“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN”

St. John 18:28-40
Christ’s Trial Before Pilate

In our previous section (St. John 18:12-27), we saw our Lord examined before both High Priests, namely Annas and Caiaphas, which proved to be an absolute miscarriage of justice.  Our blessed Lord was mistreated with the most horrible scorn, for He did not deserve such maltreatment from the hands of men.  The gospel of John does not give in detail Jesus’ arraignment before the Jewish Sanhedrin (Mark 14:55-64).  During His arraignment before the Sanhedrin, He was charged with blasphemy, a charge of which he was not really guilty.  However, the Sanhedrin did not have the authority to legally put Jesus to death, so His case was brought before Pontius Pilate (A.D. 26-36).

During Christ’s appearance before Pilate, the Jewish Passover was taking place.  In chapter 18:28, the religious leaders were more concerned with the observance of the Passover than they were with bringing about a fair trial for the Lord of Glory!  These religious leaders were guilty of the most venomous act of perpetual hatred toward the Lord of Glory, yet they were concerned with being ceremonially unclean!  In an effort to determine the nature of the charge against Jesus, Pilate asked the leaders this question:  “What accusation  bring ye against this man?” (v.29).  In answering Pilate’s question in verse 29, the religious leaders intimated that the culprit before Pilate was guilty, for they would not have arrested an innocent man (v. 30).

During Jesus’ examination before Pilate, the real character of Pilate is being manifested, for he is viewed as one who is timid, vacillating and very unprincipled.  He did not want anything to do with the trial of Jesus; moreover, he was anxious for the Jews to bear the burden of Christ’s death (v. 31).

Because the Jews had no power to execute a capital sentence on Christ, they led Him to Pilate to be sentenced, thus fulfilling Matthew 20:19, that says – “And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him:  and the third day He shall rise again.”  As Jesus is brought before Pilate for sentencing, Pilate knew that for envy Jesus had been delivered by the religious leaders.  Our Lord’s answer to Pilate’s question in verse 33 – “Art thou the King of the Jews?” – really appealed to the conscience of Pilate in verse 34 as Jesus questions the origin of the question asked by Pilate.

Pilate’s answer in verse 35 was an attempt on his part to evade Jesus’ question in verse 34 and point that it was the Jews who delivered Jesus to him.  In addressing Pilate in verse 36, our blessed Lord did not say – “My Kingdom is not in this world,” but “My Kingdom is not of this world,” meaning that Christ’s Kingdom will not be ruled by man, but will be in total submission to God.  Jesus was not a political insurrectionist who tried to overthrow Rome.  Pilate’s question in verse 37 regarding Jesus’ Kingship, signified or revealed that the governor was perplexed.  Although Israel did not receive Christ as King; nevertheless, He was their King (Matthew 2:2).

Pilate’s question in verse 38 – “What is truth?’ – has been a thought-provoking question down through the centuries.  It is noteworthy that Pilate was not desirous of knowing the truth, for he suddenly turned away from “the Truth” (St. John 14:6).  In an attempt to evade his commitment to justice, Pilate appealed to the people in a compromising move, seeing that Pilate found no fault in Him.  As the custom dictated, one prisoner would be released, Pilate thinking that the people would prefer Jesus over a noted criminal, Barabbas (. 38-40).  However, the people favored a robber rather than a Redeemer!  May God Bless!