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Judged by Pilate (Mk 15:1-15; Mt 27:1-2,11-26; Lk 23:1-25; Jn 18:28-19:16)

After the high priest and the whole council condemned Jesus to be guilty of death, “straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.” (v1). According to Luke 3:1, Pontius Pilate (本丟彼拉多) was the governor of Judea (猶大巡撫). He was a Roman official and represented the Roman government to rule the territory of Judea.

(reason for handing Jesus over to Pilate)

The reason why the chief priests carried Jesus to Pilate for his judgment was that only he, as the governor of the Jewish nation, had the authority to give death sentence according to Roman law. According to John 18:31-32, “Then said Pilate unto them, ‘Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews therefore said unto him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.’ That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.” According to Matt 26:2, Jesus said to the disciples, “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” In fact, not only did Jesus foretell the kind of death he would suffer, he also foretold that he would be given to the hands of the Gentiles. Mark 10:33 recorded Jesus’ words to his disciples, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.”

When Jesus was brought before Pilate, it was early in the morning (v1, John 18:28, “Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early”) of the Passover day. According to Jewish calendar, the Passover day began at 6pm in the evening on the 14^th of January (between March and April for Western calendar). (Lev 23:5,32) The place was ‘the judgment hall’ where Jesus was questioned by Pilate alone while the chief priests and the people stayed outside the hall. John 18:28 gave the reason: “they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.” The judgment hall was the judicial court in which the plaintiff and the defendant as well as the witnesses assembled together when a case was presented for judgment by the governor. However, the Jews probably considered it a place owned by the Gentiles. If they entered the hall at the Passover, they would be defiled according to their law and forbidden to eat the Passover, which was one of the most important feasts in a year that required the Jews to keep for their cleansing. As we have mentioned before, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were held together for 7 days. (Lev 23:6)

(three stages of the judgment process)

Now let us examine the judicial proceeding hosted by Pilate.

Stage 1. Question Jesus

Pilate questioned Jesus, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” (v2)

[why ask the question]

The reason why Pilate asked Jesus such question is found in Luke 23:1-3, “And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this fellow perverting the nation (誘惑國民), and forbidding to give tribute (禁止納稅) to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.’ And Pilate asked him, saying, ‘Art thou the King of the Jews?’ ”

The Jews had been aspiring for the coming of Messiah (Christ) to deliver them from the hands of the Gentiles and reestablish a strong nation of their own. Claiming oneself the king of the Jews could be suspected of “perverting the nation” and making revolt against the Roman governance. In addition, calling people to stop giving tribute to Caesar is telling people to break the Roman law, an act that publicly defies against Caesar. Hence, the above accusation was a very serious charge that could be considered ‘treason’.

At the birth of Jesus, according to Matt 2:1-6, “when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.’ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, art not the least among the princes of Judea: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’ ” Herod the king, the governor of Judea at the time, was feared by the birth of Christ, who might become “King of the Jews”, and wanted the wise men to search for the child Jesus and bring the child to him. Of course, he never wanted to see Jesus alive. That’s why later when he did not see the wise men return with the child, he issued the order to “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under”. (Matt 2:16) Now the adult Jesus brought the same fear to the chief priests in Jerusalem that had to do with his kingship again.

Their charge concerning the ‘royal tax’ referred to the evil plot of the Pharisees and the Herodians in the incident recorded in Mark 12:13-17. They asked Jesus a question, “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” Their aim was “to catch him in his words”. Jesus asked them for a penny and said, “ ‘Whose is this image and superscription?’ And they said unto him, ‘Caesar's.’ And Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ ” No one doubted his answer to mean that it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar and should be observed. The chief priests were now distorting the fact and telling the governor that Jesus was a dangerous revolutionist with the intent of leading an insurrection to save the Jewish nation out of the hand of Caesar.

