Daily Devotions
John
John 18:28-40 (Luke 23:1-12) "ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH THE ACCUSERS"
Day 289 – John 18
ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH THE ACCUSERS
What was “Truth” to Pilate? Philosophers were interested in “truth”. Religious people also claimed interest in the search for “truth”. But what was “truth” to a Roman governor?
Pilate worked with the principle of expediency. If “truth” worked in his favour, he would use it. But if “truth” did not favour his overall position, it could be easily set aside for the sake of expediency.
Seeking to free Jesus, and yet not be on the wrong side of the Jews, Pilate went out of the Praetorium to speak to the accusers. John wrote,
“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 fault in Him at all.'”
John 18:38
We need to cross over to the Gospel of Luke to obtain the response of the Jews to this statement. Luke noted carefully what the Jews said to Pilate when they heard Pilate’s conclusion.
“But they were the more fierce, saying, ‘He stirs
up the people, teaching throughout all Judea,
beginning from Galilee to this place.'”
Luke 23:5
The tenacious Jews refused to abide by the conclusion that Pilate came up with! They were determined to put Jesus to death! Such was the depth of their sinful hatred! They pressed even more accusations against Jesus when they heard that Pilate could find no legal grounds to charge and sentence Jesus to death! Was Pilate playing with them? Did he not know how to read between the lines? The Jews wanted Jesus dead, and all Pilate needed to do was to sign the document that would sentence Him to death! What was Jesus to him anyway? He couldn’t offer him anything – wealth, more power, influence. But the support of the Jews would be indispensable to Pilate if he wished to stay on as governor of Judea! Time was moving on. The Passover was near. Why couldn’t Pilate do as they had requested! What was his game?
BEFORE HEROD ANTIPAS
Pilate did not listen too carefully about the further accusations the Jews made against Jesus. They had accused Him of stirring up the people – hinting that he was a possible insurrectionist. Since Pilate already knew that Jesus had no political ambitions, he did not take too seriously this new accusation hurled against Him.
However, his ears pricked up when he heard that Jesus began His ministry in Galilee. That would mean that Jesus was a Galilean. Herod Antipas was the tetrarch there. He should be the one looking after this troublesome case! Let Jesus be sent to Herod. How he would decide the case ought to prove interesting.
Only Luke recorded the trial before Herod. Let us take a look at what transpired in Herod’s court.
“When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the
Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew
that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he
sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem
at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus,
he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired
for a long time to see Him, because he had heard
many things about Him, and he hoped to see
some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned
Him with many words, but He answered him
nothing.”
Luke 23:6-9
Herod was not interested in trying Jesus! He saw Him only because he wanted to see if the stories he heard about Jesus performing miracles were true! He wanted to see a sideshow! He wasn’t in the least interested in seeing justice done.
No matter how he tried, he could not get Jesus to respond at all. Not even when the accusers hurled charge after spurious charge against Him.
“And the chief priests and scribes stood and
vehemently accused Him.”
Luke 23:10
But they could not rile Jesus up. He remained in absolute control of Himself. The center of His heart was the Lordship of His Father. He had been prepared for this moment. No matter how He felt, no matter the sorrow He must have experienced as He listened to the wild accusations made against Him, “He answered him nothing”.
AN UNCALLED FOR BEATING
Herod, perhaps angry and frustrated that Jesus defied him and refused to perform miracles for the sake of entertainment, turned on Him viciously. Luke recorded the conclusion of the “trial” before Herod Antipas.
“Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him
with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him
in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
That very day Pilate and Herod became friends
with each other, for previously they had been
at enmity with each other.”
Luke 23:11-12
Another mockery of justice, this time before the tetrarch Herod Antipas. What was his excuse for torturing Jesus? He needed none. He had always treated his subjects with great disdain and contempt – for was he not the ruler of the people?