The Final Trial

We come today to the third and final message focusing on the trials that Jesus faced that led to His crucifixion…

In the first message, we looked at the “Religious Trials” as Jesus was arrested and brought to Annas, Ciaphas, and the Sanhedrin. They had already determined that Jesus was “guilty” before He was even brought to them, but nonetheless, they went through the motions to try and … legitimize their actions against Christ!

Thanks to the occupying government of Rome, the Jews did not have the authority to carry out their desire to execute Jesus. They had to make their appeal to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate… Last week, we spent time considering the first part of that hearing that Pilate had with Jesus, and today we will conclude our examination of the “Civil Trial” against the Lord…

In your notes is a chart showing the outline of these “mock trials”. They are called “mock”, because they were committed to seeking … justice, only political appeasement.

All four gospel writers give some detail about these trials. We are going to stay with the Apostle John, and look to his report for our main text, but will seek to harmonize all four reports in our examination today.

We will begin with the last verse we read last time… Let’s hear the Word of the Lord –

John 18:38-19:16

38 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 guilt in Him. 39 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?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

19:1 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. 4 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.” 5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” 6 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.” 7 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.”

8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 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 a king opposes Caesar.”

13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.

Let’s begin our examination of this text by first considering an –

1. Unreasonable Choice

There is a choice that Pilate presents to the accusers – accusers who were wanting to serve as the judge, and jury, but who find themselves needing the Rome’s stamp of confirmation on their predetermined decision…

Let’s read it again –

John 18:38
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

Again, we thought about this last time… This particular point in Pilate’s examination of Jesus, he has come face-to-face with … Truth Himself!... I believe this encounter deeply affects Pilate and motivates his attempts to … release Jesus… Let’s continue –

… And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

Again, we note that this is the first of three pronounced verdicts of “not guilty” that Pilate declares… It made no difference to the Jews, so Pilate offers this … choice. It comes in verse :39 –

John 18:39-40
39 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?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

First, we know nothing about the origin, or even the reason for this “custom” of the Roman Governor paroling, or pardoning, a prisoner at Passover time… We can surmise that Rome found this practice to … ease tensions between the Jews and Rome, and chose to establish this practice during one of the most important days in the Jewish calendar – Passover.

Matthew, and Mark tell us a little more about the criminal the Jews would rather have released than Jesus –

Matthew 27:15-16
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.

Mark says –

Mark 15:7
The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection.

Back to Matthew’s report –

Matthew 27:17-18
17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

Stop there for just a moment… Notice that Matthew records something the governor … “knows” about these religious leaders … they are “jealous” of Jesus!...

Matthew continues –

Matthew 27:19
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”

It is very interesting to read Mrs. Pilates verdict. She recognizes Jesus to be “that righteous Man” – that is what makes this an “unreasonable choice”!... Anyone interested in justice would want to release the innocent party, and see the … actual criminal brought to justice! Despite this, her husband … is about to mess up!... But what happens next? –

Matthew 27:20-26
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. 21 But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

24 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 crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 25 And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Before we move on, I want to take a moment to think about something we simply can not overlook… I don’t mean to “spiritualize” a narrative, but we shouldn’t miss some profound truths about Barabbas, his release – and how that parallels … our salvation.

These observations are not original with me, several have drawn these comparison…

First, we should all see … ourselves in Barabbas. He was guilty of sin, worthy of death… Though you may not have committed the same sins, you too have committed “cosmic treason” against the “King of the universe” – and deserve justice due against you for your sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23a).

Barabbas deserved to be on the cross, instead of Jesus! You and I deserve such a cross – not Jesus!…

Second, Barabbas has no bragging rights as to how he … was pardoned! He did nothing to deserve the pardon he received! There was no “parole”, “time-off-for-good-behavior”, or even any “promise of reform” he could make – that would earn him such a pardon!... As far a Barabbas was concern, his pardon was purely … by grace!

Finally, Barabbas should realize that Jesus … literally died in his place!... In fact, many have argued that the very cross upon which Jesus died … was meant for Barabbas! Jesusu literally dies in his place! And again, you and I deserve such a cross – not Jesus!… We too should realize that if God treated us according to what we deserve … everyone would die in their sin! But, for many, Jesus literally dies in our place!

It was “unreasonable” for Pilate to give the Jews this choice between Jesus and Barabbas… And it was … unreasonable for the people to “choose” Barabbas over Jesus!... What does that say about the sinful nature in the heart of people?...

What comes next in the narrative is –

2. Undeserved Treatment

Let’s first read Luke’s report –

Luke 23:6-7
6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.

