Jesus Before Pilate

Transcript

GR 738
2/16/1986
Jesus Before Pilate
Matthew 27:11-26
Gil Rugh

Matthew presents the series of trials that Christ went through leading up to His crucifixion. Matthew 26 included the ecclesiastical or Jewish trial where Christ came before the Jews, including a series of confrontations before Annas, before Caiaphas, and before the Sanhedrin. They come to the settled conviction that He must be crucified, but they had to turn Him over to Roman authorities because the Romans reserved the right of capital punishment to themselves. There were occasions when the Jews took the law into their own hands, such as the mob violence which resulted in the execution of Stephen in the book of Acts, but remember the Jewish leaders were concerned with keeping some semblance of legality in this situation. They did not particularly want to make Jesus a martyr; they wanted Him executed as a criminal to further undermine the people’s confidence and acceptance of Him. In Matthew 27:1, 2 the Sanhedrin determined that Jesus must die and they took Him to the governor, Pilate.
Then Matthew broke into the account of Jesus’ trials and in Matthew 27:3-10 he described the end of the betrayer, Judas. Judas was overwhelmed with remorse, not resulting in biblical repentance, but simply full of remorse and regret. He realized that he had betrayed an innocent man and that he had sinned in being part of the crucifixion of Christ. He wanted to undo what he had done so he attempted to return the money to the Jewish leaders, but they would have nothing to do with it. Instead of recognizing his sinfulness and his need of forgiveness and cleansing and turning to God in His Son, Jesus Christ, Judas went and hung himself. The remorse and regret of the world is always destructive; it accomplishes no good end. Many people in the world are overwhelmed with their sinfulness and with the impact and consequences of their sinfulness, but that does nothing but drive them to despair and hopelessness. Only in Jesus Christ is there hope of forgiveness, and Judas was unwilling to recognize Him and submit to Him. Matthew showed how even Judas’ sinful actions fulfilled the Scripture, as Judas self-destructed, if you will, and the money that he was paid was used to buy a burying ground for non-Jews.
The civil trial of Christ is described beginning in Matthew 27:11. This trial took place within the Roman framework. Again there were 3 aspects to the civil trial, although reading Matthew’s account you get the idea that it is one continuous trial before Pilate. But actually, Jesus was before Pilate, then Pilate sent Him to Herod, then Herod sent Him back to Pilate, and Pilate sentenced Him to death.

Matthew 27:11 says, “Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you say.’” A
little bit about the background of this one called the governor, Pontius Pilate, regarding how he got to this position and a little bit of his character will help understand his responses during the trial of Christ.
Pilate was appointed governor of this region of Palestine in A.D. 26 by Tiberius Caesar. He ruled for ten years, from A.D. 26 to A.D. 36. Pilate was governor, but you have to go back a little bit to find out how the Romans ended up with a governor ruling the region of Judea in the first place. When the New Testament began, Herod the Great was sitting on the throne in all of Palestine.
The whole region, north to south, east to west, was in the domain of the one called Herod the Great. He was the one who had the infants at Bethlehem massacred. In 4 B.C. he died, and in his will he divided his kingdom among three sons, one of those three sons being Archelaus. Archelaus was given the region of Judea and a southeasterly portion called Idumaea. Another son who is important because he was involved in the trial of Christ is Herod the tetrarch or Herod Antipas. He ruled the region of Galilee as well as a region across the Jordan River, known as Peraea. A third son had some of the northeastern territory that does not come into play in the Gospel accounts. His name was Philip.
The two key individuals that impacted the trials were Archelaus and Herod Antipas. Archelaus ruled from 4 B.C. till A.D. 6, but he proved such an incompetent ruler and cruel and hated man that the Romans removed him in A.D. 6 because the local rulers were only of value to the Romans as long as they promoted loyalty to Rome and did not allow any trouble among the people under them. Archelaus could not rule so he was removed in A.D. 6, and the Romans replaced him with a Roman governor.
Pontius Pilate was the fifth in the series of Roman governors that began in A.D. 6, and in A.D.
26 Pilate came to take charge of this territory. Pilate is known from the New Testament accounts and from some extra-biblical accounts, particularly the Jewish historian Josephus, which give a picture of the kind of man he was and the problems he had. Some of the things that Pilate did will help with understanding the dilemma he faced with the crucifixion of Christ. He hated the Jews and yet he feared the Jews for what they could do to him; if they got out of hand, the Romans would replace him.
