At the second interrogation by Pilate, he continues in his belief that Jesus is innocent of any crime, and says that is how Herod feels as well. He finishes by saying he’ll punish him and release him (Luke 23:13-16).
…LUKE 23:13-16…And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers of the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges that you make against Him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. I will therefore punish Him and release Him.”
Pilate reminds the crowd of the custom of releasing a prisoner at the time of the Passover. His wife tries to influence him not to harm “that righteous man”, because of her dream. Three of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, and John) agree that the crowd of Jews want Barabbas (son of the master), a criminal, to be released from prison, not Jesus. The people, stirred up by the priests and elders, call for the release of Barabbas, and the crucifixion of Jesus, despite Pilate’s continued assertion that Jesus has done nothing to warrant death. Luke reports that he tells the crowd three times that he has “found in Him no guilt demanding death” (Matthew 27:15-23; Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:18-23; John 18:39,40).
…MATTHEW 27:15,17,19-23…Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the multitude any one prisoner whom they wanted…When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate asked them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?”…And while he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitude to ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. But the governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas”. Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let Him be crucified!”
Luke assures us that Pilate is hoping that the crowd will want to release Jesus and free him of the obligation of condemning a man he considers to be innocent. Both Matthew and Mark tell us that Pilate suspects that the priests and elders are jealous of Jesus and that is why they want him put to death (Luke 23:20; Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10) .
…LUKE 23:20…And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again…Pilate proclaims himself innocent of Jesus’ blood by the physical act of “washing his hands”, and the people say his blood will be “on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:24,25).
…MATTHEW 27:24,25…And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Barabbas is set free. Jesus is stripped, scourged, beaten, reviled; and according to three of the gospels, it is then he is clothed in a purple robe and crowned with a thorn-wreath (Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-19; John 19:1-5).
(Note: Later, when Jesus crys out to God, he says, “Abba”, so this “criminal”, Bar-abbas, may not be what we consider a man who commits a crime, but rather he might be a Zealot…a leader who has committed crimes against Rome, but a favorite of the people.)
…MATTHEW 27:27-30…Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered 600 men) around him. And they stripped Him, and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they kneeled down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.
(Note: There is some confusion between stories, in that earlier in Luke 23:11, he says Jesus receives the royal robe while being interrogated by Herod.)
The robe is removed after the acts of beating and mocking cease and replaced by Jesus’ own clothes (Matthew 27:31; Mark 15:20).
…MARK 15:20…And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His garments on Him…
John relates the activities in greater detail…more as a witness, starting with the “punishing” (scourging) of Jesus.
Apparently the interrogation takes place within the Praetorium, away from the view of the crowd, and then the actual sentencing is made outside on the street in front of the crowd. It is there on the pavement, in front of the Praetorium (the Lithostrostos?) that Jesus is sentenced to be crucified.
John allows us to visualize specific activities that take place. The mock “crowning” of Jesus…The physical movement of Pilate. The account is essentially the same as the others, as far as the give and take with the crowd, and Pilate’s confusion. But, as will be covered later, it gives us a better understanding of what causes his confusion, the reaction to Jesus’ reply, and the goading of the Jews. And it is John who tells us that Pilate makes much of Jesus being the “King of the Jews”. It is here that he tells the Jews, “Behold the Man” (Ecce Homo). He uses another “time marker”, when he says “it was the day of preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour”, when he presents their king (John 19:1-15).
…JOHN 19:1-6…Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and arrayed Him in a purple robe; and they began to come up to Him, and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him blows in the face. And Pilate came out again, and said to them, “Behold I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Amd Pilate said, “Behold the Man!” When therefore the chief priests and 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 continue to bait Pilate. They refer to the fact that
Jesus claims to be the Son of God, which causes Pilate to be fearful. He goes back inside and questions Jesus further. When Jesus tells Pilate that he would have no authority over him, if it weren’t received from God, Pilate again makes an effort to release him. His efforts to release Jesus are pitiful, almost as though he, the leader of the people, is pleading with them to accept his judgement. The “law keepers” try another ploy by reminding Pilate that if he releases a man who claims to be “king”, he would not please Caesar…a veiled threat that this knowledge will be forwarded to Rome. It is then Pilate brings Jesus outside and presents their king to the Jews, and asks if their king should be crucified. They call for his crucifixion and claim only Caesar as their king (John 7-15).
