PILATE THE PROCURATOR – A DOUBLE MINDED PSYCHOPATH - PART 1
THE CHARACTERS OF JOHN’S GOSPEL
PART A. To understand the man better we will start with some secular history:-
FROM DON STEWART
“Pontius Pilate was the prefect of Judea from A.D. 27 to 37, and sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion. Although he wished to set Jesus free he gave in to the large crowd who wanted Jesus dead. Pilate tried to absolve himself of any blame in the matter yet the New Testament, as well as the creeds of the church, all recognised that Jesus Christ was crucified by a decree of Pontius Pilate. The New Testament says nothing about Pilate after Jesus' death. In 1961 an inscription was found in Israel in the city of Caesarea that had Pilate's name on it. This was the first archaeological evidence that Pilate existed.”
FROM THE JERUSALEM POST
“Jewish historian Josephus, wrote that Pilate was one of the most hated representatives of Roman rule in the Land of Israel. Josephus describes a governor who antagonised Jews and ordered his troops to slaughter them. From 27 to 37 (CE) AD Pilate imposed Roman rule on Judea. He was hardly a pagan who would be sympathetic to a Jew who rebelled against his authority and that of his masters’ empire.”
We have no certain knowledge of Pilate except in connection with his time of rule in Judea. We know nothing of his birth, his origin, or his earlier years. Tacitus, when speaking of the cruel punishments inflicted by Nero upon the Christians, tells us that Christ, from whom the name "Christian" was derived, was put to death when Tiberius was emperor, by the procurator Pontius Pilate (Annals xv.44). Apart from this reference and what is told us in the New Testament, all our knowledge of him is derived from two Jewish writers, Josephus the historian, and Philo of Alexandria.
Pilate was procurator of Judea, and he held office for 10 years. Josephus tells (Ant., XVIII, iv, 2) that he ruled for 10 years; that he was removed from office by Vitellius, the legate of Syria, and travelled in haste to Rome to defend himself before Tiberius against certain complaints.
On one occasion, when the soldiers under his command came to Jerusalem, he caused them to bring with them their ensigns, upon which were the usual images of the emperor. The ensigns were brought in secretly by night, but their presence was soon discovered. Immediately multitudes of excited Jews hastened to Caesarea to petition him for the removal of the obnoxious ensigns. For five days he refused to hear them, but on the sixth he took his place on the judgment seat, and when the Jews were admitted, he had them surrounded with soldiers and threatened them with instant death unless they ceased to trouble him with the matter. The Jews thereupon flung themselves on the ground and bared their necks, declaring that they preferred death to the violation of their laws. Pilate, unwilling to slay so many, yielded the point and removed the ensigns (Josephus, Ant, XVIII, iii, 1; BJ, II, ix, 2, 3).
At another time he used the sacred treasure of the Temple, called corban (qorban), to pay for bringing water into Jerusalem by an aqueduct. A crowd came together and clamoured against him. We turn to Josephus for the outcome of this desecration: tens of thousands of Jews “gathered and shouted against him, insisting that he abandon such plans. Some of them even hurled insults and abused the man, as such throngs commonly do. Pilate had caused soldiers dressed as civilians to mingle with the multitude, and at a given signal they fell upon the rioters and beat them so severely with staves that the riot was quelled (Josephus, Ant, XVIII, iii, 2; BJ, II, ix, 4).
Josephus (Ant., XVIII, iv, 1, 2) gives an account of the incident which led to Pilate's downfall. A religious pretender arose in Samaria who promised the Samaritans that if they would assemble at Mt. Gerizim, he would show them the sacred vessels which Moses had hidden there. A great multitude assembled in readiness to ascend the mountain, but before they could accomplish their aim they were attacked by Pilate's cavalry, and many of them were slain. The Samaritans thereupon sent an embassy to Vitellius, the legate of Syria, to accuse Pilate of the murder of those who had been slain. Vitellius, who desired to stand well with the Jews, deposed Pilate from office, appointed Marcellus in his place, and ordered Pilate to go to Rome and answer the charges made against him before the emperor. Pilate set out for Rome, but, before he could reach it, Tiberius had died; and it is probable that, in the confusion which followed, Pilate escaped the inquisition with which he was threatened. From this point onward history knows nothing more of Pilate.
