BEHOLD YOUR KING.
John 19:1-16.
The nineteenth chapter of John’s Gospel opens in the midst of the ridiculous drama of Pilate’s darting back and forth between the hypocritical Jewish leadership on the doorstep, who refused to come into the judgment hall of the palace ‘lest they be defiled and unable to eat the Passover’ (John 18:28), and the prisoner indoors. Pilate wished to wriggle out of the responsibility of condemning an innocent man, as he three times ruled Jesus to be (John 18:38; John 19:4; John 19:6), but nevertheless had Him scourged to appease His accusers (John 19:1). Thus was fulfilled the prophecy, ‘by His stripes we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:5).
Jesus had been arrested by His own people without a reasonable charge, and was now exposed to the cruel indignities of the Roman garrison. The cruel crown of thorns, which they would have thrust upon His head causing it to bleed; an old cast off purple robe to parody His kingship; the striking of His face with their hands, crying ‘Hail, King of the Jews’ in mocking disgust (John 19:2-3). Is there no end to the malice which a fallen world feels towards their Creator?
Pilate went outdoors again, to inform the Jewish leadership that he was bringing Jesus out to them, and that he “found no fault in Him.” The spectacle continued with Jesus coming behind him, a pitiful sight with the crown of thorns on His head, His mangled bleeding body wearing the purple robe. And Pilate announced, “Behold the man” (John 19:4-5). Yes, Pilate, ‘the man Christ Jesus’ (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
If it was Pilate’s intention to shame Jesus’ accusers into sympathy with their victim, he was sadly mistaken. The chief priests and the officers (the temple police) cried, “Crucify, crucify.” Pilate still wished to metaphorically wash his hands of the whole affair - a metaphor that he acted out in Matthew 27:24 - and suggested that they should crucify Him since they were the ones who wished Jesus dead (John 19:6).
It seems that the conversation was going round in circles. Pilate had already told them to judge Jesus by their own law, to which they had replied that it was illegal for them to put anyone to death (John 18:31). But now the Jewish leaders argued, “we have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God” (John 19:7). Yet the Jewish law would have required death by stoning (cf. Leviticus 24:16).
Jesus had already prophesied by what death He was to die (cf. John 3:14; John 12:32-33). It was prophesied, too, in the Old Testament: ‘they pierced my hands and feet’ (cf. Psalm 22:16; cf. Zechariah 12:10). The curse of the law; the curse that is upon mankind as a result of his eating of the forbidden tree, is borne away by Jesus becoming a curse for us by ‘hanging upon a tree’ (cf. Galatians 3:13).
When Pilate heard the accusation that Jesus had claimed that He is the Son of God, he became even more alarmed. He took Jesus indoors and demanded of Him, “Where do you come from?” Jesus kept His dignity, and refused to answer (John 19:8-9; cf. Isaiah 53:7).
Frustrated, Pilate threatened, “Do you not know that I have power to crucify you, and have power to release you?” To which Jesus did reply, “You could have no power against me unless it were given you from above: therefore he that delivered me to you has the greater sin” (John 19:10-11).
The Jewish priesthood should have known better, and therefore had the greater sin than Pilate. Now Pilate tried again to release Jesus, “but the Jews cried out, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar: whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar’” (John 19:12).
Pilate did hold an honorary title given to him by Tiberius Caesar, which was “Friend of Caesar.” The man who had nominated Pilate to receive this title had since been stripped of the title himself, so the last thing Pilate wanted to do was to upset his Emperor. At the same time, the Levitical priesthood was gradually stripping itself of any entitlement to be termed ‘friend of God’!
Pilate brought Jesus forth, and sat in the judgment seat. John reminds us that the season was Passover. Paul would later write, ‘Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7). Pilate now presented Jesus once more to the Jews: “Behold your King!” (John 19:13-14).
But they cried out, “Away with _, away with _, crucify Him.” Pilate’s response was, “Shall I crucify your king?” To which the chief priests, answered “WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR!” (John 19:15). All thought of the theocracy had departed from their minds!
So now at last ‘the sceptre had departed from Judah’ (Genesis 49:10). And in one fell swoop, the Levitical priesthood had unwittingly forfeited their position in favour of a new and better priesthood (cf. Hebrews 7:14-17). Pilate had Jesus led away to be crucified (John 19:16).
