Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 292

John 19:1-16 (Matthew 27:19) "ANOTHER WORD OF ADVICE"

Day 292 – John 19

ANOTHER WORD OF ADVICE

Did Pilate have advisors to help him make up his mind on difficult cases? Though we are not told specifically, we would not be surprised if he did have “advisors” to help him understand the local beliefs, customs and practices. It would be folly to try and deal with people you did not understand.

We are told however, that he had a word of advice from his wife. Call it superstition or premonition, Pilate’s wife sent word to her husband concerning his trying of Jesus. Matthew wrote,

“While he was sitting on the judgment seat,
his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing
to do with that just Man, for I have suffered
many things today in a dream because of Him.”
Matthew 27:19

Pilate’s wife may have kept herself well-informed concerning the Person of Jesus. Who had not heard of Jesus in the region? His mighty miracles alone would have earned Him respect if not faith! The presence of the multitude of the Jews, the general hubbub in the Praetorium concerning this unusual trial that Pilate was conducting all added to the sense of unease in the heart of Pilate’s wife!

When she started having “dreams” that caused her anguish, she concluded that it had to do with the case that her husband was handling. Seldom would the womenfolk bother themselves with the work of their husbands, especially when it was the matter of a serious court case. Nevertheless, the sense of suffering was acute enough for her to send a word of warning to Pilate to deal wisely with this “Just Man”.

The word that his wife sent to him must have given Pilate added pressure to find ways and means to secure the release of Jesus. According to Roman law Pilate could just flog Jesus and then release Him. He could then report that he had done his part in judging the case brought to him by the elders and the scribes. Would not the Jews now drop the case if they saw that they had nothing to fear from Jesus? He had undergone a Roman flogging. He had in fact been severely beaten three times over already! Would they not be satisfied if their enemy had already suffered so much?

PRESENTING JESUS TO HIS ACCUSERS

John wrote poignantly about Pilate’s presentation of Jesus to His accusers.

“Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of
thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to
them, ‘Behold the Man!'”
John 19:5

The moment Jesus was sighted; the cry was taken up again.

“Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw
Him, they cried out, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify
Him!'”
John 19:6a

The enemies of Jesus refused to be placated. They understood the gesture that Pilate had offered. They were supposed to “give and take”. They had brought Jesus to be tried and condemned by Pilate. However, Pilate’s investigation and conclusion of the trial of Jesus seemed to “merit” at best a scourging, but not the death penalty. Would not the accusers be satisfied with the already heavy judgment laid upon the back of Jesus?

As far as the Jews were concerned, the death of Jesus was non negotiable. Pilate must sentence Him to death! There was to be no compromise at all! There could be room for negotiation in other cases, but not this one! Hence the cry, “Crucify Him”. They had even determined how Jesus ought to die – by the cruelest way possible – crucifixion!

FROM PLACATION TO FRUSTRATION

Pilate must have felt great contempt for these Jews he governed! How could they be so filled with so much hatred? He had given in to the demands of the Jews to try Jesus. He examined Him. He did not need a whole lot of time to conclude that Jesus did nothing that would earn Him the death penalty. He had even gone to the trouble of having Jesus tried by Herod Antipas. His conclusion was the same. Jesus could be punished by flogging, and then sent away. That was what he did to Jesus anyway.

The Jews however refused to be placated! They demanded that Jesus be crucified! For the third time, Pilate said the same words to the Jews.

“You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no
fault in Him.”
John 19:6b

Three times Pilate pronounced Jesus not guilty! He wanted to see Jesus free! His sense of justice told him that he must let Jesus go. His conscience must have gnawed at him. His wife pleaded with him to do the right thing – let Jesus go, for He was a “just Man” and He was blameless. There was “no fault” in Him!

Pilate taunted the Jews this time. He challenged them to take Jesus and to try Him most carefully. If they wanted Him dead, they should see to His death personally! If they wanted to crucify Jesus, they should be the ones to perform that deed. Pilate knew of course that the Jews had no authority to sentence anybody to death. If they tried to crucify Jesus by themselves, he could arrest them for attempted murder!

Why couldn’t the Jews accept the verdict of Pilate? Why couldn’t they be more reasonable and accept the fact that Jesus had already been beaten and flogged! Why wasn’t that enough? Surely after this flogging by the Romans, Jesus would not persist in what He as doing in the past!

Pilate had not fully comprehended the venomous nature of the enemies of Jesus. Neither had he any understanding of God’s will on this matter! What was prophesied must be fulfilled! Jesus continued to drink from the Cup His Father gave to Him.