AM April 7th Luke 23

April 7^th             Luke 23             Jesus before Pilate

1: And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2: And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 3: And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4: Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5: And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

Jesus before Herod

6: When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 7: And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 8: And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9: Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10: And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11: And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 12: And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

Jesus sentenced

13: And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14: Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 16: I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17: (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) 18: And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20: Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21: But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22: And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23: And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24: And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25: And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

When the Jewish religious leaders took Christ to Pilate we find that the charge against him had evaporated and new charges which Pilate will relate to have been substituted. They said that Jesus was perverting the nation and that he was encouraging the people to not pay tribute to Caesar and that he was a rival Christ the king. Pilate cut to the chase and said, ‘Are you the King of the Jews’? Christ answered, ‘Yes’. Pilate reported back to his accusers, ‘I don’t find any fault in this man’. The reaction was vehement; they spoke of his influence throughout Judea and Galilee. Which are not charges at all? It was not a crime to be popular. Pilate then asked whether Christ was a Galilean. Then he sent his to Herod who had jurisdiction in Galilee. Herod was very pleased to see Christ. He had heard so much about him and wanted to see a miracle. Herod had a lot of questions but Christ did not answer one. Herod had murdered his partner in the Gospel John the Baptist; therefore he had nothing to say to him. Then Herod abused Christ and mocked him putting on him a robe of authority. And then he sent him back to Pilate. Pilate – ever the Roman spoke to the Religious leaders saying that he and Herod had found no charge against him so he was going to beat him and release him. It was a custom to release a prisoner at the Passover. But the people called for Barabbas (The Son of the Father) to be released instead. He was imprisoned for murder and sedition. And they called for the crucifixion of Christ. Pilate is amazed and outraged. He asks Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him. Eventually Pilate is shouted down and he caved in and gave the order for Christ’s death.