Jesus and Pilate (3 things)

• 1^st – The scourging of Jesus… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged… vs. 1
    • Scourging was a Roman interrogation method – meant to illicit a confession…
    • The prisoner would be tied to a post – with the back bent over and exposed…
    • 39 lashes from a 2’ leather whip – imbedded with metal/bone/glass…
    • It would tear the back open – ripping flesh and muscle – exposing to the bone…
    • After each lash you would be asked to confess – if you did – the torture would lessen…
    • If you did not confess – the lashings would grow fiercer…
    • Jesus never said a word – meaning the scourging would have nearly killed Him!
  • 2^nd – After the scourging – Jesus was taken back to the Praetorium… vs. 2-3
    • They covered Jesus with a very expensive purple ‘royal’ robe…
      • They placed a crown of thorns on His head – 1’ razor sharp desert thorns…
      • Then struck (Imperfect) Him on the head with a reed – driving in the thorns…
      • They bowed and mocked Him saying – ‘Hail the King of the Jews’
    • They mocked Jesus – because He convicted them of their sins…
      • When people will make fun of us – attack us with cutting words…
      • Because we want to go to Bible studies – because we do not want to live in sin…
      • Because we do not do the things the world does – convicting them of their sin…
      • Then we know we belong to God – because the world hates us just like Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Jesus was able to endure the suffering – knowing what would come afterwards…
    • Hebrews 12:2 – “For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…”
    • Nothing that happens here – is comparable to what God has planned for us…
    • It can be tough listening to the comments – the cutting words people say…
    • As we desire to live and stand for Jesus – and feel the brunt of the world’s hate…
    • But no trial – no comment – nothing here can compare with what is to come…
    • II Corinthians 4:17-18 – “Our present troubles are quite small and will not last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!  So we do not look at the troubles we see right now; we look forward to what we have not yet seen. The troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”
    • No one likes to work hard all day – it is tiring / backbreaking work…
    • But we do because there is a reward waiting for us at the end – payday!
    • In the same way we may not enjoy the troubles we go through because of Jesus…
    • But there is a FAR GREATER reward waiting for us at the end…
    • And the 70+ years of troubles we have here will seem like a moment…
    • When compared with the eternal joy God has waiting for us in heaven!
    • I Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
      
• 2^nd – The ‘authority’ of Pilate… vs. 4-11
  • 1^st – Pilate presented Jesus to the people again… vs. 4-5
    • He reiterated that he found no fault in Jesus – He had done nothing wrong…
    • Pilate wanted to release Jesus – but did not want to upset the Jews…
    • So he had Jesus beaten – perhaps to try and win the sympathy of the crowd…
    • He brought Jesus out and said – ‘Behold the man!’
    • Beaten – bloodied – it would have been hard to even look at Jesus broken body…
    • Isaiah 52:14–“Many were amazed when they saw him—beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.”
  • 2^nd – But the Chief priests cried out Crucify Him – Crucify Him… vs. 6-7
    • The leaders had their own motive for putting Jesus on the cross…
    • They saw Him as a threat to their power – and they wanted Him dead…
    • But leaders got the crowd to join in – calling for the death of Jesus – Matthew 27:22
    • Not that the people wanted Jesus dead – they just not want to be different…
    • We often do what others do – because we do not want to be different…
    • It is always a wise question to ask – whom am I trying to be like / who am I following…
    • If the people we are following are not living their lives for Jesus…
    • If we are depending on – looking to their example – it will be hard to stand for Jesus…
    • We will have a tendency to do what they say/do – rather than what Jesus says!
  • 3^rd – Pilate told them – YOU crucify Jesus – I find no fault in this Man… vs. 8-9
    • But the Jews made the accusation – He claims to be the ‘Son of God’…
      • And according to the Jewish Law – His punishment had to be death!
      • When Pilate heard Jesus claimed to be the ‘Son of God’ he was afraid…
      • Pilate was convinced of Jesus’ innocence – his wife had even warned him…
      • She had a dream – have nothing to do with that righteous man – Matthew 27:19
    • So he took Jesus back into the Praetorium – and asked where He was from…
      • But Jesus did not answer Pilate – He was silent before His accuser…
      • Isaiah 53:7 – “He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”
      • People are going to say bad things about us – false accusation to make us look bad…
      • We can defend ourselves – run around putting out all the little fires…
      • But no sooner to we extinguish one – than anther accusation pops up!
      • We cannot react every time someone makes a false accusation against us…
      • If we do we will waste all our time and effort – rather than using it to serve God!
      • If we are guilty – then we need to repent / if not – then who cares what people say…
      • God knows we are innocent – and He is the only one who really matters…
      • Do not be distracted by the comments – instead keep your eyes on Jesus!
  • 4^th – Pilate boasted – I have the authority to crucify You / or release You… vs. 10-11
    • But Jesus corrected Him – Pilate had no power except what was given to Him…
      • All authority comes from God – so all governments are giving authority by God…
      • Romans 13:1 – “There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
      • We have a hard time with this concept – we might think – not our government
      • We look at the corruption – poor policies – the injustice all around us…
      • And what about evil governments – muslim / communist / Iran / North Korea…
      • Surely God cannot approve of these governments – much less be responsible!
    • God does not want perfect governments – He wants the salvation of all men…
      • The only reason why Pilate had any authority was because God allowed him to!
      • God was allowing Pilate to condemn Jesus – so we could be forgiven!
      • The one who had the greater sin – were those who delivered Jesus to Pilate!
      • If you want men to have a rich and easy life – all governments should be perfect…
      • But if governments were perfect – we would never learn to trust in God…
      • It is in the imperfections of our governments we see our need for the Lord!
      • It is not that all the governments are good – God just uses them all for our good!
        
