Jesus before Pilate

LUKE — LESSON 23

Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Luke 23 and Matthew 27.

In lesson 22 we studied the trials of Jesus and closed when Jesus was taken to Pilate. The leaders of the Sanhedrin wanted Pilate to give Jesus a death sentence because they were not allowed to give a death sentence, only the Roman authorities could do that.

[Luke 23:1-5] (1) Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. (2) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” (3) So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. (4) Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” (5) But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

It says that all of the members of the Sanhedrin, which was 71 in number including the High Priest, appeared before Pilate to make charges that Jesus claimed to be King of the Jews and refused to pay taxes to Rome. They said Jesus was a threat to Rome’s claim to power in Israel. In other words, they claimed Jesus was guilty of treason. When Pilate questioned Jesus he could find no reason to crucify Him.

Pilate was a Roman from a wealthy family and probably very wealthy himself. Tradition holds that he had a wife whose name was Procula. At this time, Pilate had been governor of Judea for five or six years. He had no understanding or sympathy for Jewish religion or customs. Pilate knew that Jesus was popular with the Jewish people but his only interest was keeping order. When someone mentioned that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate found a path of escape. Galilee was in Herod Antipas’ territory and since Herod was in Jerusalem at the time, Pilate chose to let Herod decide what would be done with Jesus. The historian, Philo described Pilate as being stubborn and cruel and guilty of bribery, theft, assault and other acts of violence. His ruthlessness finally caused him to be deposed from office and sent to Rome for trial.

[Luke 23:6-12] (6) On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. (7) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. (8) When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. (9) He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. (10) The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. (11) Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. (12) That day Herod and Pilate became friends — before this they had been enemies.

Herod Antipas was the Roman ruler over Galilee and the son of Herod the Great. Antipas was the one who had John the Baptist beheaded because John openly criticized him for divorcing his wife and marrying the wife of his brother, Phillip. Antipas had heard a lot about Jesus but had never seen Him. He had heard that Jesus could do miracles and was hoping that Jesus would perform one for him. The member of the Sanhedrin were there accusing Jesus of crimes against Rome. Not wanting to upset the Jewish leaders, Herod had his soldiers to ridicule and mock Jesus. They put an elegant robe around Him and sent Jesus back to Pilate. We are told that Herod and Pilate had been enemies before that day but they became friends. The old adage says that “politics makes strange bedfellows.” Both men knew that the Jewish religious leaders could make trouble for them with Rome if they did not do what they wanted. But on the other hand, Jesus was very popular with the people and His execution could cause a riot which would also make trouble with Rome.

[Luke 23:13-25] (13) Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, (14) and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. (15) Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. (16) Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” (there is no verse 17) (18) But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (19) Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder. (20) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. (21) But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (22) For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” (23) But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. (24) So Pilate decided to grant their demand. (25) He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Both Pilate and Herod Antipas believed that Jesus was not a threat to Rome. They understood that the problem the Jewish leaders had with Jesus was a religious problem and not political. Barabbas was in prison for inciting the people against Rome and for murder. He was guilty of the charges that the Jewish religious leaders had charged against Jesus. Barabbas was guilty and Jesus was innocent, yet the Religious leaders led the crowd in shouting, “release Barabbas.” It was customary for the Romans to release a Jewish prisoner at Passover time. The Jews choose the criminal, Barabbas and shouted for the crucifixion of their Messiah. Pilate knew that crucifying Jesus was wrong but he gave in to the Jews to protect his position as governor. Why would the people in Jerusalem turn against Jesus? On Palm Sunday they had heralded Him as the Messiah, and just 5 days later they accept Him as a criminal. I think the number one reason was the members of the Sanhedrin, who were their supposed spiritual leaders and the judges of the nation other than giving a death sentence said that Jesus had blasphemed against God, He was not the Messiah, He was a criminal. Two, Jesus was not what the people expected the Messiah to be. They believed that the Messiah would raise an army, free them from Roman rule and reestablish the Nation of Israel as it was in the days of King David. Jesus did none of these things. They did not understand that the kingdom that Jesus established was the Kingdom of God, an eternal, spiritual kingdom.

