Pilate The Procurator – A Double Minded Psychopath - Part 2 Series

PILATE THE PROCURATOR – A DOUBLE MINDED PSYCHOPATH - PART 2

THE CHARACTERS OF JOHN’S GOSPEL – PILATE - PART 2 OF 2

This Message on Pilate continues from Part 1.

John 19 v 4 Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.”

What use was that? This evil man who was supposed to uphold justice, trashed it to win the favour of the Jewish leaders. The sins that men do will follow them. One of the greatest hates of God right through the Old Testament is the injustice done by those whose positions were to uphold and dispense justice. Unjust judges are an abomination in God’s sight. Pilate most certainly will give account. You would not want to be in his shoes. He was a man who paid lip service to justice and acted only in HIS best interests.

John 19 v 5 Jesus therefore came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe and Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” John 19:6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”

Pilate presented Jesus in mockery. He handed the Lord over to His enemies knowing he was innocent because he, himself, considered Jesus innocent. That is where we get the expression, “washed his hands of the whole affair”, especially as he did the act publicly - Matthew 27 v 24 “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 multitude saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood. See to that yourselves.” Matt 27:25 All the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Nothing will ever wash away the guilt of this satanic man, this corrupt governor, this one who walked over justice like an elephant walks over sticks. Like Lady Macbeth, all the perfume of Arabia and all the waters of the ocean will never absolve Pilate’s guilt. He delivered up Jesus, much to the hurt of his own eternal soul, and to the continual hurt of the Jewish people. Pilate is totally guilty of the murder of Jesus. Yes, it is murder, for he delivered an innocent one to death. Washing his hands was an act of a hypocrite.

John 19 v 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” John 19:8 When Pilate therefore heard this statement, he was the more afraid John 19:9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” but Jesus gave him no answer. John 19:10 Pilate therefore said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 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 up to you has the greater sin.”

The expression “Son of God” unsettled this evil man even more. Not surprising because the demonic world is fearful of the Son of God. This interchange over Jesus’s origin and destiny, only revealed the absolutely flawed character of Pilate. Look at verse 10. Pilate had authority alright, but he was so degenerate he could not use his authority with justice. He was incapable for he was a murderer. He was incapable because he did not know right from wrong. Verse 11 is an important verse for it looks at ultimate authority and comparative guilt. We must understand this verse. In ultimate authority, we have confirmed that the final Decider is God who establishes and breaks down. Remember that nothing touches you for good or bad except the hand of God controls it. Then there is comparative sin and guilt. Jesus says that Judas has a greater sin than Pilate. Pilate’s sin is very great, don’t lessen it, but the sin of Judas is greater.

There is no excuse for Pilate – none whatever. We can not even find one point to excuse him, but note this important detail. Pilate was in the presence of Jesus for one night and condemned Him. Judas was in the presence of Jesus for three and a half years and betrayed Him. Judas was in the most privileged position as were all the disciples. They lived with God in His very presence day and night and saw God among them. Yet, even so, Judas betrayed Him. A man in the ultimate judgement is judged according to the light he has received. In this case, Judas has a greater guilt than Pilate.