FROM HISTORIAN PETER SCHAFER
“Pilate appears to have been particularly insensitive to Jewish concerns. While it is true that the Jewish situation in Jerusalem would later deteriorate further under the Roman emperor Caligula, this in no way lessens Pilate’s malevolent actions in Judea. In the words of Josephus, when Pilate “brought his army from Caesarea and moved it into winter quarters at Jerusalem, he intended to subvert the Jewish customs by introducing into the city busts of the emperor that were attached to the military standards when our law forbids the making of images.”
PART B. PILATE IN THE SCRIPTURES
John 18 v 28-29 They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium and it was early. They themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Pilate therefore went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
We shall examine the character of this Governor from the scriptures after having considered what he was like as Governor of the land. We already know what secular history tells about him, a good for nothing character. The powerbrokers of the Jews, the chief priests and Pharisees, were conspiring to execute Jesus but under Roman law they were not able to, so they fronted up to Pilate who wanted to know what the charges were. The chief priests were evil, and guarded their own position thoroughly. It is a fact to note that ALL the men associated with the arrest and trial of Jesus were wicked men, all of them. A decent one could not be found among them. The verse from the Psalms confirms that, Psalm 22 v 16 “Dogs have surrounded me. A band of evildoers has encompassed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.”
John 18 v 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” John 18:31 Pilate therefore said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” John 18:32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
The Jews laid no charges because they had none, only that they would not have come if the man was innocent. The fact that they brought Jesus to Pilate HAD to mean that He is guilty. “Look, we brought him, so he must be guilty.” It is almost as if they were pressuring Pilate and he was no Jew lover. In fact, unbeknown to Pilate, it was he who was on trial, and the verdict will be given at the great white throne. On that occasion, the roles will be reversed – Jesus is the Judge and Pilate will be the one who stands before Him. He will stand condemned.
The little comment in verse 32 is speaking of crucifixion. The Old Testament references point to that form of death and it was Roman, not Jewish; Jews stoned people.
John 18 v 33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” John 18:34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” John 18:35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You up to me. What have You done?” John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” John 18:37 Pilate therefore 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 bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Now we have the first exchange between Jesus and Pilate. All through the interaction, Pilate seems to be intrigued about the character and mission of the Lord. Verse 33 – Pilate had heard that Jesus was called “King of the Jews” by some. He wanted to know. This also could have had consequences for him and his position, as there was no king but Caesar. In verse 34, Jesus probed Pilate’s intent. I think this sordid and perverted man was curious and worried. It is no good being worried about your sin and then just dismissing it. Concern for sin needs to be concern for judgement and salvation, then confession and belief for salvation. Pilate was too ensnared by sin that he had no room to move towards salvation. Pilate was anxious to find a charge in verse 35 but he got an obscure answer from Jesus in verse 36 (obscure to Pilate). The answer was spiritual and therefore unknown to Pilate, but Jesus did speak of a kingdom, so Pilate again was curious in verse 37 - “So You are a king?” This answer in verse 37 where the Lord confirmed His Kingship, and about Jesus coming into the world, would have been over Pilate’s head, but he certainly noted the Lord’s words – “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Be not deluded or confused in today’s universality and overturning of the bible – Jesus is THE truth and outside of the Saviour, truth does not exist. The world today sees truth only in humanism, evolution and the Great Reset.
John 18 v 38 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, John 18:39 but you have a custom that I should release someone for you at the Passover. Do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” John 18:40 Therefore they cried out again saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.
The first thing I note here is that this Pilate who was indifferent about the Jews and was quick to murder them, was looking for a way to bypass the Jew's desire to put Jesus to death. Something was unsettling him. Pilate then asked a question that has rung down through history, “What is truth?” How does one define truth? What is it? Where can it be found? The Oxford Dictionary, like all dictionaries, struggles to define truth. This is what they say, “the truth [singular] the true facts about something, rather than the things that have been invented or guessed”. No wonder Pilate struggled with the truth. I would suggest to you that truth is not something you obtain in the world like roses or a fortune, nor is it something you study to find, or like Buddha, seek all your life to reach enlightenment. The absolute truth, is that that truth is found in a Person. You can know it no other way. Take note of these verses - John 8 v 31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, John 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jesus is the truth). John 14 v 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. (Jesus is the truth). John 14 v 17 that is, the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 16 v 13 but when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:14 He shall glorify Me for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. (Jesus is the truth). The truth is found in the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Pilate, with the question of truth rattling around in his mind, had enough conviction to know that Jesus was innocent and then, in verse 38 declared it so, but he was a gutless man, spineless for correct action, afraid, fearful of the powerful elite of the Jews, and was weak. History claims him as always suspicious. One last hope for him remained to try to excuse Jesus. In verse 39 he proposed that Jesus be released as custom allowed at Passover. However it was a vain attempt, because the Jews brought Jesus originally to be executed, no reason required, so they were not going to be dissuaded from that. “Pilate, that made you look like an idiot!”