…JOHN 19:7-15…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 therefore heard this statement, he was the more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You know that I have authority to release You?, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given from above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be king opposes Casaer.” When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgement seat at a place called the pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha (Aramaic)…(Greek Lithostroton). Now it was the day of the preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your king!” They therefore cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered him, “We have no king but Caesar.”
(Note: It would appear by Pilate’s reaction to Jesus’ response about Pilate’s “authority” that he senses that Jesus is something besides just a “good man”, an “innocent”. It seems as though he fears the personal consequences of condemning Jesus.)
The moment is at hand…the moment of decision, and Pilate decides to acquiesce to the crowd’s demands and crucify Jesus (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:24; John 19:16).
…JOHN 19:16…And so he then delivered Him up to be crucified.Why? Why does this man of authority with the power of Rome at his beck and call, knuckle under to this unruly crowd? Why, despite his own feelings and the warnings of his wife, does he crucify an innocent man and release a known criminal? The reasons are complex and in no way exonerate Pilate for his actions, but may tend to explain why he makes this terrible, world-shattering decision.
It is easy to say that Pilate is a weak, vacillating man, which he is, but it goes further. He is also fearful that the tense situation that exists in Judea will be made worse if he frees Jesus. He would gain the enmity of the “law keepers” who so successfully influence the common man. He may not like, nor understand the fact, that religious men have such control over the people, but he is practical enough to accept the fact that they do. And he will not deliberately court their enmity. He is afraid, as well, that Caesar (Claudius) might consider this an affront to his person if he releases a man who claims to be king.
The Zealots never stop stirring up the people to rise up and throw off the yoke of Rome. Matthew says in the above paragraph “that a riot was starting”, and Pilate would want to defuse the cause of that near riot. And if he doesn’t, this may be the spark that the Zealots will use to start a revolution.
Another reason could be that he believes the priests do indeed represent the will of the people. So, Pilate acquiesces to their outspoken demands.
Finally, and most importantly, it is because God wills it. Regardless of how Pilate might want to defend his convictions, he is not able to so. Jesus makes us aware of this when he reminds Pilate that he would have no authority over him, if it had not been given “from above”. So God is the ultimate authority, and it is His decision that His Son is to be crucified. God wills that Pilate makes this fateful decision. He is an “instrument” of God’s design, just as Judas Iscariot is.
This is done, in a manner similar to the way Pharoah was used as an “instrument” to allow Israel’s exodus from Egypt.
Moses had originally asked Pharoah for permission for the entire tribe of Israel to go into the wilderness, to the holy mountain, to just worship for three days and nights. Despite repeated entreaties, Pharoah said “no”. But before he said “no”, each time he appeared ready to agree to Moses’ condition; but then the Lord “hardened Pharoah’s heart” (Exodus 10:27).
So God brought the final, ultimate tragedy to Egypt, with the death of their first-born children and then Pharoah ordered Israel to leave. And Moses seized this opportunity to leave forever (Exodus 12:31).
…EXODUS 12:31…Then he (Pharaoh) called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel…
Now, Pilate may have “washed his hands” of Jesus’ crucifixion, but history does not let him off that easily. He stands accused by mankind of being the murderer of Jesus. The Jews in the crowd may have accepted the responsibility, but they are not so stigmatized. Even though the Jews are willing to accept responsibilty for his crucifixion, neverthless, they do not have the authority and, therefore, are not responsible. Even though the Jews are not responsible for his death, they are, according to Jesus, responsible for the “greater sin” of delivering him up for judgement.
And even though the crowd says that Jesus’ blood will be on their children, according to Matthew, God does not punish the “sons” for the “fathers”, that is to say, the Jews of subsequent generations should not be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the slaughter of many thousands, including the “children”, by the Romans subsequently, was; however, no doubt due to the fact that the Jews surrendered their king to be killed.
Again, John uses a “time marker” to let us know when Jesus is sentenced, when he says, “…And it was in the preparation of the Passover and about the sixth hour…”
What does he mean by the sixth hour?It is the sixth hour of the day, about noon…the day before the Festival Sabbath. The Jewish morning begins at 6:00AM.
