God’s Renewing Word of Hope
Introduction
John 19:1-16a: Pilate had found no reason to condemn Jesus to death, but the chief priests (who are supposed to serve God), show their loyalty to the Roman emperor in order to get Pilate to sentence Jesus to death by crucifixion.
Scripture Reading
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. 2The soldiers made a crown out of thorny branches and put it on his head; then they put a purple robe on him 3and came to him and said, “Long live the King of the Jews!” And they went up and slapped him.
4Pilate went back out once more and said to the crowd, “Look, I will bring him out here to you to let you see that I cannot find any reason to condemn him.” 5So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look! Here is the man!”
6When the chief priests and the Temple guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take him, then, and crucify him. I find no reason to condemn him.”
7The crowd answered back, “We have a law that says he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid. 9He went back into the palace and asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?”
But Jesus did not answer. 10Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Remember, I have the authority to set you free and also to have you crucified.”
11 Jesus answered, “You have authority over me only because it was given to you by God. So the man who handed me over to you is guilty of a worse sin.”
12When Pilate heard this, he tried to find a way to set Jesus free. But the crowd shouted back, “If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor’s friend! Anyone who claims to be a king is a rebel against the Emperor!”
13When Pilate heard these words, he took Jesus outside and sat down on the judge’s seat in the place called “The Stone Pavement.” (In Hebrew the name is “Gabbatha.”) 14It was then almost noon of the day before the Passover. Pilate said to the people, “Here is your king!”
15They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to crucify your king?”
The chief priests answered, “The only king we have is the Emperor!”
16Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
Jesus Is Crucified
(Matthew 27.32-44; Mark 15.21-32; Luke 23.26-43)
So they took charge of Jesus.
Today’s Key Verse: John 19:5
Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look! Here is the man!”
Reflect
Most likely the Roman authorities did not allow Jewish officials to put anyone to death without a clear case of guilt. Initially, Pilate could find no reason to condemn Jesus. Why did he then sentence Jesus to death? What did his action reveal about his character? Have you ever felt pressured to do something even though it went against your conscience?
Pray
Lord Jesus, for my sake you were sentenced to death by crucifixion even though you were innocent. Thank you, Jesus, for your undying love for me. With a humble and grateful heart, I magnify your holy name. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
John 19:16b-30: Jesus is crucified.