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The Gospel of John, The Period of Consummation, Part XI, John 19:9,10 - Lesson 188
Read Verses John 19:7,8 for review, The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
John 19:9, And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
You, where do you come from?
But Christ gave no answer.
What answer could Jesus Christ give to this one who would not even consider that there was such a thing as Truth?
Christ would have gladly answered if Pilate asked the question in sincerity with an honest heart.
But Christ gave no answer.
Pilate had trampled under his feet the light that Christ had shown.
Pilate had sinned away his opportunities for light and had forsaken any mercy that God was ready to extend him.
He had turned his ear away from his conscience.
Christ gave no answer.
John 19:10, Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Here Pilate reveals to all his understanding of his authority.
He knew that he had full authority to release Jesus Christ as he had on many occasions said: I find no fault in this man.
Here is a case of one who had authority but refused to use his authority to insure justice.
Pilate had allowed himself to be trapped in the snare of the fear of men.
He wanted to release Christ but he was afraid of the trouble that the Jews would make for him in Rome.
He was not about to be noticed as a governor who could not keep the peace.
Keep the peace, who cares about justice.
What is the life of one man if I can keep my reputation and not get noticed in a bad light by Caesar?
Anyone sent to Palestine from Rome was expected to keep the lid on these fanatical, unpredictable Jews.
Pilate's politics were in the forefront of his life way ahead of any love of justice and honesty.
So he flaunts his position.
Don't you know who you are talking to he says to Christ?
As if Christ adjusts his manner of speaking with men because of a man's position.
Men would kowtow to Pilate for some gain but the Son of God is not threatened by Pilate's display of authority.
Pilate had no authority of release a guilty man nor had he authority to crucify an innocent man.
He had found no fault in him and he had full authority to release him but he overstepped his authority when he allowed an innocent man to be crucified.
Rome gave him no such authority to crucify innocent people. |