Grace and Truth, What Were They Thinking? John 18:28-40

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

 

What were the Jews thinking? They wanted to keep themselves ceremonially clean so they could eat during the Passover. They wanted to kill Jesus, and they were willing to let a violent criminal go free instead of Jesus.

 

What was Pilate thinking? He did not know what to think about Jesus, or what to do with him. Although Pilate was not known as a kind or just man, even he could find nothing against Jesus and offered to set him free.

 

What was Jesus thinking? Jesus said very little when he was questioned earlier by the Jewish leaders, but he had a conversation with Pilate. He admitted that he was a king and spoke of truth. I wonder if he was trying to lead Pilate to salvation. I believe that’s possible.

 

Jesus, let me listen to your truth. Thank you for wanting to draw me near to you.