Summary of passage: Pilate went into his palace with Jesus and questioned him. He decides there is no basis for charges against Jesus and tells the Jewish leaders.
Questions:
6) “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus says, “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?” “What is it you have done?” Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” In ch. 9, Pilate asks Jesus, “Where do you come from?” Jesus says nothing. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus says “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
7) He could have learned who Jesus truly was.
8 ) Part personal Question. My answer: God is in charge of all. Jesus fulfilled prophecy with his death. Death is a gateway to heaven for believers. All the difference. Comforting to know how God is in charge even during the bad.
Conclusions: More evidence of Jesus’ innocence and man’s determination to kill him. I do like how Pilate is reluctant to do it. It’s as if he knows who Jesus is on some elementary level. Or he just despises the Jewish leaders. Pilate could have just condemned him. Instead, he tries to find out the truth. He just doesn’t discover the TRUTH.
End Notes: This is the second questioning of Jesus. John combines two appearances of Jesus before Pilate, separated by an appearance of Jesus before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:8-12). Pilate hoped to give this problem to Herod because he ruled over Galilee, where Jesus was from. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate where this questioning begins.
Jesus didn’t look like a revolutionary or a criminal. He certainly didn’t act like one. Hence, Pilate’s doubt and questions.
Jesus asked Pilate if he was asking for himself or for the Jews. Yes, he was the Messianic king of the Jews. No, he wasn’t the political king.
Pilate, still trying to decide what to do with Jesus, asks him what he has done. Augustine observed that earthly kingdoms are based upon force, pride, the love of human praise, the desire for domination, and self interest – all displayed by Pilate and the Roman Empire.
The heavenly kingdom, exemplified by Jesus and the cross, is based on love, sacrifice, humility, and righteousness – and is to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23).
“The obvious inference from his words would be that he came in to the world from another realm, that whoever did not listen to him would not be characterized by truth, and that if Pilate really wanted to know what truth was, he would give Jesus his earnest attention.” (Tenney)
Pilate is mocking Jesus who appeals to the Truth. Pilate dismisses the Truth of a heavenly kingdom, having obtained his answer that Jesus is no revolutionary and is innocent. Teaching the truth was not a criminal offense (John 19:4, 6). He reports this to the Jews.
Jesus’ movements again HERE and HERE
