KEY PLAYERS IN THE CRUCIFIXION:
PONTIUS PILATE
TEXT: MATTHEW 27:1-2; 11-26
INTRODUCTION: Tonight we look at Pontius Pilate. The phrase “suffered under Pontius Pilate” is used in many a churches creed and has possibly been translated into more languages around the world than even the Bible.
Even though he stepped onto the stage of human history for only about four hours, his name is known to more people in the world than most of the great men in history.
What part did Pilate play in the crucifixion of Jesus that day? The answer is found in two statements made in our text. Pilate’s own million dollar political question. Vs. 22
And his wife’s message to him as he sat on the judgement seat. Vs. 19
Pilate tried to follow his wife’s advice about Jesus, but he, like everyone person who has tried since, found out that neutrality when it comes to Jesus, is impossible.
I. UNQUALIFIED FOR THE JOB
Pilate didn’t have a wealthy upbringing. He was of the middle class. He had served in the Roman army in Germany, and while in a long stay in Rome caught the affection of a Roman girl of very high social rank.
Her name was Claudia Procula, the illegitimate daughter of Claudia, who was the third wife of the Emperor Tiberius and, that made her the granddaughter of Caesar Augustus.
Because of this connection with the man at the top, Pilate was given a position that would never had been given to him any other way. In A. D. 26, on the recommendation of Sejanus, Tiberious’ right hand man, Pilate was appointed governor of Judea.
Luke 3:1 tells us that Pilate was governor when John the Baptist began his ministry;
Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
So he would have been there for about four years when Jesus was brought to him.
When he began to be governor in Judea, he was allowed to take his wife with him. This was a very unusual privilege. The point being, Pilate’s appointment was what is called a nepotistic appointment. He had connections with the right family.
In Judea, being governor carried more responsibilities than in other places. He was responsible for law and order, for handing out justice and for collecting taxes.
Like many who get their jobs through nepotism, family favoritism, he wasn’t quite qualified for the job.
He was tactless and stubborn. He thought that because he had authority, that meant that he could enforce his will, rather than exercise responsibility and consideration for others.
I. UNQUALIFIED FOR THE JOB
II. AT ENMITY WITH THE PEOPLE
In Jerusalem the water supply was always a problem. Pilate constructed an aqueduct, a channel to bring water into the city. He thought that since he was doing this for the benefit of these Jews, I’ll use some of their money.
So he took some of the Temple tax to pay for the aqueduct. The people rebelled and rioted. Pilate sent his own people down in plain clothes with clubs and daggers into the crowd, and at a signal they turned on the people, clubbed them, and stabbed them. Many others were killed in the stampede.
We also see in;
Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. I couldn’t find any details about what happened in this situation, but the point is, Pilate was not a kind governor.
III. ALWAYS BLAMING OTHERS
So Pilate was a man devoted to holding onto a job that he never would have had except for his connections with the right family, a job that he time and time again bungled.
He probably felt that he had done no wrong and in each case someone else was to blame. Isn’t that the way it is in America today? No one is to blame for their actions anymore. It’s always someone else’ fault.
Our courts are full of cases where criminals are suing their victims because they somehow got hurt while victimizing them. And some win!
The Sun Times now has a space dedicated to strange lawsuits called, “So Sue Me” in it you’ll find out that people who did something on their own to be hurt, blame the place they were at when it happened.
This self-justifying, blaming-others attitude is another reason our country is going down the tubes morally.
Pilate was like that, how about you? Do you blame others for your mistakes? Do you see your faults or only the faults of others?
We need to be ruthless in our self-criticism, ready to see and admit our mistakes to ourselves and to others.
There are people today just like Pilate, who are doing the wrong thing with Jesus Christ because they are unwilling to face up to the reality of their sinfulness. They are too proud to admit that they have done any thing wrong.
Pride has and will send a multitude of people to a Christless grave. Pilate needs to be for them, a warning.
By contrast, we see Jesus there that day in front of Pilate as the complete opposite.
Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus, the King of glory, humbling Himself to become a servant, a man.
So there you have the two men: Pilate with the rank that he never should have risen to, and Jesus with the rank that He should never have descended to.
IV. BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
Not only did Pilate have a past he would have rather forgotten, he had a problem right now that he wished he didn’t have.
The Jews wanted Jesus dead but only Pilate could pronounce the death penalty. His wife as we’ve already seen had a dream and told Pilate “to have nothing to do with that just man.”
