Pilate, the Roman Governor

Clarence R. Johnson

As Jesus stood before Pilate, the Roman governor, He clearly acknowledged that He was born to be King of the Jews, Matt.  27:11; John 18:36-37.  While in the context of Matt.  27:11, we might take note of the insight this passage gives us into the character of Pontus Pilate.  Were it not for the writings of the New Testament Scriptures, we would know almost nothing about this man.

We note that Pilate was well aware that the charges made against Jesus were unwarranted.  The governor never received an appropriate answer to the question in Matt.  27:23, “What evil has He done?” And when he finally gave the order for Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate symbolically washed his hands and pronounced Jesus to be a just man, verse 24.

This passage also reveals that Pilate not only understood that Jesus was not guilty of any crime, but he had also come to realize the motive of those who cried out for Jesus’ destruction.  “He knew that because of envy they had delivered Him,” verse 18.

With the knowledge that Jesus was innocent, and that His accusers were motivated by envy, Pilate’s conscience was stirred.  His wife’s dream, which caused her to plead for him not to harm “that just Man” (vs.  19), must have added to his inner turmoil.  Yet the enemies of Jesus had him “over a barrel.” Jesus had indeed admitted to being a King, vs. 11.  Pilate understood that Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world; thus, He was not a political threat to the Roman Empire, John 18:36.  But he also knew that Caesar might not understand that fact.  And when the Jews argued, “If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend” (John 19:12), they had  found Pilate’s weak point.  He dreaded immensely to crucify a man he knew to be innocent — but he feared even more for the word to get back to Caesar that he had released a man who claimed to be a king.

Before giving in to the cries of the violent mob who sought to destroy Jesus, Pilate tried three tactics.  First, when he learned that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Him to be tried by Herod Antipas, who was the tetrarch of that region, Luke 23:6-12.  Jesus made no defense, and Herod soon sent Him back to Pilate.  Then Pilate hoped the mob who cried out for the blood of Jesus would accept His release in keeping with the tradition that one prisoner was to be released during the Passover season.  They refused.  Finally, Pilate had Jesus scourged and brought before the mob, hoping they would see His pain and anguish and have mercy on Him, Luke 23:16; John 19:1-4.  At this point, Jesus’ enemies knew they had won.  If their pressure would persuade Pilate to scourge a man he knew to be innocent, a little more pressure and he would crucify that same innocent man.  Let us not miss the point of the power for evil in the sin of compromise.  We must not give in to sin.

                                              — via The Susquehanna Sentinel, April 14, 2002