THE TRIAL OF JESUS
what is truth ?
THE TRIAL OF JESUS
WHAT IS TRUTH?
THE DILEMMA OF PONTIUS PILATE
Pontius Pilate was a Roman governor who found himself in what would be the greatest conflict of his career. It was for him to make the ruling of how Jesus should be dealt with by the authorities whether by Roman law, Jewish law, the decision was left in His hands. Jesus was given to the Roman authorities by the chief priests because by this time his great following and speech against the Pharisees had become a threat to their religious order. Jesus also performed great miraculous wonders and spoke with an authority that left the people marveling at His Words.
They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Mark 1.22).
Jesus claimed he was the Son of God and this the Pharisees thought was blasphemy because they could not perceive what the scriptures taught concerning him. Pilate had to discern the reality: Who was Jesus?
Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you are king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice" (John 18:37)
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all." (John 18:38).
Would the custom of the Jews resolve the problem? Pontius Pilate put this to them.
“But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber..
Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!”....
Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard this "he was all the more afraid and sought to release him" (Joh 19:7).
Did Pilate perceive in his heart that Jesus was the Son of God? Pontius Pilate was at a cross roads.
The Jews cried out to Pilate "If you are not Caesar's friend: whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar" (Joh 19:12).
And so Pilate willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified (Mar 15:15).
Was Pontius Pilate's resolve to defend the truth in who Jesus claimed to be weakened by the demands of the people?
The pursuit of Jesus requires resolve. One had to reason beyond traditions, man made laws and hierarchical systems .
THE SACRIFICE -CRUCIFIXION
When Pilate declared "I find no fault in Him at all" (Joh 18:38) this was reflecting a time in ancient Israel in where the priest would examine the lamb for the sacrifice that was to be killed on the altar. This lamb had to be examined and had to be without spot or blemish. The bible makes clear that this foreshadowed the time of Christ in where the lamb was a symbol of the sacrifice He would make to remove sin; not only for Israel but for all people. For John the baptist, the prophet, made this assertion saying,
"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (Joh 1.29).
After Jesus hung on the cross he said "It is finished" and gave up his spirit.
There were significant events that took place after the death of Christ. First the veil in the temple was rent signifying that with the removal of sin (in where sin was crucified in the Son of God)one could now have access to God beyond the veil. For the other events that took place consider Matthew 27:51-53.
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt 27: 51-53).
I leave you again with the statements of Jesus to Pontius Pilate that you may come to your own resolve. I hope that you would resolve as I have that He was the Son of God, that the Father sent Him to witness to the truth of the nature and character of Himself sending Him to be the witness of Him. The Spirit revealing the mystery of His character and nature in His divine exploits.
In this the Holy Trinity revealed their redemptive plan for the salvation of mankind.
Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king then?" For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth...."