It was ironic that the Jews were so concerned about ceremonial uncleanness when they were about to kill an innocent man, even the Son of God! Even more so they "wanted to be able to eat the passover". The true passover lamb was in their midst and they did not recognise Him.
Pilate asked what the charges were and gets a rather contemptuous reply from the Jewish leaders. Either they had no respect or fear for Pilate (it is probable that they had no respect, but unlikely that they had no fear), or they were trying to cover up the fact that they actually had no proper charge to bring.
The Jews were not allowed to execute people. If Jesus had been executed by the Jews then it would have been by stoning, not by death on a cross. God was in control at every turn.
Pilate asks Jesus if He is the king of the Jews. Jesus responds by asking if the Jews had put this idea in Pilate's head. Pilate is rather fed up with the affair, with being presented with this problem when it seemed to be a purely Jewish matter.
Jesus declares that His kingdom is not of this world. He cannot be looked at as a normal rebel, if so the usual violence would have gone along with it. His kingdom is the kingdom of heaven.
Pilate thinks Jesus has admitted to being a king, but Jesus counteracts by declaring that His mission was to testify to the truth. If someone is on the side of truth then they will listen to Jesus. Pilate replies with the now infamous words "what is truth?". This may have been serious, said in jest, or a cynical comment. Whatever the case, Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty, but wishing to avoid offending the Jews he left the decision to them, hoping they would free Jesus. This seemed to be a clever way out of a dilemma, but did not work. For the Jews had incited the crowd to call for Barabas to be freed. Again there is irony in the fact that Barabas would be no more popular with the Jewish leaders than was Jesus. Clearly, Jesus was considered by them to be the greater threat.
Pilate asked what the charges were and gets a rather contemptuous reply from the Jewish leaders. Either they had no respect or fear for Pilate (it is probable that they had no respect, but unlikely that they had no fear), or they were trying to cover up the fact that they actually had no proper charge to bring.
The Jews were not allowed to execute people. If Jesus had been executed by the Jews then it would have been by stoning, not by death on a cross. God was in control at every turn.
Pilate asks Jesus if He is the king of the Jews. Jesus responds by asking if the Jews had put this idea in Pilate's head. Pilate is rather fed up with the affair, with being presented with this problem when it seemed to be a purely Jewish matter.
Jesus declares that His kingdom is not of this world. He cannot be looked at as a normal rebel, if so the usual violence would have gone along with it. His kingdom is the kingdom of heaven.
Pilate thinks Jesus has admitted to being a king, but Jesus counteracts by declaring that His mission was to testify to the truth. If someone is on the side of truth then they will listen to Jesus. Pilate replies with the now infamous words "what is truth?". This may have been serious, said in jest, or a cynical comment. Whatever the case, Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty, but wishing to avoid offending the Jews he left the decision to them, hoping they would free Jesus. This seemed to be a clever way out of a dilemma, but did not work. For the Jews had incited the crowd to call for Barabas to be freed. Again there is irony in the fact that Barabas would be no more popular with the Jewish leaders than was Jesus. Clearly, Jesus was considered by them to be the greater threat.
No comments:
Post a Comment