Over the past several weeks, we have spent some time looking at the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. Well, we have finally come to the point in which the horrific events of his death begin to unfold. We’ve looked at the sham of a trial that was conducted by the Sanhedrin in order to find Jesus guilty so that they could have him executed. We’ve seen the account of the Sanhedrin bringing Jesus to Pontius Pilate and demanding that he have Jesus crucified, yet they personally want no part of such a violent act. We’ve even spent that past few Sundays together looking at Jesus and Pilate and the events around their meeting and the conversation that they had with one another about the person and work of Jesus. We’ve seen that Pilate found no fault with Jesus and even tried to stack-the-deck in Jesus’ favor and have the crowd grant his release. Pilate had never imagined that Jesus would have been chosen to die over the hardened criminal Barabbas. Nonetheless, once the crowd had decided that they would rather see Jesus punished than Barabbas, Pilate, largely because of his unstable political situation with the people of Jerusalem, was left with no choice but to begin punishing Jesus.
We’re told in our text that Pilate began to flog or scourge Jesus. Now, it could have been Pilate himself, but it was most likely his men doing the punishing under his direction. During this process, one of three things would happen. A criminal would either simply just be whipped; they could be whipped repeatedly until their bones actually become visible, or they could be whipped with leather strips that had pieces of metal and bones embedded in them. As this third type of whipping was done, the metal and bones would actually tear away chucks of flesh as they were drawn back for another swing. The concept behind this third type of flogging was to beat a person literally half to death, so that their time spent upon the cross would not linger and they would pass away quickly. The type of flogging that one received out of these three choices was based upon the severity of their crime. Well, Jesus is being punished for insurrection, claiming authority over the emperor. There is no greater crime to the people in the Roman Empire at this time, so Jesus received this third and most severe form of flogging. As if that alone wasn’t enough, some of the soldiers mocked Jesus’ claim of being a king and made him a crown of thorns to wear upon his head. Now, they didn’t just gently place this crown upon his head, but they pressed it firmly into his skull. It’s thought that these thorns were a couple of inches in length and extremely sharp. I know the pain that I feel when a thorn bush has gotten ahold of my arm or leg and won’t let go; I can’t even imagine the pain of a crown of such thorns being driven deep into my skull. In addition to this, they shouted “Hail, King of the Jews” at Jesus as they slapped him in the face over and over again. Such slapping of a king was a complete mockery to all royal claims. There was absolutely no honor or dignity shown to this man who is truly the King of kings.
At this point, it’s important to note that Pilate does look to the crowd and say to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” In other words, Pilate is reminding the people that this violent beating that they are watching is being given to a man that Pilate already said that he found no fault in. Pilate was hoping that the beating and punishment that has been handed out thus far was enough to satisfy the crowd so that they would want Jesus released. This is the point in time where Pilate proclaims the famous Latin phrase Ecce Homo, which means, “Behold the Man!” This phrase has been the topic of conversation for many theologians over the years. What exactly was Pilate saying with these words has been the source of much debate. It’s as if at this moment, Pilate really begins to question why the Jews are so afraid of this man. It’s almost as if this is the point where Pilate begins to really ask himself, “Is this only a man, or is he someone or something more?”
The chief priests, almost sensing Pilate’s growing compassion, sparked the crowd by shouting out “Crucify him, crucify him!” The violent beating that Christ had already taken was not enough to quench their hatred of this man. Pilate, being passed the point of frustration finally had enough and said to the crowd gathered around, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him!” Now, we may want to quickly condemn Pilate for handing Jesus over to the Jews. We may want to ask the question, “Well, if he found no fault or guilt in him, then why did he release Jesus to the Jews, knowing that they would crucify him? Why did he not just stop the beatings and release him as a free man?” Those are all good questions, but remember, context is king. Pilate is in Jerusalem, in a situation in which if the people truly revolt and riot, then there is really nothing that can be done to stop them. With so many people wanting Jesus crucified, there would have been a full out riot had he gone against the will of the masses.
The Jews say that they will gladly take Jesus away because he must be put to death for making himself the Son of God. This is ironic because he didn’t make himself the Son of God; he really was and is the Son of God. John tells us that the words of the Jews made Pilate even more afraid, but the question is afraid of what? Well, we don’t know for certain, but from what is taking place we can guess that it has something to do with that phrase or title “Son of God.” I mentioned a moment ago that Pilate seems to be wondering if this man is more than just a man. After hearing the title Son of God used of Jesus, Pilate very well could be thinking to himself, “What if this man really is the Son of God?” He goes back into his headquarters to speak with Jesus in an attempt to find out something that will free him. He reminds Jesus that he, Pilate, has the power to free Jesus, but he needs a reason. Jesus responds to Pilate’s claim of authority with these words, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” Pilate was in this position because God allowed him to be. Pilate was in essence an actor in this narrative. Yes, Pilate had authority that had been given to him by the emperor. However, God had also placed Jesus under Pilate’s authority so that His will might be done. Pilate has authority over Jesus only because it is the will of the Father. God is working in and through even the most evil and heinous of acts of sinful men to accomplish His purposes.
We’re told that Pilate’s goal at this point is to release Jesus. Despite his desire to accomplish this, the Jews will have none of it. They threaten Pilate by basically saying that they will cause so much trouble for him with Caesar, that there is no way that he will allow him to remain in his position. And as we have said, the Jews have the power to accomplish just that. Pilate knows that his own job is at stake, as well as his life. If he is seen as undermining the authority of the emperor, then he too will face the same punishment that awaits Jesus. He wouldn’t just lose his job, he would lose his life. Pilate makes one last attempt to stop what is about to take place. “Behold your King! Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate’s pleas are met with only chants of “crucify him” and “we have no king but Caesar.” Pilate doesn’t have the power to stop this. No one does. This is God’s plan coming to fruition. Had Pilate been a political figure with more clout then it would have been possible, but that’s not the situation. It’s funny hearing the chief priests shout “we have no king but Caesar.” They must have forgotten that their nation had been established as a theodicy, a nation with God alone as its king. Now, they are denying Him. They have turned from their faith and their faith has become nothing more than religion and a set of rules. Pilate then turns Jesus over to them so that they could carry out with his crucifixion.
How far have the people fallen from being the nation of Israel who is known throughout the land as having God alone as their king to now saying that Caesar is their only authority? From Saul, David, and Solomon and continuing on through the time of the prophets, Israel never would have made a statement like that. It reminds me of times when in our own country people ask, “I wonder what the founding fathers would have thought about that?” Well, I wonder what kings like David and Solomon or even leaders like Moses and Joshua would have thought of the Jews for such statements. This goes to show you just how fallen and distant from God humanity, God’s people, had already become at the time of Jesus. It shows us even more our need for a Savior then and our need for a Savior today. Once again, God is taking such a crime, such a horrific sequence of events, and he is using it to save us. A plan is being unfolded before our very eyes, a plan that has been in place ever since the Garden and Genesis 3:15 where God told Adam that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the seed of the serpent. And it isn’t as if God was in control then and simply walked away. There is more still to be done. There is still a plan unfolding for us this day. There are still things taking place until the time of the fulfillment of the Book of Revelation. Know this: that God was in control during Israel’s time in the wilderness, He was in control at the time of Christ, and He is still in control this very day. And as long as He is the one who is in control, there is nothing to fear. There may be times of doubt or times of hardship, but how do we know that that is not exactly where God wants us at that time. We know from Jesus’ words leading up to his arrest as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that he really didn’t want to be in that hardship either. However, God doesn’t always see us to where we want to go, but to where we need to go. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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