Early in his reign Pilate minted some coins. The Romans had their own coins with the image of Caesar on them. In Matthew 22 when Christ asked for the coin and asked whose image was on the coin, the answer was Caesar’s. Christ said to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Matt. 22:21). The local rulers in various parts of the Roman Empire were also permitted to mint local coinage. The previous governors for Rome had always placed things on these coins that were not offensive to the Jews, but Pilate put a pagan symbol on the coins, an omen, being a superstitious Roman. This greatly offended the Jews because they were required to deal in this currency that they viewed as defiling. Their reaction was so strong that two years later, Pilate had to withdraw that currency. But that was how Pilate functioned. He did what he could to antagonize and manifest his hatred to the Jews, but when they really put the pressure on him, he gave in.
This happened on another occasion. The Roman soldiers carried shields that had pagan images on them. The Jews viewed these as defiling, so previous governors never brought these shields into the city of Jerusalem. They would store them outside the city. When Pilate came to rule, he had the soldiers come into the city with their shields. This caused a riot among the people, and again he had to give in to the pressure and have the shields taken out of the city. The Jews began to view him as one who would antagonize them, but if they put the pressure on, they would get their way.
On another occasion, Pilate built an aqueduct to carry water to Jerusalem and they needed it. But Pilate went to the temple treasury and stole the money to build the aqueduct. There was a great outcry among the Jews and they began to assemble to protest. Pilate had his soldiers dress as common people, and when he gave the signal, the soldiers turned on the crowds and began to beat them with clubs and killed a number of them. The outcry was so great regarding this that Rome took notice. That caused a little bit of fear on Pilate’s part.
Luke 13:1 says that Pilate slaughtered some men from Galilee when they were in Jerusalem offering their sacrifices and mixed their blood with the blood of the sacrifices, making him contemptible and a hated person to the Jews.
He was finally removed from office in A.D. 36 when some Samaritans caused a little bit of a problem and were going to climb a mountain. He got all in a dither about it and sent his soldiers out and massacred them. Rome finally decided that he was just incompetent, and they recalled him to Rome.
This is the kind of man that would oversee the trial of Christ. He was a proud, arrogant man who was powerful within his limited framework. He hated his subjects, but he was afraid of them. His only value to Rome was if he was absolutely loyal to Caesar and if he ruled his region without any problem. Any time he would have to call for assistance from Rome would be an indication that he was incompetent, and he wanted to avoid that at all costs.
Matthew indicates that Christ stood before Pilate and Pilate questioned him saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Note the emphasis or change in emphasis that has taken place. The Jews were not accusing Him of blasphemy because there would be no reason for the Romans to be interested in such a charge. That was a religious matter. So the Jews charged Him with being a king in conflict with Caesar because that would become a Roman matter. The Jews were not even being honest. They wanted the Romans to try Him as a king. This put the Jews in an awkward position because they were asking the Romans to crucify Him because He claimed to be King of the Jews. It is interesting that Israel called for the execution of its Messiah. Jesus responded to Pilate, “It is as you say.” Roman law required the witness to respond.

John 18:28-38 gives more detail regarding Pilate’s confrontation with Christ. They had some discussion and interaction, and Jesus said told Pilate that He was born to be a king. Pilate asked Him what He had done to make the Jewish leaders made at Him, and John 18:36-38 says, “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’ Therefore Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them ‘I find no guilt in Him.’” As the trial of Christ continued, God repeatedly called various pagan individuals to testify to the innocence of His Son. At the climax Pilate again declared that he found no guilt in Christ; He was not worthy of condemnation.
Matthew wrote that Christ was continually being accused by the Jews but He would not answer them. “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?’ And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed” (Matt. 27:12-14). Pilate found it remarkable to see that Christ was being falsely accused and yet He was completely composed and in charge. Pilate was amazed. This man ought to be fighting for his life. He should be arguing and fighting and battling, but He just sat there quietly because Christ was fulfilling Isaiah 53:7 which said He would not answer His accusers. Was their any point in it? They were not looking for the truth. They were simply seeking His destruction.
According to Luke it was at this point that Pilate in the course of the discussion learned that Jesus was from Galilee. Matthew did not record this, but it is important to take note of it. Pilate’s territory included Judea, but it did not include Galilee. Galilee was ruled by the son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas or Herod the tetrarch, and Pilate thought this might be a way to extricate himself from a dilemma. Since Jesus was a Galilean from Herod’s territory, Pilate would let Herod worry about it. So Pilate sent some soldiers with Christ to Herod.
