Pilate’s Encounter with the Truth

John 19:4–15

⁴ Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

⁵ Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

⁶ When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

⁷ The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

⁸ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

⁹ And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰ Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

¹¹ Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

¹² And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

¹³ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

¹⁴ And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

¹⁵ But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Note: Notice the phrase this morning, Jesus gave him no answer.

Note: What a scene is before our minds eyes.

Note: Pilate is doing everything to have Jesus released.

Note: He offers the release of Barabbas.

Note: Barabbas was a murderer. Rebellious against authority. Mark 15:7 and Luke 23:19. He was a violet man. John 18:40 teaches us that he was a thief. He was a genuine threat to public order.

Note: It was customary for the Roman governor to release one prisoner chosen by the people.

Surely Barabbas would not be freed instead of Jesus.

• Jesus was kind

• Jesus was loving

• He was healing and caring

Note: But the people choose Barabbas over Jesus.

Note: Pilate scourged or flogged the Lord Jesus. Pilate trying to get compassion from the people cried – Behold the Man.

The people would have none.

Crucify Him. They cried out.

What was his crimes? “He has made himself the Son of God”

The Jewish leaders, determined to see Jesus executed, brought a theological accusation: blasphemy—claiming to be the Son of God, which, in their view, was a claim to divine status.

Note: Leviticus 24:16 says that blasphemy was punishable by death.

Note: They said “we have a law that he should die.”

Pilate is terrified at this point:

(1) He was a superstitious man.

(2) He didn’t want to put an innocent man to death.

Note: His wife also had a dream about Jesus and warned Pilote not to harm Jesus for He was an innocent man in Matthew 27:19.

Note: Pilate returns to Jesus.

Note: Whence art thou?

Note: What is your origin? Where did you come from?

But Jesus gave no answer. Why?

We know that Jesus, being God, His knowledge and understanding is far greater than what we could ever understand or conceive.

Note: We know that Jesus Christ had infinite knowledge of everything – including – Pilate.

Note: But when I come to Scripture like this I ask myself this question: why was God silent?

Why didn’t He speak.

Why didn’t He declare as He did to the Woman at the well; That He was God.

Or to Nicodemus – That he was the way to God?

Why was God Silent?

Can I give you some thoughts this morning.