The Pressures of Pilate – John 18:39–19:6

(*This devotion will rely heavily on the accounts of the subject matter given in the Gospels. Some source information has been added for reference. One word of the Greek language from the verses will be defined.)

In John 18:39–40, Pilate says to the Jews:

“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.”

It’s early in the morning. The day is still waiting for the sunrise. It has been a long night of interrogation for Jesus, who now hears the yelling and commotion of the crowd throughout the praetorium—the place where Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, conducted his business.

Above, Pilate considers a tradition during Passover. Though the Romans did not celebrate Passover, it was a custom that the Roman governor should release one prisoner to the Jews. This accommodation by the Roman government was probably a gesture of goodwill during the Jews’ most significant religious holiday—a means to keep the peace¹.

During this Passover, the Jews cried out to have a criminal named Barabbas released instead of Christ.

Who was Barabbas?

Barabbas was the son of Abba (Bar-Abbas)¹. Little is known about him apart from some details of his criminal activity. Matthew tells us in 27:16 that Barabbas was “a notorious prisoner.” Mark 15:7 records that Barabbas “was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.” Luke echoes this in 23:19, saying Barabbas had been “thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.”

John tells us even less, simply noting that Barabbas “was a robber.” The Greek word used here is lēstēs (λεστής), meaning thief or robber².

In contrast, we have Christ. Pilate has already said, “I find no guilt in this man.” And we know that Christ was not guilty.

So we have Barabbas—a proven rebel, murderer, and thief—whose reputation everyone knows, and Christ, who is accused without cause. Yet the Jews chose to have a murderer and rebel released instead of an innocent man. Some see this as a picture of the guilty going free through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. But this is debatable, as Pilate was not charging Jesus with Barabbas’s crimes. Therefore, Jesus was not literally being killed in Barabbas’s place.

In John 19:1–6, we see Pilate’s attempt to have Jesus freed. His plan is to negotiate with the Jews by having Jesus publicly humiliated and tortured—still an unkind treatment, but Pilate hoped it would be enough to satisfy them.

“So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they struck Him with their hands.Pilate then went out again, and said to them, 'Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.'Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, 'Behold the Man!'Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!'Pilate said to them, 'You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.'” (John 19:1–6)

See now our Lord, sentenced to be scourged. Shackled in chains, Jesus’ body would be stretched out over a post, the tender skin of His back and shoulders exposed. The weapon of abuse—the “cat of nine tails”—was a long leather whip frayed into strips with sharp glass, bone, or metal embedded at the ends. It was specifically designed to slice and tear open the skin. With this weapon, a Roman soldier would whip a criminal up to 40 times. The entire event was on public display. Many died from scourging due to shock and blood loss.

After being scourged and in crippling pain, Christ was led back to Pilate by the Roman guards. They then pulled a purple robe across the sensitive, swollen wounds on His back and body. The color purple was intentional—it symbolized royalty. It was a gesture to mock and humiliate Jesus as “the King of the Jews,” a title Pilate did not take offense to personally. This was all a show for the Jews.

Jesus was forced to His knees, and the guards pressed a crown of thorns into His head. The thorns pierced His scalp and forehead. His head and hair were eventually covered in blood due to the head’s sensitivity and vascularity. As Jesus was forced back to His feet, the guards beat and mocked Him before the cheering crowd. Barely able to stand, Jesus was displayed before all.

From the peace and goodness of heaven’s throne room into the hands of Gentiles, thieves, and murderers. Christ—the preexisting and eternal Son of God—came into hostility and bruised flesh, despised, persecuted, and eventually murdered.

Was Pilate’s cruelty enough for the Jews? No.

In John 19:10–11, Pilate turns to Jesus in one final, desperate attempt to get some kind of answer he could use in Jesus’ defense:

“You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Jesus had taken any remaining power away from Pilate with those words. Pilate could not convince the Jews. He could not get any answers from Jesus. Yet God had placed Pilate in the position to do what was right. Though the Jews would be held accountable for their part, Pilate could escape judgment by doing what was just. God had given him the authority to, and Pilate was close to doing it.

Then the Jews applied political pressure by challenging his loyalty to Caesar—the Roman emperor whom Pilate served. It was a clear threat. If Pilate would not kill Jesus, the Jews would report him to Caesar as being disloyal.

John 19:12:

“From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.’”

Pilate and the Jews knew that if Caesar suspected him of disloyalty, Pilate could lose everything—even his life.

As Pilate ponders his options, he remembers the voice of his wife, who had come with a different kind of warning in Matthew 27:19:

“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.’”

His wife is stirred with great anxiety. Her words echo in Pilate’s wearied mind: “Have nothing to do with this Man.” Was it coincidence, or divine intervention? Pilate had to wonder. Perhaps it was a warning from Jupiter, the highest god of the Romans who protected the law and state of Rome?

What would you think if someone you loved came to you with a dream, warning you about a decision you had to make, but when you prayed, God said nothing?

Jesus’ life is on the line, and Pilate could save Him. Yet Jesus remains silent—as if He knows something Pilate doesn’t. As if He’s waiting for something. Pilate’s will is finally exhausted. It has already been a long morning. He makes the decision that, unbeknownst to him, would change humanity’s future forever. But was it the right one?

Matthew 27:21–24:

“The governor answered and said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’They said, ‘Barabbas!’Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’”

And as Pilate dried his hands, the lowly Christ—who had taught hope, healed the sick, raised the dead, and washed the feet of His disciples—was led to His death.

So what are we to make of this portion of Jesus’ ancient yet eternally relevant trial and the people involved?

In the case of Jesus, who did no wrong, this is the continuation of a great evil done to Him. All for you and me, He silently accepted the torture without uttering any defense. Though He had great power and could have made things different for Himself, He accepted the worst treatment. For the will and glory of God, Jesus remained silent.

When life is terribly unfair, and people are unjustifiably cruel—but you know it’s all according to God’s plan for you—are you prepared to accept whatever happens? Would you be able to accept God’s will and not defend yourself?

Pilate’s part in God’s will was also extremely precarious. He was at the center of God’s will, he just didn’t know it. Pilate didn’t know God, so he had no greater spiritual guidance to help him make his decision about Christ. Or did he?

Pilate relied on his own intellectual and logical resources. His conscience did speak to him about the right thing to do. But in the end, he chose what appeared to be best for him.

Who are you when you find yourself being pressured by life and the people around you? What is your conscience saying? God, being so wise, will allow you to be pressured. He will test you to see what and who you will choose. But it is in the conscience that the Holy Spirit speaks to us all, telling us the right way to go. Regardless of the pressures that are closing in around you, God will steer your heart—if you’ll listen to Him.

Remember, no matter the cost of doing the right thing, make the right choice, and God will see you through.

A Prayer:

God, we pray that You lead us through our hearts and through our minds that we may know and see clearly Your will. Pilate is such a good example of how we can blow it when we’re under pressure. When we have fear and doubt because the people around us are pressuring us, help us to look to You and place our hope in You for the way. If there are consequences for following You, help us to accept and endure them. If Your plan requires for us to suffer, like Jesus did, help us to endure it for Your glory. We pray it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be blessed!

Robert

Cry Out Ministries

Helping you know God more deeply through the study of His Word.

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Footnotes:¹ Source: BibleHub topical reference on the Passover custom² Strong’s Concordance, Greek word “lēstēs” (λῃστής): robber, thief.