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Chapter 120 “Pilate Sought to Release Him”
“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” (John 19:1-12)
In John 19:12 God the Holy Spirit tells us that “Pilate sought to release” the Lord Jesus. Pilate was the man who signed the order of execution; but the Spirit of God tells us that “Pilate sought to release him.” Pilate had no regard for God or for the things of God; but “Pilate sought to release him.” Without Pilate’s order the Lord Jesus would not have been crucified; but Pilate gave the order. Still, “Pilate sought to release him.” When I read those words, I have to ask, “Why, then, did Pilate issue the order of execution? Why did Pilate have the Lord of Glory crucified?” Only one answer can be given. — God ordained it before the world began and brought it to pass in providence.
Let all who read these lines understand that throughout this scene, indeed, throughout every scene of history, it is always the will of God that rules, never the will and devices of men.
God’s Sovereignty
There are countless illustrations of God’s absolute sovereignty in the Holy Scriptures. Everywhere the Book of God shouts, “The heavens do rule!” But nothing so marvelously and wondrously sets forth God’s absolute sovereignty as his sacrifice of his darling Son in the place of sinners at Calvary. The Triune God purposed to save his people by the slaughter of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the cursed tree before the worlds were made. The Lord God sovereignly ordered all the affairs of providence to bring it to pass, exactly according to his eternal purpose, by Pilate’s hand (Acts 4:27-28). When our Lord’s hour had come, when the due time had arrived when God would commend his love toward us in the sacrifice of his darling Son, Pilate gave the order and the hellish deed was performed. — The Son of God was murdered by the hands of wicked men! Thus, by the sacrifice of Himself, the Lamb of God obtained eternal redemption for sinners. If you would have that salvation that Christ obtained by the shedding of his own precious blood, trust him. Believe on the Son of God and that salvation is yours. Faith is the evidence of redemption and of redemption applied.
I repeat, nothing displays God’s glorious sovereignty like the wondrous accomplishment of redemption by Christ. And, perhaps, the one aspect of our Lord’s crucifixion that shows God’s sovereign character as God is the fact that Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, gave the order of crucifixion. Let’s look at the record given in this passage of Inspiration.
Here we see our Lord Jesus Christ in Pilate’s judgment hall. This passage presents us with a very strange event. — Here the Judge of all the earth stands to be judged of wicked men! — He that shall soon judge the world in righteousness is judged most unrighteously! — He that shall one day set upon the throne of judgment with ten thousands of his saints and angels, stands as a prisoner before the bar of men!
Justice Perverted
Never in the pages of history was justice so violently and deliberately abused. The Son of God was denied the rights of justice given to a common thief or murderer. Before one witness was produced to testify against him, before any evidence was weighed, the Lord of glory was beaten, mocked, stripped, and abused by the vile hatred of men.
Who can comprehend the depths of humiliation endured by the God-man? That One “Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” now “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross!”
Judas made good on his bargain to betray our Lord. No sooner did he kiss the Savior than the chief priests and Pharisees had his hands bound and led him away. These wolves of the night thirsted for the blood of the Lamb of God. Their malice would not allow any delay. They could not sleep until they had his precious, innocent blood. Therefore, they resolved to kill him as soon as possible. But, so that it would not look like downright murder, they formalized it with a trial. You are familiar with the story.
Sequence of Events
Let me remind you of the events of that night. — Our Redeemer was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and hurried along the road which crosses the brook Kidron. Like David, who passed over that brook weeping as he went, our great David passed over the brook weeping as he went. The brook Kidron was that into which all the filth of the Temple sacrifices was thrown. And our dear Savior walked through that black stream as though he were some foul and filthy thing. He was led into Jerusalem by the sheep-gate, the gate through which the lambs of the Passover were always led. Little did those men understand that they were fulfilling to the very letter those types which God had ordained by the Law of Moses. These wicked men led the Lamb of God to slaughter.