During the Passover week there are always at least two sabbaths. The first day of the week is celebrated as a sabbath, and so is the last day. Many times there are three sabbaths, during the Passover week…the first and last days, and any regular sabbath (Friday, sunset to Saturday, sunset) that might fall within the seven day period.
The Jews insisted that the execution of any of its citizens be completed prior to the Sabbath. According to custom and law, twenty four hours are required between the handling of a corpse for burial and the entering of the sanctuary. And as some of its citizens must accomplish burial rights for their people, there had to be sufficient time to accomplish this task and still attend the sabbath service.
But which sabbath is approaching?
The first has already come and gone, with the eating of the Passover lamb in the upper room. The one for which they are preparing could be the final sabbath or the regular sabbath in between.
If the approaching sabbath is the regular one, then the resurrection of the Christ will occur at some day during the week. Most Christians hold with His resurrection occurring on the Sabbath, in keeping with the spiritual significance of the resurrection. The interpretation of the Sabbath, in this instance being Sunday…or it could have taken place on the Jewish Sabbath, as well.
In order for this to occur, the approaching sabbath will have to be the Festival Sabbath…the last day of the Passover week, with the regular sabbath occurring two days later. This also allows for the time (six days) spent interrogating.
After sentencing by Pilate, Jesus is imprisoned over night, in preparation for the crucifixion the next day. We can only wonder if they continue to persecute him during that period or if he is left alone to commune with the Father, in his agony. There is no record of what occurs during this period.
Before beginning the tortuous walk to and climb up the hill called Golgotha/Calvary (skull…Hebrew/Greek) for the crucifixion, let us examine in detail, the physical punishment inflicted on this Man of Innocence, during the five interrogations.
He has been beaten numerous times, with fists and clubs, causing bruises, abrasions and great bodily pain, along with the flow of blood from wounds. It is said he was beaten with rods. This may well mean that he is beaten, in accordance with Jewish tradition…the customary “Forty blows, minus one”. Bruised, bloodied and battered, he is in great physical pain. And he is a man who possesses physical strength, as he is a carpenter by trade, accustomed to using his hands, and use to living out of doors. He is filled with great emotional torment, as well. Finally, at the conclusion of Pilate’s interrogation, we read that Jesus is “scourged”…in keeping with the prophecy of Isaiah 53:5 (again “the prophecy”).
…ISAIAH 3:5…”But he was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”
The act of scourging so weakens the body that life itself starts to drain away. The claim is that it may have been done with merciful intent, so as to quicken death by crucifixion. But I don’t see much mercy involved in whipping with a lash, designed to tear through the flesh, bringing excruciating pain, exposing the bone and marrow, draining the blood…sapping the very soul of the body. On second thought, when one reads of the agonies inflicted by crucifixion, it may well have been an act of “mercy”.
Filled with the Spirit of God, as he is, he might well call on the Spirit…the Great Comforter/Healer, to provide solace, heal his injuries but he cannot do this and accomplish the task assigned by the Father. Despite the pain and suffering, there is no mention of his crying out, in acknowledgment of the pain, as was prophesied ( Isaiah 53:7).
…ISAIAH 53:7…”He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”
The four gospels coincide, once again, with the walk to the hill of Golgotha for the crucifixion. The three synoptic gospels include the recruiting of Simon, the Cyrenean, to carry the “cross” of Jesus; whereas John states that Jesus carries the “cross” all the way to Golgotha. Luke amplifies the “walk”. He relates of how Jesus tells the women not to weep for him, but rather to weep for themselves and their children, intimating the calamitous times to come. He describes the crowd that follows Jesus. (Matthew 27:31-33; Mark 15:20-22; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:17,18).
…MATTHEW 27:31-33…And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. And as they were coming out, they found a certain Cyrenean named Simon; this man they pressed into service to bear the cross. And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull…
Regarding the “cross” that is carried, our understanding of it is colored by the depictions of him dragging a large wooden vertical piece of wood with crossbar attached. I believe the “cross” referred to is a single piece of wood that is used as the cross bar, that is attached to a tree or a stake permanently imbedded in the hill of Golgotha. As many crucifixions that are administered by the Romans, it is more probable that the instruments of torture would remain in place. This cross bar is heavy, sturdily constructed, so as to bear the weight of its victim, a monstrously cumbersome load to drag up to the hill of Golgotha, especially for a man so weakened by torture.