Daily Devotions

My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音)

My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音)
 
Day 
Day 364

Pilate Went Out To Meet The Council Members

Text: John 18: 29 - 30

PILATE WENT OUT TO MEET THE COUNCIL MEMBERS

Pilate had no choice. He wanted to please the Council members and so he went out to speak to them.

“Pilate then went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this Man?’ They answered and said to him, ‘If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.’” 

John 18:29-30

1. A valid question was raised

“What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

a. There was no official written complaint.
b. The Council just brought Jesus to be tried before Pilate out of the blue.
c. The Roman Law:
i. Charges must be formally presented.
ii. The accused is allowed to make a defence.
iii. The governor would then decide the merits of the case.
iv. The Romans sought to uphold justice as best they could.
d. The Council Members were aware of Roman legal procedures.
i. They were not going to follow procedures.
ii. They were going to ask Pilate to condemn Jesus anyway.

2. “They answered and said to him”

a. They did not answer the question Pilate raised up.
b. They answered him with the conclusion that they came up with.

3. Presenting Jesus

a. He was presented as an “evildoer”.
b. But there was no listing of His crimes.

4. They sought to convince Pilate to condemn Jesus

a. Because they had found Him guilty.
b. But they were not able to come up with any evidence of wrong-doing.
c. They expected Pilate to do whatever they demanded.
d. This approach was all wrong.
e. But there was no stopping the Council from their murderous intent.

经文:约翰福音 18:29-30

彼拉多来到公会会员面前

彼拉多别无选择。为了想取悦公会会员,他去会见他们。

“彼拉多就出来,到他们那里,说:‘你们告这人是为什么事呢?’他们回答说:‘这人若不是作恶的,我们就不把他交给你。’”

《约翰福音 18:29-30》

1.提出了一个合理的问题

“你们告这人是为什么事呢?”

a. 没有正式的书面投诉
b. 公会突如其来地把耶稣带到彼拉多前受审
c. 罗马的法律
i. 正式提出指控是必要的
ii. 被告必须能够自行辩护
iii. 执政官才能做出决定
iv. 这是罗马人尽力维护正义的途径
d. 公会必定理解罗马的法律程序
i. 但他们不打算遵守
ii. 无论如何,他们要彼拉多判耶稣有罪

2.“他们回答说”

a. 他们没有回答彼拉多提出的问题
b. 他们以自己的结论回答

3. 呈现耶稣

a. 他们称耶稣为“作恶”的
b. 但没有列出祂的罪行

4.他们试图说服彼拉多将耶稣定罪

a. 因为他们认定祂有罪
b. 但他们无法呈现任何不当行为的证据
c. 他们要彼拉多照他们的意念办事
d. 这种做法是错的
e. 但是,公会坚持了他们谋杀主耶稣的意念