Just like Pilate

Listen to John Chapter 18
or read "Just like Pilate"

OR WATCH below a portion of the 2003 movie called The Gospel of John. This movie is based on the Good News Translation. This 9 minute portion of the movie starts just after verse 5 of Chapter 18 and covers up through Chapter 19 verse 8. Here are the first 5 verses.

After Jesus had said this prayer, he left with his disciples and went across Kidron Brook. There was a garden in that place, and Jesus and his disciples went in. Judas, the traitor, knew where it was, because many times Jesus had met there with his disciples. So Judas went to the garden, taking with him a group of Roman soldiers, and some Temple guards sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees; they were armed and carried lanterns and torches. Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward and asked them, "Who is it you are looking for?"

"Jesus of Nazareth", they answered.

"I am he", he said.

Judas, the traitor, was standing there with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they moved back and fell to the ground. ...
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"What is truth?" retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"

They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!"
I am always 'caught' at this face to face encounter between Jesus and Pilate. There is something about Pilate's questions. In particular "What is Truth?"

In Matthew's account Pilate offers this question to the Jews.
What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate asked (Matthew 27:22a)
I would argue that Pilate was faced with the biggest decision in history. What is he going to do with Jesus?

Who is this Pontius Pilate anyway? He was the Roman governor of Judea. His primary role was military, but he also was in charge of imperial tax collection and had some judicial functions. Civil administration was handled by local governments and in the Hebrew providence that was the Sanhedrin. The High Priest was the president of the Sanhedrin. Pilate had the authority to execute criminals but the High Priest did not. It is interesting to note that until 1961 there was no strong evidence Pilate existed outside of the account in the Gospels of the New Testament. In 1961 a stone block was discovered among ruins in Caesarea with his name and Roman title carved in the stone.

Watching this interaction between Pilate and Jesus, and Pilate and the High Priest is just fascinating. So much is going on. Pilate just doesn't want to be dealing with this situation and yet he is forced to by the High Priest and the crowd. He clearly acknowledges that Jesus is completely innocent. He appears to have given up on truth already and ultimately just decides to avoid the hassle altogether and give the people what they want.

We are all just like Pilate. We all have to decide about Jesus. It is life's primary decision. I like the way Whitney T. Kuniholm puts it in his book The Essential Bible Guide.

Sooner or later, everyone must make that decision. Is Jesus a source of anger and frustration; a hassle to be avoided; or is he “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6)? It’s important to carefully think it over; it’s the biggest decision you’ll ever make.

What am I going to do with Jesus? Avoid the hassle? Search for the truth about him? Accept him as the source of all truth and listen to him?

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