Pilate had already discerned that the chief priests wanted Jesus to die when he asked Jesus the above question regarding his kingship. According to John 18:29-31, at the beginning of the proceeding, Pilate went out of the hall and asked the chief priests, “ ‘What accusation bring ye against this man?’ They answered and said unto him, ‘If he were not a malefactor (這人若不是作惡的), we would not have delivered him up unto thee.’ Then said Pilate unto them, ‘Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews therefore said unto him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.’ ” Then they told Pilate about Jesus’ intent of “perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute (禁止納稅) to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.” That prompted Pilate to go back and ask Jesus the above question: “Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, ‘Art thou the King of the Jews?’ ” (John 18:33)

[answer from Jesus]

Jesus answered Pilate, “Thou sayest it (你說的是)” (v2), which is the same answer in Matt 27:11 & Luke 23:3. The Book of John recorded quite differently. According to John 18:34-38, “Jesus answered him, ‘Sayest thou this thing of thyself (這話是你自己說的), or did others tell it thee of me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence (只是我的國不屬這世界).’ Pilate therefore said unto him, ‘Art thou a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘Thou sayest that I am a king (你說我是王). To this end was I born (我為此而生), and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth (特為給真理作見證). Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice (凡屬真理的人就聽我的話).’ Pilate saith unto him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, ‘I find in him no fault at all.’ ”

When Jesus said that the servants of his kingdom would fight for him to keep him from being delivered to the Jews, Pilate learned that Jesus did not deny claiming himself a king but his kingdom had to do with so-called “the truth”, the concept of which the governor could hardly comprehend. Perhaps Pilate was thinking that Jesus was talking about some mysterious doctrine of the Jewish religion. At least he was not “the King of the Jews” who was planning to pervert the Jewish nation (“perverteth the people (誘惑百姓)”, Luke 23:14) to rebel against the Roman government. Then Pilate went out of the hall and told the Jews that Jesus was guiltless.

[pass the case to Herod]

According to Luke 23:4-12, “Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, ‘I find no fault in this man.’ And they were the more fierce, saying, ‘He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.’ When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad, for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words, but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently (極力地) accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought (希律和他的兵丁就藐視耶穌), and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe (給他穿上華麗衣服), and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves (彼此有仇).” This Herod, of course, was not Herod the king at the time of the birth of Jesus. He was the tetrarch (分封的王) of Galilee. (Luke 3:1) When Pilate heard of complaint from the chief priests about Jesus’ teaching among the Jews, he was all the more indifferent to questioning Jesus, who might just be a ‘Rabbi’ in his mind. Knowing that Jesus was a Galilean, he had the excuse of passing the job to Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem.

This Herod had beheaded John the Baptist. (Mark 6:16) Before so doing, Herod “feared (敬畏) John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy (是聖人), and observed him (保護他); and when he heard him, he did many things (聽他講論，就多照著行), and heard him gladly (並且樂意聽他).” (Mark 6:20) Now, Herod also admired Jesus for his miracles. He wanted to see Jesus perform miracles before him. But Jesus let him down by giving him no response and refusing to answer him questions. After listening to the accusations of the chief priests, Herod no longer respected him but in turn mocked him and then sent him back to Pilate.

[remain silent to the accusations]

“And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, ‘Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee.’ But Jesus yet answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.” (v3-5) (Matt 27:14, “the governor marveled greatly”)

Stage 2. Defend for Jesus

[intention of releasing Jesus]

After questioning Jesus, Pilate could not find any fault with him to give any sentence. He wanted to release him immediately. According to Luke 23:13-17, “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, ‘Ye brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him. No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.’ (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)” Pilate and Herod were consistent in regard to the result of examining Jesus’ case; they both agreed that he was innocent and should be released immediately.

[custom of releasing a prisoner at Passover]

Pilate was going to release Jesus, but was hindered by a custom that had been kept right at the Passover. He said to the Jews, “I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover; will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:38-39) The thing is that according to the custom, the Jews had the right to demand whom to release among the prisoners: “Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.” (v6)

Then a prisoner was picked up among the prisoners. “And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him (the governor) to do as he had ever done unto them.” (v7-8) Pilate still wanted to release Jesus. “But Pilate answered them, saying, ‘Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?’ For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.” (v9-10) Pilate was aware that the Jewish leaders were worried that their leadership status might be replaced by Jesus who had been attracting many followers.

Barabbas “had committed murder in the insurrection.” Luke 23:19 depicts, “Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)” Judging from the serious crime that Barabbas had committed, it was quite certain that he might receive death penalty. There were other prisoners having received death penalty as well, among them the two thieves that were executed along with Jesus in that day. (Mark 15:27) In the Four Gospels were not mentioned how and why this prisoner Barabbas became the choice of the people for release at the Passover. He was certainly the luckiest one among the prisoners.

