (1 Timothy 4:2). It is a sad day when our conscience no longer listens to the truth of God’s Word. Pilate, at least, was open to spiritual things, asking Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). If you have a heart open to spiritual things, consider that God gave you that questioning and curious mind because He is calling you to Himself. Keith Thomas
Â
The YouTube teaching on this topic is on the link following: https://youtu.be/1ZQ637TPnCM
The written study #62 is found in Luke’s Gospel Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
Â