The Gospel of John Lesson 80 (07-20-14) John 18:31-2

The Gospel of John Lesson 80 (07-20-14)

Lesson 80 – John 18:31-2

As you may remember, in our last study, the Jewish leaders after trying Jesus by unjust means took Him to Pilate to carry out their sentence. A large, loud, clamorous and somewhat unruly and insistent mob accompanied Him as they went.

It was very early in the morning when they arrived at Pilate’s judgment hall. Probably being aroused by the noise, Pilate goes out to see what all the commotion is about. Seeing Jesus in the judgment hall and getting very little to nothing in response from Him he leaves the judgment hall and goes out to discuss the matter with the mob which included the Sanhedrin. The atmosphere is tense. Pilate knows that the situation could become serious very quickly if not handled right. Matthew records later in Mt. 27:24 that this situation did indeed escalate to the point of almost becoming a riot forcing Pilate to take actions that he didn’t intend to take. This is not what he wanted to wake up to.

In meeting the group Pilate asks them what this was all about, Jn. 18:29-30. Having already seen Jesus I am sure that he already had a pretty good idea of what was happening. Their response is an interesting one. It is like the response of a child that wants something, but does not have a good reason for it.

They tell Pilate in essence to just trust their judgment. They have already evaluated the matter and that there is no need for him to be bothered with the details, he just needs to act on their verdict and carry out their sentence.

But, Pilate knew different. He had seen this group in action before and he knew that they could not be trusted in a matter such as this just on their word. In v. 31, Pilate does what could be termed as the safe thing, at least for him. Although it is likely that he had not figured out all of the details as yet, he knew enough to know that it was best to steer clear if at all possible of this matter. He knew that it would be best for him not to get involved. At this point he decided that it was best for him and his political future if he would just let them deal with it and he would manage the situation from afar.

In v. 31 he gives them the answer that he thought would satisfy them telling them that he would not interfere in their proceedings and gives them permission to carry out their sentence. He thought that they, having his permission to act, would be able to do what they wanted, even though the sentence was unjust. He assumed that they would leave and go home to carry out the sentence.

But, Pilate’s plan did not work. He would not get off so easy. He did not realize that he was a part of God’s plan and prophesy. Jesus came to die for the world and not just Israel, and, as such it was to be that Jesus would be sentenced and rejected by both the Jewish and Gentile worlds including all people of the earth.

To his offer, the Jews gave the response that it was not lawful for them to carry out the sentence and put Jesus to death. If they had put Jesus to death it probability would have been by stoning Him. However, in refusing Pilate’s offer, the actual carrying out of His death was turned back over to a Roman world and they would use Roman means that put Jesus on a cross. This would in turn fulfill what Jesus had told His disciples in John 12:32, when He had prophesied concerning His death to His disciples saying that He would be lifted. (Read Jn. 12:32)

It is also interesting the symbolism in the Passover that identifies with Jesus dying by crucifixion. In the original Passover in Egypt they were required to apply the blood of the sacrifice to the top, the lentil, and two side posts representing Jesus on the Cross.

In Jn. 12:32 Jesus stated what form of death that He would die telling those present at the time that in His death He would be lifted up and in doing so that all would be drawn to Him. This was not a normal Jewish option in putting someone to death. This type of death was actually offensive and unlawful to the Jew. To the Jew cursed is anyone that hangs on a tree, Deut. 21:23. It is interesting that the Jews would even consider this option. Pilate meanwhile wondered how he can get out of this precarious position. However, as we will see, the more he tries to get out the more caught in this situation he gets.

It is here that most think that Pilate hearing that Jesus stirred up trouble in Galilee, Lk. 23:5, that he took the opportunity to attempt to pass this situation off to someone else and sent Jesus off to King Herod, Galilee being Herod’s jurisdiction, to examine the case, Lk. 23:6-12. 

The scene was brutal for Jesus before Herod. Although Herod was excited at the opportunity to at last get to see Jesus whom he had heard about for some time (Lk. 23:8), he became enraged at Jesus because even though he had asked Him many questions Jesus did not answer the accusations of the accompanying scribes and priests. It tells us in v. 11 of Luke 23 that Herod’s response was to have his men of war treat Jesus with contempt, and, mock Him, eventually sending Jesus back to Pilate.

So, attempting to figure this out from another direction Pilate goes back into the judgment hall to attempt to get something out of Jesus that might help him get loose from this situation. We must remember that Pilate has no integrity here. It is not his desire to see justice served in this situation. Nor did he really feel sorry for Jesus or His present position. He was doing the government thing of shifting the situation in any direction possible, laterally or otherwise, to just get out from under it. The only direction that he did not want the attention of this matter to go was up getting the wrong attention of his superiors. All of Pilates inquires and actions were self-motivated. Pilate questions Jesus further looking for a way out.