Page 111 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

Study Section 16: Jesus is Tried before Pilate

16.1 Connect

If you ever go to Jerusalem, you would find that the walkways and roads are not flat. In fact, most of
the time you are either climbing up a series of steps or inclines, or going down. The temple mount
was built on one of the highest places in Jerusalem, but the going from one side of the city to the
other you go down a large hill, then climb a steep area. You are out of breath by the time you make
the short journey across town.

During Jesus’s trial and his crucifixion, he had to make two trips across the old city during the night and early in
the morning or a distance of about four miles. And after being beaten to a pulp, he was forced to carry a 100-
pound cross beam the distance. In Christ’s day, the entire cross weighed over 300 lbs.

He was tried and condemned because He claimed to be the Son of God. If he were not, then they perhaps were
justified in being upset with His claim. However, He WAS the Son of God and was crucified unjustly. An sinless
righteous man died that day.

2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we

might become the righteousness of God.

16.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain why, even though Pilate determined that Jesus was
innocent of all crimes, that he was willing to allow the Jews to crucify Jesus.

2. The student should be able to use this text to explain about the degrees of sin and judgment.

3. The student should be able to explain the theological significance of the resurrection of Christ.

16.3 Jesus’s Trial before Pilate

John 19:1-42 (HCSB)

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers also twisted together a crown
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of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him. And they repeatedly
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came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping His face. Pilate went
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outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him outside to you to let you know I
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find no grounds for charging Him.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the temple police saw Him, they shouted,
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“Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate responded, “Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no grounds for charging
Him.”

Pilate knew very well that the Jews did not have the authority to crucify Jesus, so he couldn’t hand Him over to
them. But he was frustrated by his inability to stem the tide of hatred against Jesus. So, he said, “All right, then,

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