Ironically, the proceeding for Jesus was not finished yet. Neither his crime, if any, was announced, nor was his sentence. Jesus was not yet a prisoner, and should not be counted along with Barabbas as one of the two choices to be pardoned. Barabbas might be released as the people requested. But Jesus’ fate was yet to be determined by the judge, who kept arguing with the Jews over his crime.

[people were persuaded to release Barabbas]

Matt 27:17-19 recorded, “Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, ‘Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?’ For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, ‘Have thou nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.’ ” Even Pilate’s wife warned him to release the just man Jesus, or he would have big trouble.

“But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.” (v11) The chief priests stirred the people to put pressure on the governor to release Barabbas. Matt 27:20 states that “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” At the beginning, the people only required the governor to abide by the annual custom and release a prisoner that they desired at the Passover Feast. Notice that it was Pilate who first asked the people: “Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” (v9) It was the chief priests who misguided them and threatened them of the greater danger posed by Jesus who, if released, might destroy the whole Jewish nation by revolting against Caesar. (Luke 23:2 ‘We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.’) So, when the governor asked, “ ‘Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?’ They said, ‘Barabbas.’ ” (Matt 27:21) Had not the chief priests deceived the people with the wrong charges against Jesus, they would have probably chosen to release Jesus according to the will of Pilate.

[people demand crucifying Jesus]

“And Pilate answered and said again unto them, ‘What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?’ And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’ Then Pilate said unto them, ‘Why, what evil hath he done?’ And they cried out the more exceedingly, ‘Crucify him.’ ” (v12-14) Luke 23:20-22 stressed Pilate’s strong intention of releasing Jesus: “Pilate, therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, ‘Crucify him, crucify him.’ And he said unto them the third time, ‘Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chastise (責打) him, and let him go.’ ” Three times Pilate announced that Jesus was not guilty of any crime that deserved death and should be released instead of Barabbas. The reason why Pilate would still “chastise” Jesus before releasing him was because he wanted to appease and pacify the Jews and thus ease the tense situation, in the sense that Jesus was at least punished when he was handed back to them.

[chastise Jesus]

John 19:1-5 describes how Jesus was chastised: “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and said, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, ‘Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.’ Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, ‘Behold the man!’ ”

Stage 3. Announce the verdict

[the final struggle of Pilate]

John 19:6-12 describes the final struggle Pilate had prior to giving the sentence: “When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, ‘Crucify him, crucify him.’ Pilate saith unto them, ‘Take ye him, and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.’ The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.’ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, ‘Whence art thou (你是哪裡來的)?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, ‘Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?’ Jesus answered, ‘Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. Therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.’ And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him.”

Why was Pilate more afraid when he heard that Jesus “made himself the Son of God”? As we have seen before, Pilate had dialogue with Jesus before regarding his kingship. His wife had also warned him of the terrible dream that she suffered last night and urged her husband to keep “that just man” intact. (Matt 27:19) By this time, Pilate was confronting a man who had no fear at all before him. On the contrary, he himself was becoming more frightened by the mysterious identity of Jesus. That’s why he asked Jesus where he came from. When Jesus showed him no response, Pilate was so upset that he made it clear that he still had the power to decide Jesus’ fate, not the Jews! Now that the godly power of the Son of God was challenged, Jesus also made it clear to the governor that nobody on earth could harm him, except permitted by God. Pilate somehow sensed that Jesus was being protected by God. He wanted to release Jesus all the more, not just because he was guiltless, but Pilate himself feared receiving godly penalty for sentencing a just man.

As the Jews saw that Pilate still insisted on releasing Jesus, they threatened Pilate: “but the Jews cried out, saying, ‘If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.’ ” (John 19:12) On one hand, Pilate encountered a person so mysterious that by sentencing him, he might have angered God. On the other hand, he was facing a tense situation that nearly turned into a tumult. Further, if he released Jesus, the Jews would report to Caesar that he released a radical revolutionist in opposition to Caesar, and Pilate would become his helper! What decision should he make at this time, judging by his conscience or yielding to the demand of the Jews?

[sentence Jesus to death]

John 19:13-16 tells us the final decision made by Pilate: “When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement (鋪華石處), but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha (厄巴大). And it was the preparation of the Passover (預備逾越節的日子), and about the sixth hour (約有午正); and he saith unto the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ But they cried out, ‘Away with him, crucify him.’ Pilate saith unto them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.” After considering the serious consequence of releasing Jesus, he made his most erroneous decision in his life—to release Barabbas the murderer and to sentence Jesus to be crucified, the most cruel punishment according to the Roman law.