This was the same Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded because John preached against the illicit relationship that Herod had entered into with his brother’s wife, Herodias. It was because of Herodias and her daughter, Salome, that John the Baptist was beheaded. Luke 9:7-9 says, “Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. Herod said, ‘I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?’ And he kept trying to see Him.” As the word of Christ and His ministry spread, some people were saying that He was John the Baptist raised from the dead and others were saying that He was Elijah or that one of the prophets appeared. Herod knew he had had John beheaded, so he had a desire to see Christ for some time.

Christ referred to Herod in Luke 13:31 when Christ was told, “Herod wants to kill You.” “And He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox, “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.”’” (Luke 13:32). Herod also had a desire to see Christ destroyed. Christ referred to him as “that fox”. Herod did not rule for 43 years, from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39, without being a cunning and clever person. He had to balance his relationship with the Jews with his relationship with Rome. He survived through the changing of emperors in Rome on several occasions. He was a very clever and wicked man. When Pilate sent Christ to Herod, he had his opportunity to confront Him.
Luke 23:6-11 says, “But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.” To Herod, it was just like a magician had come. Herod wanted Jesus to do something for him, to perform for him. Obviously Christ did not do that.
If Christ had wanted to display His power before the rulers of the world, He had ample chance, many opportunities. He could have said to Pilate, “Yes, I’m a king. Watch this. Look at those angels. What do you think of that? ” That would have impressed Pilate. And He could have said to Herod, “Do you want a miracle? All right, I will make you stand on your head on the ceiling. ” That would have impressed Herod, but He was not in the business of entertaining people; so He would not even talk to Herod.
Isn’t it amazing? Jesus is the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, the One before whom all mankind will stand to be judged in light of their eternal destiny, and Herod treated Him with contempt and mocked Him. Herod dressed Him in the clothing of a king and made fun of Him and then sent Him back to Pilate. Note that there had been deterioration in Herod. The Scripture says that when John the Baptist was alive, Herod used to enjoy listening to John the Baptist. When he had him in prison, Herod would call for John and listen to him. He was sorry that he had to have John beheaded, but he did it. But at this time Herod had deteriorated, he wanted to have Christ killed. Herod was confronted with the Son of God and he just treated Him with contempt.
As I study this portion I am reminded of how people fail to keep things in eternal perspective. Pilate seemed so important within this small, little area that he ruled. Herod thought he was some great and mighty person, worthy of honor and esteem. And the Son of God stood before him and he treated Him with contempt. The only reason most people ever think about Herod Antipas or Pontius Pilate today is in regard to their contacts with Jesus Christ. The only things most people know about Herod Antipas or Pontius Pilate is what they read about them in the Gospels. These men did not recognize it then, but the only issue that would really matter over the centuries of time and through the eons of eternity would be this contact with Jesus Christ. But Herod was too taken up with his own importance. When Pilate honored him and deferred to him because he was the ruler of Galilee, he treated with contempt the One before whom he will stand some day to be judged. It is remarkable how we lose sight of the eternal perspective of life.
Luke 23:12 says that Pilate and Herod became friends after that occasion. They had been enemies before, but their common agreement and contempt regarding Jesus Christ brought them into friendship. Incidentally, Herod lost his reign also as Pilate did. He was sent into exile in disgrace in A.D. 39 by the Caesar. So his end was rather inglorious also.
Herod returned Christ to Pilate, so Pilate again had the responsibility. Matthew 27:15, 16 says, “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.” The Roman governor had authority to pardon as well as condemn, and the Roman governors had made it a practice at the Passover to release a prisoner to the Jews as a way of keeping their good will. The Romans were holding a notorious prisoner, Barabbas, and Mark 15:7 says that Barabbas had been guilty of sedition. He had led an insurrection against Rome and had committed murder in the process, so he was a lawless murderer.

Pilate thought he would give them a choice between Barabbas and Christ, and obviously they wouldn’t choose a vile criminal like Barabbas. “So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over” (Matt. 27:17, 18). Pilate made a contrast between Barabbas and Jesus, the one who was called the Messiah. Isn’t it amazing? This pagan ruler saw through the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Pilate knew they were envious of Jesus and that His popularity was the real issue. But he did not think that they were so committed to their enmity and hatred of Christ that they would choose Barabbas.
