| "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't | | | | should die for (instead of, in behalf of) the people." |
| you realize I have power either to free you or to | | | | -John 18:14 (Amplified) |
| crucify you?" | | | | The chief priests, scribes, teachers of the law and |
| Jesus answered, "You would have no [authority | | | | Pharisees made Pilate's choice very simple in the end |
| against me whatsoever] if it were not given to you | | | | -- there was no other outcome acceptable to them |
| from above. Therefore the one who handed me over | | | | but crucifixion. |
| to you is guilty of a greater sin." | | | | Of course, from the Christian viewpoint, it all turned out |
| -John 19:10-11 (NIV modified). | | | | perfectly to plan. God the Father's master plan from |
| Pilate was in the wrong place at the wrong time from | | | | the beginning worked out for all creation, for not only |
| his own viewpoint. There were various opposing, | | | | was Jesus to be raised to be the Saviour of the world; |
| confounding forces that he couldn't possibly reconcile. | | | | his death was to become the key symbol of truth in |
| He didn't want to put Jesus to death; neither he nor | | | | life. Whoever loses his or her own life (for God's |
| King Herod found anything of substance against him. If | | | | purposes) will save it. |
| anything, there's a hint that Jesus was able to establish | | | | Who has authority over me? Only One. Nobody else. |
| a remarkable rapport with Pilate. Certainly Pilate had | | | | Who should I fear? No one but God. People can do |
| showed respectful awe toward Jesus and fear that | | | | anything to us or for us; God is the one that allows it. |
| he was dealing with deity. Their rapport is notable in | | | | He gives and he takes away. True faithfulness is the |
| each interaction through the gospels. For instance, | | | | response of praise at the time of both ecstasy and |
| when Pilate first spoke to Jesus he used Jesus' native | | | | distress. If we thank him for the good times, why |
| Aramaic, and could have been surprised to hear Jesus | | | | would we not thank him for times other than good? |
| retort in Pilate's native Latin tongue; an intellectual joust. | | | | John 19:11 is such an encouragement to all true |
| If Pilate could not find cause to crucify the 'King of the | | | | Christians. It's a statement of reliance in only one |
| Jews' what was the opposing force that forced his | | | | power; monotheistic worship of the Godhead |
| hand? Jesus' very own people of course. The High | | | | three-in-one. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to |
| Priest that year, Caiaphas, played a remarkably | | | | receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength |
| salvation-honouring role which is a tremendous irony | | | | and honour and glory and blessing -- worthy is he to |
| given the Pharisees hated Jesus. It is written in John: "It | | | | receive our fullest devotion. |
| was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it | | | | Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights |
| was expedient and for their welfare that one man | | | | Reserved Worldwide. |