May the Lord himself sanctify our hearts as we follow our Redeemer through his trial and cruel mockery. First, they led Immanuel to the house of Annas, the ex-high priest. There they made a brief call to gratify the blood thirsty wretch with the sight of his victim. Then they hurriedly brought the Son of God to the house of Caiaphas. There the members of the Sanhedrim were assembled, to take counsel against the Lord and against his Anointed. Third, they drug the Lamb of God through the streets to Pilate’s judgment hall. There they sought a legal sentence of execution to be pronounced upon the Lord of Glory. Fourth, Pilate sent the blood thirsty crowd to Herod, the governor of Galilee. Finally, the Lord of Glory is returned to Pilate’s judgment hall. Here he was tried, beaten, mocked, and sentenced to die. This is where we find him in John 19:1-12.
Pilate Overruled
You will not find a more striking and vivid demonstration of God’s absolute sovereignty than in Pilate’s treatment of the Lord Jesus. First, Pilate was assured of his innocence, acknowledging no less than seven times, “I find no fault in him.” Second, Pilate desired to release him (Luke 23:20, 22; John 19:12; Acts 3:13). — “Third, Pilate’s wife urged him not to sentence the Lord Jesus, but to let him go (Matthew 27:19). Fourth, Pilate tried to bring about his acquittal, telling the Jews to judge him themselves (John 18:31). He sent him to Herod, only for Christ to be returned (Luke 23:7). He tried to get the Jews to have him execute Barabbas (John 18:39-40). Yet, in the end, Pilate sentenced the Lord of Glory to be crucified! Why? Because thus it was ordained from eternity!
Man’s will is nothing, when it runs contrary to of God’s will! Here was Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, determined to release the Savior. Yet, he was prevented from doing so. From all eternity God had decreed that Pilate would sentence his Son to death; and all earth and hell combined could not thwart the purpose of the Almighty. He would not be all-mighty if they could! The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, was “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23).
As God’s servant, Peter fearlessly announced, “Both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done” (Acts 4:27-28). This is not simply “Calvinism,” it is the explicit declaration of Holy Scripture; and woe be unto the one who dares to deny it. As Arthur Pink put it…
“Christ had to be sentenced by Pilate because the eternal counsels of Deity had foreordained it.” The Lord Jesus died for sinners both of the Jews and of the Gentiles. Therefore Divine wisdom determined that both Jews and Gentiles have a direct hand in His death.
Many object to this. We are told, “Such doctrine reduces Pilate to a mere robot!” Were that the case, so be it. It is far, far better to reduce a man to a robot than to deny the Word of the living God and reduce the Almighty to something less than man. Whether we understand the teaching of Scripture or not, it is not ours to argue with or alter the Word of God, but to bow in absolute submission to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures.
Pilate’s Responsibility
Yes, God is sovereign, always, everywhere, and in all things. Yet, every man is totally responsible for his own sin. The Gospel records present Pilate to us as a man responsible for his crimes against God. The Lord Jesus addressed himself to Pilate’s conscience. — “Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37). God faithfully warned him that the Savior was a just Man and to do nothing against him (Matthew 27:19). Finally, the Savior himself told Pilate that he was sinning in holding him (John 19:11).
See that you understand the teaching of Holy Scripture in this regard. — God is absolutely sovereign; and man is fully responsible. Let me show you five things in this passage of Holy Scripture.
Christ Mocked
First, in verses 1-3, the Spirit of God reminds us of our Savior’s scourging and mockery as our Substitute.
“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him with their hands.”
Having failed in his attempt to release the Lord Jesus by forcing the Jews to choose between him and Barabbas, Pilate ordered the Lord to be scourged, stripped naked, tied to a post, and severely whipped. It appears from verse 12 that Pilate thought that the Jews might be satisfied with that torturous procedure. — “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” Let us never forget that even here, in Pilate’s judgment hall, our dear Savior endured all that he endured as our Substitute, in our room and place (Psalm 89:30-34; Isaiah 53:5).