Here was an apparent opportunity for Pilate to get out of this dilemma!... Herod, who was the Roman official over Galilee, and Jesus “being from” Galilee – gave Pilate the opportunity to “pass this issue off” to Harold!

Luke goes on to tell us that –

Luke 23:8-12
8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

There are volumes in Luke’s words… We see Herod’s motive for wanting to see Jesus was no more … sincere than why people are going to the “false gospel guys” today! They only want what they can get out of Jesus – they are not wanting to come to Jesus – the real Jesus!...

We also see Herod playing the political game… He was easily influence by “the mob”, and really not committed to seeking out truth!

It is a sad, but enlightening thing to see the commentary Luke gives us about Herod and Pilate’s relationship… They were … enemies – until they became united in their complicity in this crime against this “righteous Man”, Jesus!

John simply says that –

John 19:1-4
1 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. 4 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.”

Pilate again presented Jesus to the crowd… and declares another “not-guilty” verdict!... Let’s read on –

John 19:5
Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”

Let me share a couple of things I’ve learned about this crown this week –

Richard Trench – “This crown He continued to wear to the end: both Origen and Tertullian, two of the earliest Fathers of the Church of east and west, assert that He was crucified with it on His head.”

C.H. Spurgeon – “Many a crown has been secured by blood, and so is this, but it is his own blood; many a throne has been established by suffering, and so is this, but he himself bears the pain.”

The crown was a significant part of the mocking and suffering endured by our Lord… we can’t simply read about it and move on without a pause…

John continues –

John 19:6-7
6 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.” [a final declaration of an innocent verdict!] 7 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.”

Jesus was beaten, and mocked… He had blood, sweat, and spit … running down His face!... And it is believed that Pilate perhaps hoped this sad sight would make the crowd feel sorry for Jesus…

If that were his motive … it didn’t work!...

There is one more thing we need to consider before moving on… The scourging was no small matter!... The Romans perfected various means of punishing and humiliating those they deemed needed it!

Scourging was a “horrific beating” with an … implement worse than its descendant known as “a-cat-of-nine-tails”!... It was a whip with several strands of leather, interwoven with bone, lead, and most anything designed to inflict deep bruising and the … tearing of flesh!... The victim was tied to a stake, or even thrown on the ground, and the “skillful Roman soldier” would … go to work!... I have read that in Jewish law “40 lashes” was considered a death penalty – but the Romans were not bound by Jewish law!... We don’t know how many lashes Jesus received, but … they took their toll on His body!

It is interesting that the Holy Spirit had Peter to later write –

1 Peter 2:24
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

The wounds … began with the beatings, scourging, … and crown!... Then the crucifixion came!

Let’s move a little more quickly by considering an –

3. Uneasy Exchange

John 19:8
Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;

What was the “statement” that made him afraid?... It was verse :7 –

John 19:7
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.”

Pilate is wading in deep water … and he knows it!... The Romans believed a man could be a god – Caesar is believed to be one… so Pilate actually has more fear than the Jews did at this point!

What does he do?...

John 19:9-11
9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Jesus was once again referring to Judas’ sin – who at this point was suffering the consequences of his betrayal of Jesus … beyond our ability to comprehend!

But the main focus here is Pilate!... Spurgeon said –

C.H. Spurgeon – “Pilate talks like some great one, yet how contemptibly little he was, vacillating, cowardly, unable to do what he knew was right. His poor Victim who stood before him was infinitely greater in character than he was.”

What comes next is a demonstration of –

4. Unresolvable Conflict

There is a conflict between Pilate and the Jews … and it won’t be resolved!

John 19:12
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 a kin g opposes Caesar.”

Let’s read how Mark elaborates, some of this we’ve already discussed –

Mark 15:9-14
9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”

This is the last attempt Pilate makes to release Jesus. He has made several, but none of them would be acceptable to the Jews! The conflict between Pilate and the Jew over Jesus … will not be settled!

Let’s go back to John’s report and see an –

5. Unbelievable Proclamation

It begins in verse :13 –

John 19:13-15
13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. [that’s noon to us… ] And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

You might say that the “unbelievable proclamation” was when Pilate would still refer to Jesus as the King of the Jews, when that was just one thing the Jews were bucking against!... But, the … unbelievable proclamation is what comes from the lips of the chief priest – the so-called, “men of God” in this situation!