What was Pilate to do? If he didn’t please the Jews, they would riot, report to Rome, and he would probably lose his job. If he didn’t please his wife, she was the emperor’s relative, and if she reported him, he could still be out of a job.
That was Pilate’s dilemma, the unexpected and unwelcome problem that built up the pressure under which he had to do his job that fateful day.
And it was all his fault. He had made the Jews mad in the past. He had accepted this job on his wife’s connection. Now the birds were coming home to roost, and his sin was finding him out because of the clash of these two conflicting choices.
V. A CONTRAST IN CARING
By contrast we see Jesus, single-minded, straightforward, teaching the truth without regard to man. He knew no sin. He did no sin. In Him was no sin.
Here He was that day, the day He was crucified, beaten so badly He didn’t look human. Was He thinking of Himself? No, He was thinking of others.
Look at Luke 23:27-28 The women; The soldiers who pierced His hands and feet, vs.34; For the thief to whom He said, vs 43;
For his mother below the cross when He said to John and to Mary; John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
John 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
And during His trial His concern was for Pilate. Look at John 18:33-38
See the contrast: Pilate thinking about his own interest – should he please his wife? Should he please the Jews? – And in front of him, Jesus, who pleased not Himself but in the end thought only of others.
VI. YIELDING TO PRESSURE
Pilate tried to follow his wife’s advice, he tried real hard. The Jews bring Jesus to Pilate to have Him put to death and Pilate asks, “Why? What has He doe?”
The Jews say, “If He wasn’t guilty, we wouldn’t have brought Him to you.”
But Pilate said, “All right, take Him and judge Him by your own law.”
And they answered, “He teaches insurrection from Galilee.”
When Pilate heard “Galilee” he said, “Is He a Galilean? Send Him to Herod.”
Pilate tried to have nothing to do with Jesus by sending Him to Herod. But Herod sent Him back to Pilate with a message, “I find no fault in Him”
Pilate was still trying to do what his wife had urged and was ready to release Jesus. He said, “I normally release a prisoner at this time. Why don’t you have Him?”
But they said, “No, give us Barabbas,” As a result he was foiled again, still trying to have nothing to do with Jesus.
Next he tried a token punishment. He had Jesus scourged and brought Him out to the people hoping they would see Him and have compassion. Hoping to appeal to their sympathy, Pilate said, “Behold, the man. Behold your king.”
But the people answered, “We have no king but Caesar, and if you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend.”
Eventually Pilate delivered Jesus up to be crucified, to be nailed to a cross by His hands and feet, and lifted up to hang there, suspended between earth and heaven, until He died. That’s what Pilate did.
VII. NO LONGER IN CONTROL
Pilate was trying to have nothing to do with Jesus, as his wife advised. He tried hard, but he couldn’t control the events this time.
Caiaphas was too cleaver; the people were too easily manipulated; Jesus was not cooperative. Pilate lost control of the situation.
VIII. LYING TO HIMSELF
Matthew 27:24
He still thought he had done nothing with Jesus when he was the only man in the city who could pass the death sentence.
That same self-deceived attitude is seen in Pilate all through the story. When they complained about what he had written above the cross,
John 19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
When the came and asked him to make sure the tomb was sealed,
Mat 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
When they asked for anything, he returned the responsibility to them. He was completely self-deceived, unteachable.
The center of his deception was that he was not responsible; it was someone else’s fault; he was pushed into it. Pilate washed his hands of Jesus death, or so he thought.
Imagine this scene. You see a stream running through hell, and by it’s edge is a man kneeling down vigorously washing his hands.
The man’s face is full of despair because he has washed long and hard with no success. The someone touches his shoulder and asks, “Pilate, what are you doing?”
He lifts his hands, as red as the blood of the Son of God can make them. He shrieks a bone chilling shriek that can be heard throughout the corridors; “Will they ever be clean? Will they ever be clean?”
Poor Pilate, they never will.
Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me;
IX. WHAT MUST I DO TO BE LOST?
There is a tract that asks on the front side, “What must I do to be lost?” And then you open it up and nothing is there. You don’t have to do anything to go to hell.
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; To neglect is to do nothing.
Pilate tried to do nothing. Life doesn’t need to end as it did with Pilate. We need to let all family and political and other things go, and come boldly to the throne of grace for whatever we have done wrong, and He will forgive you.
