279 - Three Roman Trials
- Gwen Diaz
- Oct 6, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 15
OCTOBER 6 - Nº 279 Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:39-40; 19:1-16
Jesus had just endured three high-profile Jewish trials in the middle of the night. According to the Jewish leaders, he had committed blasphemy by claiming to be the Son of God.
The penalty for blasphemy under Jewish law was death. However, Israel was under Roman rule, and the Romans would not allow their subjects to execute anyone. Only the Roman leaders could enforce capital punishment. So early in the morning the Jews dragged Jesus to the palace of Pilate, the Roman governor, hoping to get a formal conviction.
When they arrived, the Jews refused to enter Pilate’s palace. Entering a Gentile’s residence would make them unclean according to their religious laws, and they would not be able to sacrifice their Passover lambs later that day. So, Pilate came out to them. He asked, “What charges do you bring against this man?”
“He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar,” they lied. “And he says he is a king, which is treason against the Emperor of Rome,” they added. (They had conveniently switched their accusation from blasphemy to treason—since treason was punishable by death according to Roman law and blasphemy was not.) “He should die for this, but we aren’t allowed to put him to death.”
Pilate turned to Jesus and asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “but my kingdom is from another place. I am in this world to bring truth.”
“What is truth?” Pilate exclaimed as he shook his head. After more interrogation, Pilate went out to the religious leaders and declared, “He is not guilty of any crime!”
This made the Jews angry. “He stirs up the people all over Judea with his teaching,” they argued. “He started in Galilee and has come all the way here to cause trouble.”
After hearing that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate realized he might be able to get out of this difficult situation if he turned Jesus over to Herod Antipas. Herod was the Roman ruler in Galilee, and conveniently, he happened to be in Jerusalem that week.
So Pilate sent Jesus to stand trial before him. This pleased Herod since he had heard a lot about Jesus and was anxious to meet him.
Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus remained silent. After listening to all the accusations, Herod couldn't find any fault with him either, so he sent him back to Pilate.
Meanwhile, Pilate's wife sent him a message, “I had a dream about that man you have on trial. Do not do anything to him. He is innocent,” she warned.
Pilate knew that it was customary to allow the people to choose one prisoner to be released each year during the Feast. He decided to give the Jews a choice between Jesus and a notorious murderer named Barabbas. He was sure they would choose Jesus. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd and they began to yell, “Give us Barabbas! Give us Barabbas!”
“Then what shall I do with Jesus?” Pilate asked.
“Crucify him! Crucify him!” they yelled even louder.
To prevent a riot, Pilate released Barabbas and had Jesus flogged. But even that was not enough. The Jewish leaders threatened Pilate, “If you release this man, we will tell Caesar that you freed a man who is guilty of treason.”
Pilate turned away and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. In response, they shouted, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” At that point, Pilate turned Jesus over to the Jewish leaders to be crucified.
Just a few days before, many of the same people who now yelled “Crucify him! Crucify him!” were shouting, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” What caused them to
change their minds so quickly?
Jesus didn't fulfill their expectations. He did not do what they wanted him to do--he didn't overthrow the Roman government and set up a Jewish Kingdom. So, they were disillusion and turned on him. They were listening to their hearts instead of looking for the truth
Are you a loyal follower of Jesus regardless of the circumstances? Or do you follow your heart and let your feelings determine how you will
respond to him?
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