This scourging was followed by a mock coronation in the soldiers’ hall (Matthew 27:26-31). The soldiers wanted to torture him and to mock him, particularly mocking the fact that he was said to be “the King of the Jews.” The cruel, thorny crown served both purposes. No doubt, that crown of thorns reaches back to Genesis 3:18 in connection with the thorns and thistles promised Adam’s sons as a result of the fall. Our blessed Lord “bore our sins in his own body on the tree.” And, when he was made sin for us, the curse of our sins was made his. He became a curse for us! — “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).
Then the soldiers threw a purple robe over his shoulders, put a reed in his hand to represent a king’s sceptre (Genesis 49:10), and mockingly marched around him, beating him with their fists, spitting upon him, and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Our Savior was delivered to Pilate charged with making himself King. He was mocked by the soldiers as a king, and he was crucified with this charge written over his head: “The King of the Jews.” He is indeed the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is owned, received, and acknowledged as such by all who are saved by his grace (Romans 10:9-10). And one day every creature in heaven, earth, and hell will bow before him and acknowledge him as King of kings and Lord of lords (Philippians 2:9-11).
Innocence Proclaimed
Second, our Savior’s perfect innocence is publicly proclaimed. — “Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him” (v. 4). Pilate was a troubled, confused man. He was afraid of this man, Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:19). He did not want to get the Jews stirred up against him. He was worried that word of this tumult might reach Caesar’s ears and endanger his position. When he found no fault in the Lord Jesus, knowing the Jews had an evil motive in the whole affair (Matthew 27:18), he tried one more scheme. Pilate went out before the people and said, “Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.” I remind you that Pilate publicly proclaimed our Savior’s innocence no less than seven times (John 18:38; 19:4; 19:6 — Compare Exodus 12:5; Deuteronomy 17:1; 1 Peter 1:18-20).
“Behold the Man”
Third, there is a striking sentence in verse 5 that demands our attention. — “Behold the Man!” No doubt, Pilate hoped to stir some sympathy and compassion in this mob by pointing to the Lord Jesus, as he stood before them beaten, covered with his own blood and the foul spit of men, crowned with thorns, and wearing a purple rag, and said, “Behold the Man!” I do not doubt at all that Pilate was saying, “Look at him. He is a man like you. Surely, He deserves some sympathy.” But there is much more here than Pilate’s intention.
There stood the Lord of Glory, our God-man Mediator, our Substitute and Surety, wearing the crown of thorns, the mocking robe, bloody and beaten, his face and body marred as no other man (Isaiah 52:14). I say to you, “Behold the Man!” Christ is the Man spoken of throughout the Book of God (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12). He is the sinless Man, the suffering Man, the substitute Man (1 Timothy 2:5), the sympathizing Man, the sovereign Man, the saving Man!
Notice that in verse 5 “Pilate” is italicized. His name was added here by our translators. So, if we read verse 5 omitting Pilate’s name, it may convey another message altogether. — “Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe, and saith unto them, Behold the man!”
If it was the Lord Jesus himself who said, “Behold the man,” the text has another meaning altogether. How often in the Old Testament we see our Savior calling us to behold him. — “Behold me! Behold me!” (Isaiah 65:1). — “Look unto me, and be ye saved” (Isaiah 45:22). God the Father calls for us to behold this Man as his Righteous Servant and our unfailing Savior (Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 12:18). God the Holy Spirit gives us the same sweet call (John 1:29, 36).
When the Lord Jesus came forth before the chief priests and rulers, having given “his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair,” as the Prophet said he would, our ever-gracious, all-glorious Christ calls upon the very sinners who heaped such foul cruelties upon him to “Behold the Man!” Oh, may God the Holy Spirit give you eyes of faith to “Behold the Man” (Zechariah 12:10; 13:1). Blessed Holy Spirit, graciously cause me ever to “Behold the Man,” to so behold him that my whole heart erupts in ever-increasing faith in and love for Him who loved me and gave himself for me!
Pilate’s Fear
Fourth, we see the judge and executioner trembling before the One he condemned (vv. 6-9).
“When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.”