[Luke 23:26-43] (26) As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. (27) A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. (28) Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. (29) For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ (30) Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” (31) For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (32) Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. (33) When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. (34) Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (35) The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” (36) The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar (37) and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” (38) There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (39) One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” (40) But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? (41) We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” (42) Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (43) Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

As they began the journey to Golgotha, Jesus was carrying His cross, but because of His physical condition from being whipped and abused, He was unable to carry it far. Then the soldiers called Simon from the crowd to carry it for Him. Simon was from Cyrene, Libya, was located on the northern coast of Africa. It was a Greek colony and a Jewish Community that had a large settlement of approximately 100,000 Jews. In later years it was a center of Christianity. There was a Cyrenian Jewish Synagogue located in Jerusalem and the Jews would go for the annual feasts. There is no certainty that Simon was Jewish but he was in Jerusalem at Passover time.

The women who were following were likely some of Jesus’ followers from Jerusalem, the women from Galilee who had been with Him throughout His ministry and some were likely professional mourners. Jesus told the women not to weep for Him. He knew that very soon He would be back in heaven with God, but they had some very hard times coming in about forty years. All of the things He warned them about came true when Titus, the Roman commander took Jerusalem in 70 AD.

When the Roman soldiers put Jesus on the wooden cross and nailed His hands and feet to it, Jesus asked God the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. They were following orders and had no idea that they were killing the Son of God. These soldiers were Romans and worshiped the Roman gods, so the Son of God, King of the Jews, would have had no personal meaning for them.

There were too criminals crucified with Jesus, one was Barabbas. They were placed on each side of Jesus who was in the middle. As the soldiers mocked and insulted Jesus, Barabbas defended Him. They were guilty but Jesus was innocent. It sounds like Barabbas came to believe Jesus was the Son of God. Maybe when Jesus asked God to forgive the Roman soldiers. He asked Jesus to remember him when He came to His kingdom. Jesus, who looks into the heart, promised Barabbas that he would be with Jesus that day in paradise. His belief in Jesus was his salvation.

[Luke:44-49] (44) It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, (45) for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. (46) Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (47) The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (48) When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. (49) But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Matthew’s record of Jesus’ crucifixion recorded additional information.

[Matthew 27:45-50] (45) From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. (46) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (47) When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” (48) Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. (49) The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” (50) And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

During the three hours while Jesus hung on the cross and it was dark, Jesus took on the sin of all mankind. Matthew 27:46 recorded that Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus was both man and God. It was for this purpose that Jesus was born and lived a man; to be the perfect sacrifice for man’s sins. God does not be in the presence of sin so God separated Himself from Jesus while He bore all our sins. The people watching wanted to see if the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, would come and rescue Jesus from the cross. As Jesus died, His human body ceased to function, but He gave up His spirit which went back to God.

[Matthew 27:51-53] (51) At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split (52) and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. (53) They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn into. This veil was between the Holy of Holies in the temple, where God dwelt with the people of Israel and no one went into the Holy of Holies except the High Priest and he entered only once a year. The Holy Place was where the priest went to offer prayers for the people up to God on a regular basis. The torn veil represented the fact that man now had access to God through Jesus Christ and no longer had to go through the priest. Another miracle occurred when Jesus died. The ground shook like an earthquake and graves of many of the holy people split open and their bodies rose up and went from the cemetery into Jerusalem and many people saw them.

[Luke 23:50-56] (50) Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, (51) who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. (52) Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. (53) Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. (54) It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. (55) The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. (56) Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Joseph was from Arimathaea, a wealthy man and member of the Sanhedrin. In Luke 23:51 we are told that he did not consent to the Sanhedrin’s decision to have Jesus killed. He was in fact secretly a believer that Jesus was the Messiah. After Jesus death on the cross, Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body to bury it. It was dangerous even for a wealthy powerful man to admit at this time that He was a believer in Jesus but Joseph chose to take that risk. He took Jesus’ and Nicodemus brought the spices to prepare the body for burial. They prepared Jesus’ body and put it in Joseph’s personal tomb.

The women from Galilee who traveled with Jesus and His disciples followed Joseph and Nicodemus to see where they buried Jesus. They did not know that Jesus’ body was already properly prepared to burial, so they planned to come on Sunday morning after the Sabbath to prepare His body.

Lessons we can learn from Luke 23:

1. A Christian should stand for Jesus even under difficult or even dangerous situations.

2. Study God’s Word and make your own decisions about what you believe. The people in Jerusalem let the members of the Sanhedrin convince them that Jesus was not the Messiah but a threat to Israel.

3. Like Barabbas, accept Jesus as your Savior when you have the opportunity.

4. The miracles that occurred when Jesus died on the cross are proof that Jesus was the Son of God and that He died for our sins.

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