PER348

Pilate’s Efforts to Save Jesus

The pericope PER348 examines Pontius Pilate’s repeated attempts to save Jesus during the trial before the praetorium in Jerusalem, on a Friday morning. Based mainly on John 19.4-15, it traces the political and religious pressures that lead Pilate to condemn Jesus despite his conviction of his innocence. This passage reveals the tension between justice, political power and religious authority during the Passion of Christ.

12 min Pilate Passion of Jesus trial of Jesus crucifixion Ecce Homo 19 verses 4 books

See also

See also:

Bible texts

Matthew
Matthew (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
Mark
Mark (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
Luke
Luke (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
John
John 19.4-15 (King James Version)

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 Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Technical details

AD 33

Location: The city of Jerusalem, the praetorium in front of Pilate’s palace

Date: Friday, April 1, early in the morning

Method: We now follow John

Note on the method: John is the only one to reveal this fact

Map of Jerusalem and Its Surroundings
Friday bar graph

In a last hope, Pontius Pilate presents Jesus dressed in a red robe and crowned with thorns, thinking that the punishment should end there.

Chronological details, according to our conclusions:

_20 The return to Pontius Pilate takes place around 8 a.m. Mark 15.6-19; Matthew 27.15-30; Luke 23.13-25; John 18.39-40; John 19.1-16.

_21 The crowd, gathered in front of the palace of Pontius Pilate, demands the crucifixion. Matthew 27.22 ; Mark 14.11-15 ; Luke 23.23 ; John 19.15.

You can consult the complete chronology in the study ANN026 : The Hour of the Crucifixion.

Commentary:

Now Pilate comes out again to declare publicly that he finds no ground for condemning Jesus (John 19.4). By presenting him to the crowd after the flogging, crowned with thorns and wearing a robe of mockery, he seems to hope to stir up compassion and avoid a graver outcome (John 19.5). Yet this attempt fails: the chief priests and their supporters insistently demand the crucifixion (John 19.6).

Pilate then reaffirms that Jesus is not guilty, but the religious authorities invoke their law, according to which Jesus must die because he made himself the Son of God (John 19.7). This claim troubles Pilate even more, and he seeks to understand where Jesus comes from and who he is (John 19.8-9). Faced with Jesus’ silence, Pilate reminds him of his authority, but he receives in return a word that puts this power into perspective:

John 19.10-11 (King James Version) :
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.
King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

From then on, Pilate redoubles his efforts to release Jesus, but the religious leaders increase the pressure by brandishing a political argument: releasing Jesus would amount to opposing Caesar (John 19.12). This blackmail puts Pilate in a delicate position, in which his loyalty to the Empire is called into question.

Finally, Pilate yields to the pressure and presents Jesus, declaring: “Behold your King!” (John 19.14). The reaction is immediate: “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” (John 19.15). By asking, “Shall I crucify your King?”, Pilate ironically underlines the responsibility of the religious leaders, who go so far as to disown any authority other than Caesar’s. This passage thus highlights the tension between truth and power, as well as the outcome of a process in which political and religious pressure prevails over acknowledged justice.