According to Matthew 27:19, at this point Pilate was interrupted, “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.’” It must have been an important message that she marked urgent to interrupt him as he was sitting to judge a man regarding crucifixion. She had an important message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man.” God in His sovereign control called the wife of Pilate to testify on behalf of Jesus Christ that He was a righteous man. Pilate said he didn’t find any guilt in Him. Judas said he had betrayed innocent blood. Everyone involved was brought to a confrontation with the innocence of the One who is the spotless Lamb of God.
Pilate’s wife said, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” There are no other details about this. This is the only glimpse into this incident that is recorded. Pilate’s wife had a dream and in it she was confronted with the reality of Christ and His innocence, His righteousness. What that dream was we are not told, but it made a tremendous impact on her, so much so that she sent an urgent message which interrupted the court proceedings before Pilate to deliver it to him.
A Roman like Pilate would be very, very aware of the seriousness of this event. Pilate was a very superstitious man. This is evident from the coins he minted early in his reign. The omen he put on the coins was an indication of his superstition. Every Roman knew that if Julius Caesar had heeded his wife’s dreams, he would not have been assassinated in the Roman Senate in 44 B.C. The wife of Julius Caesar had dreamed of his destruction, and she had encouraged him in light of her dreams not to go to the Senate that day. He disregarded her dreams and went and was assassinated. This was common knowledge among the Romans. This was a bad omen if there ever was one that Pilate’s wife had suffered these things in a dream and told him not to have anything to do with this righteous man. Should he go contrary to that and endanger himself, knowing what he knows as a Roman, a superstitious Roman?
The pressure was building on Pilate. “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death” (Matt. 27:20). There was no room for middle ground. Those that were opposed to Christ were opposed to Christ. The religious leaders who were promoting and leading the opposition to Jesus Christ were stirring people up against Christ to encourage them to ask for Barabbas. The crowds will be held responsible for their decision since every individual will stand accountable for the decision he makes regarding Christ, but they were encouraged in this decision by their religious leaders.
The question was put to the crowd again, Matthew 27:21-23 says, “But the governor said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Crucify Him!’ And he said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they kept shouting all the more, saying, ‘Crucify Him!’” Pilate was aghast. Note his cry, “Why, what evil has He done?” This was another testimony from Pilate, the pagan judge in this trial, that he could not find any evidence of anything to convict Jesus. Isn’t it amazing how God is so clear that no one had any doubt about the innocence of Jesus Christ? But the crowds shouted, “Let Him be crucified! ”
So Pilate had a problem. Pilate had declared Christ’s innocence. Pilate’s wife had declared that Christ was a righteous Man. In Luke 23:14, 15, Pilate told the multitude that not only could he not find anything that Christ had done, but Herod had also declared Him innocent, finding nothing wrong with Him, so he returned Christ to Pilate. Pilate, Pilate’s wife, Judas, and Herod Antipas, wretch that he was, could find nothing wrong with Jesus Christ. Pilate in effect asked, “What evil has He done? You ’re calling upon me to crucify a Man who has done nothing wrong." Pilate recognized that crucifixion was an awful death, so awful that it was forbidden in the Roman Empire to crucify a Roman citizen no matter what he did. If you were a Roman citizen, you were above crucifixion no matter what you did. These Jews, just out of envy, were calling for the crucifixion of an innocent Man.
Pilate was progressively boxed in. Matthew 27:24 says, “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.’” He had to do something. People like to think that there are alternatives concerning Christ, but there aren’t any alternatives. When you are confronted with Christ, you must either believe that He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and submit to Him, or you stand against Him. There is no middle ground. Every person hearing this message is in that same position as Pilate, confronted with the reality of the person of Christ and driven to a decision.
The tragedy is that some people try to extricate themselves, like Pilate. “I just don’t want anything to do with it. My life is busy. I am an important Roman governor. I just can’t get involved with this. ” So he called for water to wash his hands of the whole thing. But he couldn’t wash his hands of the whole thing. He was called to account before Jesus Christ. He will stand before Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead. And yet he thought he could wash his hands of any responsibility and any guilt.
The washing of the hands was a Jewish ceremony; Pilate was invoking Jewish symbolism. Deuteronomy 21:6, 7, provided that to declare innocence from the shedding of blood, a Jew would take a basin of water and wash his hands publicly. That was the way of declaring, “I had nothing to do with the shedding of that blood. ” Pilate used a Jewish symbol to convey a message to the Jews. He was telling them, “I am washing my hands of this matter. I have nothing to do with the death of this innocent Man. ”
But Pilate could not be free from the responsibility because after he washed and dried his hands he said, “Okay, crucify Him. ” He was the only person who could give the approval. The power of capital punishment was vested in Him. So even after he washed his hands, the crucifixion could only take place when Pilate said it was okay. Either he would stand for Christ or he would stand against Christ. There is no way to wash your hands and stand in some middle ground.