Luke 23:23-25 describes the situation as such: “And they were instant with loud voices (大聲催逼彼拉多), requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed (他們的聲音就得了勝). And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition (作亂) and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”

Matt 27:24-26 gives us more information: “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing (彼拉多見說也無濟於事), but that rather a tumult was made (反要生亂), he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it (你們承當吧).’ Then answered all the people, and said, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children.’ Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” Pilate was facing the multitude who kept urging him to crucify Jesus with loud voices. Pilate saw that the situation was getting worse and was about to become a turmoil, he surrendered to their demand and made a judgment against his own will. “And so, Pilate, willing to content the people (要叫眾人喜悅), released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.” (v15)

According to John 19:14, it was about the sixth hour (i.e. noon time) at daytime, when Pilate sat on the judgment seat in a public square called “the Pavement”. He announced his final verdict—release the murderer and death penalty for the innocent man. Out of fear that he might receive penalty from God, Pilate washed his hands and said to the Jews, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it (你們承當吧).” (Matt 27:24) Notice that even sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate still maintained that Jesus was a just person. However, he thought that by simply washing his hands before the public, he could pass all the buck to the Jews! But in fact, the governor had failed to exercise his judicial power to make a fair judgment. While the Jews had to bear the consequence of crucifying their king, as they willingly said, "His blood be on us, and on our children" (Matt 27:25), Pilate could in no way evade the responsibility. Time and again, his conscience had been telling him to release Jesus. He ended up bowing down to the unreasonable demand of the Jews and perverting justice within his jurisdiction. To be sure, the chief priests would bear the greatest consequence by handing Jesus to Pilate and misguiding the Jews, as Jesus said: “Therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” (John 19:11)

(Conclusion)

Lastly, let us summarize the mind and deed of each party in this unfair judgment.

[Pilate]

Reasons for Pilate’s intention of releasing Jesus:

He has examined the accusations presented by the chief priests and found that they lacked any strong evidence to prove that Jesus deserved death sentence.
After having private dialogue with Jesus, he found that Jesus’ doctrine posed no danger to anyone, nor has he committed any crime under the Roman law.
He knew that the chief priests wanted Jesus to die out of envy. To him, it was only an issue within the scope of their religious law, nothing to do with the Roman law.
He was frightened to hear that Jesus claimed himself the Son of God. Sensing that Jesus was a religious rabbi in connection with some sort of divinity, in addition to his wife’s sudden warning by her terrible dream, he was worried that he might receive godly penalty if he did not release Jesus.

Reasons for Pilate’s struggle of releasing Jesus:

He was afraid that the crowd of Jews might turn the situation into a riot as it was getting chaotic.
He wanted to please the Jews and ease off the tense situation.
He was threatened by the Jews that he would be accused of being disloyal to Caesar if he released a person considered by his own people as a revolter.

In view of the manner he dealt with the case, Pilate seemed to be a governor who attempted to stand for justice by sticking to Roman law. Out of his own conscience and fair judgment, he was certain that Jesus was innocent and the chief priests were harbouring wicked intent in their accusations. Three times he insisted on releasing the just man. However, under the huge pressure exerted by the multitude of Jews, in addition to his worry about his career and godly revenge, he finally gave in and made an unjust verdict. By so doing, he had not fulfilled his obligation to be a righteous judge.

[the Jewish leaders and the people]

The chief priests made false charges against Jesus by denouncing him as a revolter. They also took advantage of the ignorance of the Jewish people and stirred them to push the governor to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus as they desired. They were indeed the chief culprit.

On the other hand, the Jews lost their rational minds and risked taking the revenge of God upon themselves and their children for their unrighteous deed while urging the governor to crucify their Messiah unanimously. Their willingness to bear the consequence proved their own wickedness.