Then the crowd cried out for Barabbas to be released. Yes, they would have Barabbas, who was a hero of sorts, raiding the Roman camps. This is how Matthew puts it - Matthew 27 v 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the multitude any one prisoner whom they wanted, Matt 27:16 and they were holding at that time a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Matt 27:17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” Mat. 27:18 for he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him up.
What do we gain from that? Pilate knew the truth that Jesus was innocent and had been delivered up through jealousy. Pilate knew the truth that Jesus should have been released. But did Pilate know the truth that he was weak and gutless, afraid for his own position?
There is a special factor in these verses, not generally known. Because of his activity of opposing the Romans, Barabbas was looked on as a saviour of the Jews, a hero. His name means “son of the father” – “bar = son” and “abba = father”. What Pilate did not know was that he was putting before the Jewish people a choice – “Do you want this man, Barabbas, son of the father, an earthly saviour, or do you want this Man, Jesus, Son of the Father, the heavenly Saviour?” The people chose an earthly deliverer, and rejected the Deliverer from heaven, the Son of God. They have suffered the results of that choice for nearly 2 000 years.
To add to Pilate’s grief that evening, this message came to him - Matthew 27 v 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” This was God’s confirmation again of Jesus’s innocence of which the governor was already aware, so his not releasing Jesus only compounded his already great sin. Romans were very superstitious and took great note of signs and dreams and things in astronomy and astrology, and events in nature. Here was a sign of the greatest importance, one that should have caused extreme concern for any action Pilate was to take. He could not act correctly and only one reason can be given for that. He was so controlled demonically; he was not able to act.
John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him, John 19:2 and the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and arrayed Him in a purple robe, John 19:3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him blows in the face.
I think verse 1 shows Pilate’s great indifference, his carelessness, and of course his demonic position. We saw already he was bloodthirsty, a man of no conscience or morals. Satan hates God and will incite violence against the Son of God and His followers. All through history that has been the testimony. We see it today in laws and actions in our country. Not only did Pilate have Jesus whipped, but he allowed the soldiers to torture Him, and mock Him. Pilate’s hatred looked on. A man debased will always turn against Christians.
As Christians, we often can not appreciate the darkness in the soul of man. Those who follow Satan live and operate in a vile darkness. They have no sense of morality or decency and their minds are darkened so that the light is excluded. This has been noted in the world’s cultures and enough literature has been written on it to prove the point. The missionaries who went to the islands and nations of the Melanesian and Aboriginal people commented on the darkness these people lived in. In fact, so steeped were the Aborigines in spiritism and Satan worship, that some of the early writers believed these people did not have a soul. Pilate was a man in a similar darkness.
Darkness is awful. To live in darkness is awful. There was an incident once – Exodus 10 v 21-23 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. One person could not see another, and for three days they did not move from where they were. Yet all the Israelites had light where they lived.”
That darkness was so awful that it could be felt; it means to grope around with pressing darkness. There is one thing I think I will say. These are days of increasing darkness and that darkness touches everyone including Christians. It causes an oppression as if it is touching you. In these day Christians can’t be complacent. They need the whole armour of God because it is a spiritual battle. We though are children of the light, and light overcomes the darkness.
HERE IS THE SONG LYRICS FOR A SONG CALLED “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE IN THE DARKNESS”
Song title: Let Your Light Shine in the Darkness - Music and Lyrics: Greg de Blieck & Paul Robertson
Father God You look on me
Yet see no sin or shame
You see Your Son who died for all
To take away my blame
He left his Father’s glorious throne
All radiance set aside
And hung alone eclipsed by sin
‘Til sin was crucified
Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness
Empty now the threat of death
As Empty lay the grave
And all whose faith is in his life
Will know His power to save
Christ returned to heaven above
In glorious light and power
And by His Spirit I have hope
To light my darkest hour
Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness
As the moon reflects the sun
Now radiant we stand
Freed from sin and Satan’s grip
God’s kingdom is at hand
Darkness, sin and death retreat
And flee the marching dawn
His love casts out our fear and doubt
So let His church shine on
Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness
END OF PART 1
Open with We Limit Not the Truth of God by George Rawson
Communion – Man of Sorrows
Final hymn – Shine Jesus Shine
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
