In John 18:38–19:5, Pilate tried to persuade the people to ask for Jesus' release by emphasizing Jesus' innocence and appealing to their emotions through a display of Jesus' suffering. Here’s a breakdown of how Pilate attempted this.
Declaring Jesus Innocent
- In John 18:38, after questioning Jesus, Pilate tells the crowd:
"I find no guilt in him."
Pilate publicly declares that he does not find Jesus guilty of any crime deserving punishment.
Offering to Release Jesus
- In John 18:39, Pilate references the custom of releasing a prisoner at Passover:
"But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"
Pilate is trying to give the crowd an option to choose Jesus’ release, possibly expecting that they would pick him over someone like Barabbas.
Scourging and Mocking Jesus
- In John 19:1–3, Pilate has Jesus flogged, and the soldiers mock him, placing a crown of thorns on his head and dressing him in a purple robe. While this was a cruel act, Pilate may have hoped that by presenting a bloodied and humiliated Jesus, the crowd would see that he had suffered enough and call for his release.
Presenting Jesus to the Crowd
- In John 19:4–5, Pilate again declares Jesus’ innocence:
"See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him."
He then brings Jesus out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and says:
"Behold the man!"
By presenting Jesus in this vulnerable and pitiable state, Pilate seems to appeal to the crowd's sense of compassion, hoping they would be satisfied and not demand his crucifixion.
In summary, Pilate tried to persuade the people by repeatedly declaring Jesus innocent, offering to release him as part of a Passover custom, and displaying Jesus' suffering to elicit sympathy. However, his attempts ultimately failed as the crowd demanded Jesus' crucifixion.
More: Lesson 12 - The Hour of Glory: The Cross and Resurrection
No comments:
Post a Comment