[Jesus]

Similar to the questioning of Caiaphas the high priest, Jesus remained calm and silent to all the false charges in front of Pilate. Yet, when touching upon the issue of his kingship and his divine authority being challenged, he would not miss the opportunity to clarify his godly relationship with God. His manner and behavior once again proved his full obedience to the Father’s will, as he disclosed to Pilate, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” (John 19:11) He willingly subjected himself to the power of evil behind Pilate--expressed in the mischievous conduct of the chief priests and the Jews. Nevertheless, he was not as weak and passive as he appeared to be. Unlike the earthly king, he was the heavenly king fighting the spiritual battle and bearing witness for the truth. This was his divine mission, as he revealed to Pilate, "Thou sayest that I am a king (你說我是王). To this end was I born (我為此而生), and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth (特為給真理作見證). Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice (凡屬真理的人就聽我的話)." (John 18:37)

[the Father]

Just like the judgment of the high priest, the unfair judgment of Pilate upon Jesus was actually the hidden spiritual war between God and Satan—war of righteousness against unrighteousness. We can still perceive the hand of God in the manner Jesus was mistreated:

Pilate’s judgment of Jesus occurred right at the Passover and, thus, was greatly influenced by the custom of releasing a prisoner at the Passover as the Jews desired—a gesture to please the Jewish community under the rule of the Roman government. Jesus became one of the two choices for amnesty between him and Barabbas.
According to John 18:31-32, when Pilate said to the Jews, “ ‘Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews therefore said unto him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.’ That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.” Crucifixion was the kind of death designated for Jesus, who had prophesied to the disciples about it before he was arrested. (Matt 26:2) Pilate was actually reluctant to judge Jesus at all. He was forced to do so under the enormous pressure of the Jews. He was chosen to be the Gentile to put the Son of God to death by fulfilling the wish of the Jewish people: “Crucify him, crucify him.” (John 19:6) That fulfilled Jesus’ prediction that he would be delivered to the Gentiles. (Mark 10:33)
As emphasized before, Jesus happened to be sentenced to death at the Passover because he was the Passover lamb to be dedicated on the altar of God for remission of the sins of all mankind. This was indeed the core meaning of the Passover Feast to be realized on the Son of God. John the Baptist, “looking upon Jesus as he walked , he saith, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ ” (John 1:36) The apostle Peter said, “ye were not redeemed with corruptible things…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained (預先被神知道的) before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (I Peter 1:18-20) The apostle John envisioned in Rev 5:8-9 that the heavenly creatures around the throne of God “fell down before the Lamb…and sung a new song, saying, ‘Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.’ ”

(reflection)

Jesus proudly said before Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world…Thou sayest that I am a king (你說我是王). To this end was I born (我為此而生), and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth (特為給真理作見證). Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice (凡屬真理的人就聽我的話).” (John 18:36-37) Jesus said also in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) We are proud to be the sheep of Jesus our good shepherd. During the judgment for Jesus, Isaiah 53:7 depicted as such: “he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” He appeared to be feeble and helpless before his enemies, but in fact he remained strong and confident while bearing witness for the truth. He is like a brave soldier risking his life to fight for final victory. He has not won the hearts of the wicked that are heart-hardened, but has won our hearts that recognize and repent for our sins.

In our society, when truth is distorted in all areas of our contact, we must take our stand to fight for the truth. Like our Lord Jesus, we must know when to keep silence and when to raise our voices. While keeping silence does not mean we are weak, it could be a test for our patience. When it comes to standing for the truth, there’s the right time for us to raise our voice and clarify our standpoint behind our faith. Sometimes our concrete action is a more powerful weapon than our voice to bear witness for the truth.

In any circumstance, we may be mistreated when we stand for the truth. We should learn from our King who knew for what purpose he came into this world. We should be ready to suffer for upholding the truth. As quoted in last section, the apostle Peter said, “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently (你們若因犯罪受責打，能忍耐，有甚麼可誇的呢)? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it (你們若因行善受苦), ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called (你們蒙召原是為此), because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile (詭詐) found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (被罵不還口); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” (I Peter 2:20-23)

As for Pilate, his lesson tells us that our conscience can be easily affected by the pressure given from the environment. Our conscience may prompt us to do good, but we may be tempted to do the opposite for whatever reasons that take advantage of the weakness of our conscience. In Pilate’s case, his conscience told him to release Jesus, but due to the concerns threatened by the Jews, he gave way to the evil desire of the wicked. Paul says in Rom 7:19-23, “For the good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do…For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Satan always works around us and tempts us to fulfill our evil desire. That’s why we need to be well founded in our faith to let God strengthen 'our inner man' by His Spirit (Ephe 3:16), so that we can possess the spiritual power to ward off the temptation and insist on doing the things that please God, not yielding to any power that defies against the truth. That is the way to fulfill our sacred duty of bearing witness for the truth, thus magnifying the majesty of our King Jesus.