John 19:15c
… The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Perhaps the high priests were not the only ones proclaiming such … unbelievable things… Listen to an appeal made by one of my heroes of the faith, Vance Havner. He wrote –

Vance Havner – “It was Caesar or Christ, and Pilate chose Caesar. Today that Rome has passed, and Caesar has passed, but Christ remains ‘the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ If we are strictly honest today, we must confess that most of us have no king but Caesar. We have sold out to the god of this age. Modern America is repeating the story of decadent Rome. We have gone wild over the same things.... We are a befuddled generation, sick of old conditions and unable to create better; too ignorant to explain life, too shallow to endure it, too bitter to enjoy it, too weak to overcome it. We are not transformed but conformed to this world, slaves of its fashions, disciples of its philosophies, devotees of its pleasures. Wrapped in ourselves, we make small packages. Our eyes are glued to stocks and bonds, clothes and cars, and all the tinsel trappings of life's mad masquerade. Today we face the same alternatives that confronted Pontius Pilate. Shall we crown the cynic and try to find our way through the wilderness of life by the feeble candle of reason? Shall we take the way of the criminal, the way of the beast, instead of the best? Shall we crown Caesar and crucify the Christ? Shall we crown or crucify Jesus? He is the answer to cynicism, because He is the truth. He is the answer to criminality, because when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. He is the answer to Caesar, because in Him we become citizens of heaven. Let us crown Him now in our hearts that one day we may have part in the final coronation, when the nations will lay their tributes at His feet and crown Him Lord of all!”

There is one more observation we need to make in our text… It is the –

6. Unimaginable Sentence

Simply stated, Pilate –

John 19:16
So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.

The “them” in this verse is not merely the Jews! They didn’t “crucify” anyone – but they walked along and observed every detail as the Roman soldiers themselves are now … commissioned to the task!...

Mark tells us that Pilate simply succumbed to a mere pragmatic and political motive in his decision… Look at Mark 15:15 –

Mark 15:15
Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

“Wishing to satisfy the crowd”... is that you?... Such motivations will lead to all kinds of … illegitimate, unjust, … destructive decisions!

As we will see over the next few weeks, this act of crucifixion … has a purpose! It had a purpose in the hearts of those who hated Christ – but there is a greater purpose, and that is … God’s purpose in it all!

Write this reference down –

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

This “unimaginable sentence” – the crucifixion of Jesus … accomplished just that!

Questions to Consider in Community Group

• Just why was the “choice” between Jesus and Barabbas “unreasonable”?
• How does Barabbas’ experience parallel one’s salvation experience?
• Just what made Herod and Pilate become friends? (How do these men illustrate the danger of "political motivations” being followed over and against the integrity of making decisions out of “convictions”?)
• What is significant about the “attire” placed on Jesus, including the “crown”?
• What were the Jews really saying when they said; “We have no king but Caesar!”?
• What are your thoughts about any of the quotes shared?

Richard Trench – “This crown He continued to wear to the end: both Origen and Tertullian, two of the earliest Fathers of the Church of east and west, assert that He was crucified with it on His head.”

C.H. Spurgeon – “Many a crown has been secured by blood, and so is this, but it is his own blood; many a throne has been established by suffering, and so is this, but he himself bears the pain.”

C.H. Spurgeon – “Pilate talks like some great one, yet how contemptibly little he was, vacillating, cowardly, unable to do what he knew was right. His poor Victim who stood before him was infinitely greater in character than he was.”

Vance Havner – “It was Caesar or Christ, and Pilate chose Caesar. Today that Rome has passed, and Caesar has passed, but Christ remains ‘the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ If we are strictly honest today, we must confess that most of us have no king but Caesar. We have sold out to the god of this age. Modern America is repeating the story of decadent Rome. We have gone wild over the same things.... We are a befuddled generation, sick of old conditions and unable to create better; too ignorant to explain life, too shallow to endure it, too bitter to enjoy it, too weak to overcome it. We are not transformed but conformed to this world, slaves of its fashions, disciples of its philosophies, devotees of its pleasures. Wrapped in ourselves, we make small packages. Our eyes are glued to stocks and bonds, clothes and cars, and all the tinsel trappings of life's mad masquerade. Today we face the same alternatives that confronted Pontius Pilate. Shall we crown the cynic and try to find our way through the wilderness of life by the feeble candle of reason? Shall we take the way of the criminal, the way of the beast, instead of the best? Shall we crown Caesar and crucify the Christ? Shall we crown or crucify Jesus? He is the answer to cynicism, because He is the truth. He is the answer to criminality, because when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. He is the answer to Caesar, because in Him we become citizens of heaven. Let us crown Him now in our hearts that one day we may have part in the final coronation, when the nations will lay their tributes at His feet and crown Him Lord of all!”