How many people hear the message of Christ? They are confronted with the reality of Christ, but their response is, “I just don’t want to get involved in it. I don’t want to have to think about it. I’ve got my job on my mind. I’m working for my next promotion. I’ve got to make a living. I’ve got my home. I’ve got my plans. ” They try to avoid the issue that stands as the central issue for all eternity.
What does it matter what kind of palace Pilate lived in? Who cares how many chariots he had? Who cares what his bank account was like? Who cares where he took his vacations? But do you know what really does matter? His response to Jesus Christ. Two thousand years later, all that matters about Pilate is how he responded to his confrontation with Christ. Two billion years from now, all that will matter regarding Pontius Pilate is how he responded to his confrontation with Jesus Christ.
It is easy to see this with Pilate or with Herod, but we forget it concerning ourselves. In two thousand years all that will really matter concerning you is how you responded to Jesus Christ. Did you believe in Him or did you not believe in Him? Two billion years from now all that will really matter about you is how you responded to your confrontation with Jesus Christ. If only I could put life in proper perspective in order to see that this is what really matters.
Pilate couldn’t conceive of the fact that this One standing before him was the One on whom his eternal destiny depended. He could not grasp that. Jesus just seemed insignificant. Some people hear the Gospel of Christ, but it just seems like a passing thing in their busy life. They fail to understand that it is the most significant moment in their entire life on this earth and for all of eternity.
Matthew 27:25 continues, “And all the people said, ‘His blood shall be on us and on our children!’” That is one of the most serious and awesome verses for the history of Israel that is in the Bible. In other words, the crowd said “We take upon ourselves and our children the responsibility for the death of the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah of Israel. ” The nation, Israel, is responsible as a nation for the death of the Son of God, their Messiah.
I want you to listen carefully through this, lest you misunderstand. I am not anti-Semitic. I believe the Jews are God’s chosen people. I believe that the Jews are destined to be the key nation on the earth, ruling the earth with Jesus, the Messiah, as their King. But I also believe that as a nation, Israel bears the responsibility and is suffering under the judgment of God for their rejection and crucifixion of their Messiah. Matthew 27:25 says that “all the people” joined with their leaders in saying they would take responsibility for His death.
I told you that Pilate couldn’t escape responsibility, but Israel’s responsibility was greater. In John 19:1-12, John gave more details of this trial. Pilate asked Jesus why He did not defend Himself to Pilate, and in John 19:11, “Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.’” This is an important statement on civil government. Jesus says civil government is divinely ordained. Jesus said that Pilate, the godless pagan man that he was, ruled by God’s appointment. God had given him that responsibility. Jesus also said that the one who turned Him over to the civil government had the greater responsibility. Pilate was in his position of responsibility by virtue of a constituted civil government. The Jews as a nation bear the responsibility for turning the Messiah over to those civil authorities and demanding crucifixion. So Pilate was accountable; he will give an account for His sin. But Jesus said that Israel had greater sin because they turned Him over to the Roman authorities for this crucifixion.
The account of Jesus before Pilate in Matthew concludes in Matthew 27:26, “Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”
Barabbas was delivered. Pilate delivered Christ to scourging and to crucifixion. He had washed his hands of it, but he was not done with it.
You might wash your hands of Jesus Christ. You might not give Him another thought. But be sure you are not done with Him because some day you will confront Him again, if not in this life, in eternity. It is just that sure.
Peter said that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus Christ. I want to tie this together so you don’t misunderstand. In Acts 3:13-15, Peter was preaching and said, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.” He was addressing the nation and told them they delivered and disowned Jesus. In the other Gospel accounts, Pilate said he was going to let Him go, but the Jews told him if he let Jesus go, then he was not a friend of Caesar. Pilate was again boxed in. Peter told them they wanted Barabbas, the murderer, in the place of the Messiah of Israel and that they put to death the Prince or author of life. Peter put the responsibility squarely on Israel.
It amazes me how much God is in control even of these events where sinful man is venting his hatred of God. Judas had to testify to the innocence of Christ. Pilate had to testify to the innocence of Christ. Pilate’s wife had to testify to the innocence of Christ. Herod Antipas testified to the innocence of Christ. Even in the exchange, Barabbas for Christ, Jesus took the place of a lawless murderer. That lawless murderer went free and Jesus the Lamb of God died in his place, clearly picturing what was transpiring for all humanity. As the Son of God went to the cross, He was taking the place of lawless sinners so that they might go free as He paid their penalty. What a remarkable picture that God unfolds!
