Page 112 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

you do it. I’m not going to do it because I can’t find anything wrong with Him.” Pilate tried to stand against the
demands of the mob at this point.

7 “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law He must die, because He made Himself
8
the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. To buy time, Pilate went
back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer.

The question indicates to me that Pilate was terrified by the suggestion that Jesus might be more than a man.
When Jesus said nothing, Pilate’s frustrations seem to boil over and he said:

So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You
10
and the authority to crucify You?”

He basically asked Jesus, “Do you understand who I am and the power I hold over you?” His words were
coercive, offering both the threat of execution (power to crucify) and the offer of assistance (power to release).

When Pilate spoke these words about authority, Jesus responded with a magnificent statement about the true
source of authority in the world.

11 “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above.

God had ordained Pontius Pilate to be the actor in this drama. Yes, Pilate had real authority, but it was delegated
authority, God had placed Jesus at Pilate’s mercy so that His will might be done. It was if Jesus were saying to
Pilate: “Pilate, you’re like clay in My Father’s hand. It has been ordained from the foundation of the world that
you would do what you are about to do. Still, you’re doing it of your own free will because you have a wicked
heart and you are a slave to public opinion. So, go ahead, do what you have to do, because you’re doing what
My Father has ordained for you to do.”

“This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”

In Jesus’ final statement to Pilate, He pronounced a grave judgment on “he who delivered me to you.” (the one
HCSV) The “he” could have been Satan, Judas, Annas, or Caiaphas; each played a key role in trying to destroy
Jesus. They did not act alone, however. The priests were culpable, as were the members of the Sanhedrin, and
the crowd that called for crucifixion. Therefore, I suggest that the “he” applies to each Hebrew who took part in
delivering Jesus over for execution. It is likely the Lord’s accusers could hear this dialogue, so He may have said
this as a warning to be personally applied by each individual.

While Pilate ultimately rejected truth in order to preserve his power, Jesus recognized that he sinned in
ignorance. The people who had handed him over for execution committed the “greater sin” because they did so
with every benefit of divine revelation. They prized the Lord’s covenant with Abraham. They memorized the
Scriptures. They studied the prophecies. Yet, despite their daily interaction with divine truth, they chose to sin.
While Pilate disposed of a political nuisance, the Hebrew leaders plotted to execute their Messiah.

I don’t want us to miss the underlying assumption in this statement from Jesus – there are degrees of
wickedness. Not all sin is equal, and in this case, there was a greater and a lesser sin. Just as there are greater
and lesser sins, there will also be greater and lesser damnation. (See Matthew 23:14)

12 From that moment Pilate made every effort to release Him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man,
you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!” When Pilate heard these
13
words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s bench in a place called the Stone Pavement (but
111