It was not the people, but the chief priests and officers of the temple who cried, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” These were men who made great pretensions to piety and religion. They were the religious leaders of the nation. How wicked is the unregenerate heart, especially when it is clothed in religious garb!
Pilate said, “You crucify him, for I find no fault in Him.” Again, Pilate declared our Lord’s innocence. By means of this wretched, worthless, wishy-washy politician, our God declared the innocence and holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:21-22; Isaiah 53:9-10). Our Savor is the perfect man, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. As such he is our Representative and our Righteousness before God (Romans 5:19; 1 Peter 3:18). In his holy life he honored the law of God for us; and in his death he satisfied Divine justice (Romans 4:25).
The Jews knew exactly what our Lord Jesus claimed about his eternal Deity. Liberals, Mormons, Russellites, and others may not be able to discern the meaning of his words, but the Jews did. They understood perfectly what the Lord Jesus had said to them (John 10:30-33). He declared himself to be God; and according to the law, if he were not God, as he claimed, he was to be put to death.
On top of all his other doubts and fears, this new revelation caused Pilate to be terrified. He must have thought, “Is it possible that this Man is related to Deity?” He remembered his wife’s dream and her warning. He knew that the Lord Jesus was innocent. He had heard of his life and miracles. He had to have been impressed with the Lord’s conduct throughout this whole affair. So Pilate took the Saviour back into the judgment hall and asked, “Where are you from?” But Christ gave him no answer. He deserved no answer! He had totally ignored every word our Lord spoke, compromised justice by scourging an innocent man, and had no other motive through it all except his own welfare.
Our Savior gave Pilate no answer, because he did not wish to escape the cross. He was willing to die for us, as our sin-atoning Substitute (Isaiah 53:7).
Sovereignty Asserted
Fifth, our Lord Jesus, even as he stood before Pilate as a common malefactor, wrongfully accused and unjustly condemned, asserted God’s sovereignty over his judge and executioner (vv. 10-12).
“Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”
Pilate’s reply is natural. He is fearful and afraid. His conscience is troubling him. His whole domain is up in arms over this one Man; and being totally confused at the serenity and calmness of this Jesus, who refuses to defend himself while facing death on a cruel cross, he cried, “Do you stand in silence and refuse to answer me when you know that I have the power to crucify you or release you? How dare you! Do you know who I am and what power I have?” Our Lord replied, “You could have no power or authority over me at all, except the power my Father gives to you” (John 3:27; Acts 4:26-28).
Our Lord was saying that Pilate, as Pharaoh, was an instrument used by God to accomplish his purpose and glory, nothing more (Romans 9:17). Robert Hawker rightly observed…
“Jesus looked over the heads of all his foes, to eye the hand of Jehovah in this appointment. And it would be always well for you and for me, and for all the Lord’s people to do the same, in all the lesser considerations we meet with in life.”
Pilate’s sin was great; but the greater sin belonged to these religious leaders who so grossly sinned against the Scriptures they claimed to believe and the light God had given as they heard the Lord Jesus Christ speak (Luke 12:47-48). Israel knew the Scriptures concerning Messiah; Pilate did not; and the “greater sin” was committed by men who, with the Scriptures in their hands, had greater light.
Be warned! — Do not heap upon yourself the greater condemnation by trampling underfoot the blood of the Son of God, by crucifying the Lord Jesus afresh by your willful unbelief!
Pilate’s power was God-given power. Pilate’s power was “from above.” He was the governor of Judea because God made him governor. There is no power that is not of God. — “The powers that be are ordained of God.” The source of all earthly power is heavenly. It is not in man or from man, but from the King of kings, the Prince of the kings of the earth. The God of Glory put Pilate in his place when the fulness of time was come, so that his darling Son would be crucified by Roman law, as the Scriptures of the Old Testament and our Lord Jesus himself had declared he must be (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 13:26-30, 38-41).
“Pilate sought to release Him,” but he couldn’t because he was Jehovah’s Righteous Servant, Jehovah’s voluntary Bond-slave, who sought no release from service because of his love for his Master, his love for his wife, and his love for His children!
Don Fortner
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