It is important to note that I said that Israel as a nation bears responsibility for the death of Christ, but I am not saying that every individual Jew in contrast to Gentiles bears that responsibility. There is one nation on earth that is the nation of God and that is the nation of Israel. They as a nation bear responsibility for the death by crucifixion of their Messiah, but individual responsibility for the death of that Messiah falls on every man, woman, and child. You are responsible for the death of Jesus Christ. I am responsible for the death of Jesus Christ because the Bible says He was taking our place. It was my sin that necessitated His death.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul said, “He made Him who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, taking our place, paying the penalty for our sin so that we might have His righteousness.
It is clearly laid out in Colossians 2:13, 14 where Paul wrote about the matter of the crucifixion of Christ, “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” When the Romans crucified a criminal, it was the custom to list the offenses for which he was being crucified and nail it to his cross. For Christ Jesus, King of the Jews, He was being crucified for being a king in opposition to Caesar. But God said that as He looked at that cross where Christ was crucified, He saw my sins nailed there. My sin sent Him to the cross, and that is why I go free. God offers the free gift of eternal life if you will believe in His Son, that He died for you to pay the penalty for your sin. Then you can go free, cleansed and forgiven.
So I believe the Jews as a nation are responsible for the crucifixion of Christ and they are. But I also must put that in perspective, because I am responsible for the death of Christ on the cross.
In 1 Peter 2:24 Peter also wrote, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” Peter said it was our sins Christ was bearing in His body on the cross when He died. Why did Christ have to go to the cross? He had to go to the cross because I am such sinner and because you are such a sinner. Was the nation Israel responsible? Yes, they are responsible as a nation. Is Gil Rugh as an individual responsible? Yes, he is responsible because he is such a wretched sinner. Our sins sent Him to the cross.
The trial before Pilate was over in Matthew 27:26, “After having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.” So the trials of Christ were over, and He was delivered to be crucified. He had been falsely accused, condemned, and beaten. Through it all He remained composed, fulfilling Isaiah 53:7. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.” That same glorious passage in Isaiah 53 says that God has laid the iniquity of us all on Him. He was the sinless Lamb of God.
Various people, various groups confronted Christ at this time. The Jews stood against Him and called for His death, and so they bear responsibility as a nation for that death. Pilate was concerned and somewhat favorable toward Christ, but he was desirous of just getting out of this without any responsibility although he couldn’t. Herod Antipas confronted Jesus Christ, but he saw nothing there to threaten him, nothing there worthy of honoring. He mocked Him and sent Him away. Perhaps the most interesting person and the one we know the least about was Barabbas who, although he was a wretched lawless murderer, went free because the Son of God took his place on the cross.
When Christ was crucified between the two thieves, the word used for those thieves is the same word that was used to translate the description of Barabbas as an insurrectionist and a murderer. It may well be that these two thieves were two friends of Barabbas who joined him in that rebellion. They were dying but Barabbas was going free because Christ was hanging there for him.
You have the same issue to confront that Pilate had, that Herod had, that the Jews had. You have been confronted with Jesus Christ. In fact, you have more information about Christ then they had. You know now that Christ was going to die on that cross to pay the penalty for your sins. You have less excuse then those Jews had. You have less excuse then Pilate had. You have less excuse then Herod had. We see the completed plan of God which was accomplished in the death and resurrection of His Son. What excuse will you have when you give an account before Him? What hope do you have if you do not trust in Him as your Savior? Isn’t it amazing how gracious God is? He has brought you to the point of being exposed to the message of His love for you. You’re a sinner. There’s no doubt about it. God declares it. You deserve to die. There’s no doubt about it. God the judge of all the earth declares it, but God in love and mercy had His Son go to the cross to pay your penalty.
The only issue left to be settled is whether you have ever responded to that great love. Have you recognized your own sinfulness? Have you recognized that Christ was dying for you personally and in light of that, placed your confidence solely in Him as your Savior? The moment you do that, you are cleansed and forgiven for all eternity. Some day you will see Him face to face, and if you have believed in Him, He will take you to the glory of His Father’s presence. If you do not believe in Him, you too will see Him face to face, for judgment for eternity. Why would anybody in light of the revelation of God not trust in the Savior who died for them?