• 3^rd – Giving in to the demands… vs. 12-16
  • Pilate tried one last time to release Jesus… vs. 12-13
    • But the leaders warned if he let Jesus go free – he was not a friend to the Caesar…
    • Jesus claimed to be a King – that claim made Him the enemy of Rome…
    • The leaders were right – Pilate had to choose whom he served – God or man!
    • Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters…”
    • Life gives us a simple choice – who do we choose to live for – who do we serve…
    • If we live for this world – then we are not going to be able to stand for Jesus!
    • James 4:4 – “If your aim is to enjoy this world, you can not be a friend of God.”
  • When Pilate heard that – he sat down on the platform to ‘judge’ Jesus… vs. 14
    • It was a Thursday – about 6am in the morning…
      • Nowhere in the Bible does it say Jesus was crucified on Friday…
      • Jesus said He would be 3 days and 3 nights in the grave – Mark 10:34
      • If you count 3 days from Friday – you do not end up at Sunday morning…
    • Friday crucifixion is a church tradition – one most likely started with – Mark 15:43
      • We are told Jesus was buried the day before the Sabbath…
      • The Jewish Sabbath was on Saturday – so the assumption is Jesus died on Friday…
      • EXCEPT it turns out Saturdays were not the only Jewish ‘Sabbath days’…
      • The 1^st day of the ‘Passover’ feast  – was a special ‘High Sabbath day’…
      • Matthew 28:1–“After the Sabbath[s], as the first day of the week began to dawn.”
      • After the two Sabbath days – on Sunday – Jesus was resurrected!
      • We believe a tradition – or superstition – because (that is the only reason)…
      • We do not take the time to find out if a tradition/superstition is true or not…
      • That is why we study/read our Bibles – to learn what is true and why!
  • Pilate said – ‘Behold your King’… vs. 15-16
    • But the crowd rejected Jesus – we have no king but Caesar!
      • This was not the first time the Jews had rejected God as their king…
      • In I Samuel – Israel rejected God as their King – and wanted a man to rule them…
      • God had always been the King of Israel – the ruler of His people…
      • But they did not want to be different – they wanted to be like the other nations…
      • I Samuel 8:5-7 – “Give us a king like all the other nations have… ‘They are rejecting me’, the LORD replied, ‘They don’t want me to be their king any longer.’”
      • God calls us to be a peculiar people – I Peter 2:9 – we are not supposed to blend in…
      • If we acted just like the world – why would anyone want to ask us about Jesus…
      • It is because we are different – love / grace / holiness – we should stand out…
      • Giving us the opportunity to tell others about the hope we have in us – I Peter 3:15
    • Israel rejected their perfect God – and ended up serving a flawed man…
      • Romans 6:16 – “Whatever we choose to obey becomes our master?”
      • In life we are going to be a servant to someone – the question is who…
      • We can choose to trust in this world – and we become a slave to this world…
      • If we run to the world for answers – we are limited to their solutions…
      • If the world says to run to the faith healer because we are sick – we have to go!
      • But if we choose to trust in Jesus – He can do far more than those in this world!
      • John 8:36  – “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
    • Pilate washed his hands – Matthew 27:24
      • In an expression of his innocence – Pilate washed his hands of Jesus innocent blood
      • Symbolic – but not true – Pilate was accountable for his actions…
      • He chose to please the crowds – rather than do what he knew was right…
      • Pilate gave into the crowds – and he turned Jesus over to be crucified!
      • Galatians 1:10 – “If I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
      • There is no difference – one who reject Jesus / one who does not stand for Jesus!
      • There is no middle ground – you either stand for Jesus – or stand for this world…
      • Are we swayed by the crowds – do we have a hard time standing for the Lord…
      • Are we – like Pilate – just trying not to get involved – 1 foot in Jesus – 1 in the world
      • Or do we stand for Christ – shining the light of Jesus to a world that needs Him!
    • History tells us shortly after this Caesar sent Pilate into exile…
      • There he would end his own life in solitude and humiliation…
      • He choose to live for this world – and it cost him his life / and eternal life!
      • Joshua 24:15 – “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
      • The choice is ours – live for this world / or live for Jesus!