Whatever might be the cause, it is plain that the Priests and elders
were preparing to keep the Passover, on the evening _after_ that on
which Jesus had eaten it with His disciples: and that lest they should
be defiled and rendered unclean according to the Law, they would not
enter the Judgment Hall, which was full of Roman soldiers. Any Jew who
(in one of the many ways) became unclean, could not partake of the
Feast of the Passover: and it was even held, that upon occasions of
such peculiar holiness, mixing with the Gentiles or heathens, made a
Jew unclean; therefore, to avoid all risk, they went not in. They did
not consider that all the laws about purity and uncleanness, were only
meant to show the necessity of being pure and holy in thought, word,
and deed; and that their persecution of an innocent being, rendered
them far more unclean in the sight of God, than any ceremonial
defilement could possibly do. But it was ever so; they paid more
attention to outward forms than to real holiness and goodness. Let us
beware never to fall into the like fatal sin.
As the Jews would not go into the Judgment Hall, "Pilate then went out
unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?"
Instead of naming any crime of which their prisoner had been guilty,
the Jews merely answered, "If he were not a malefactor, we would not
have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye
him, and judge him according to your law." This was not at all what
the Jews wanted, and they "therefore said unto him, It is not lawful
for us to put any man to death."
Some writers think that the Jews were _not_ deprived of the power of
putting to death criminals found guilty according to their law; but
that at the time of this holy feast, it was _not lawful_ for them to
put any man to death. In any case, in all this we see the hand of
God; "that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake,
signifying what death he should die."
"And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting
the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he
himself is Christ a king."
In answer to Pilate's desire to know the crime of which they accused
Jesus, the Jews said not one word about blasphemy, for which alone the
Sanhedrim had condemned Him to be deserving of death: they knew very
well that Pilate would take no notice of such a charge as that, for
he, being a heathen, would care for none of these things; and
therefore, by a very false representation of what Jesus _had_ said,
they now tried to make Pilate believe that Jesus claimed to be king of
Judaea; and that He endeavoured to pervert or turn the nation from
paying any obedience to the Emperor of Rome. Such a charge as this
could not be disregarded by a Roman governor; for the Romans would not
tolerate anything like revolt or sedition in their conquered
provinces. "Then Pilate entered into the Judgment Hall again, and
called Jesus, and Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor
asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered him,
Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?"
The meaning of this question was, Dost thou ask this question of
thyself, from a real wish to know whether I am the Messiah so long
expected by the Jews? or have others laid it to my charge as a crime,
that I have declared myself to be that Christ their king? "Pilate
answered, Am I a Jew?" meaning that as he was not a Jew, he was not
likely to know or care whether Jesus was the Messiah or not; and then
he called upon Jesus to tell him for what crime He had been delivered
up by His own countrymen, who had thus plainly shown that they did not
believe Him to be their Messiah. "Thine own nation and the Chief
Priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?" Jesus in
his answer, showed Pilate, that, declaring Himself to be a king, could
be no crime against the Roman Emperor, as He neither claimed nor
sought for power upon earth: if He had done so, His followers would
have fought for Him. "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:
if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I
should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from
hence. Pilate, therefore, said unto him, Art thou a king then?" that
is, dost thou really mean that thou art a king? "Jesus answered, and
said unto him, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born,
and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness
unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
Jesus here states again the nature of His kingdom. It was founded only
upon truth. His conquests were to be only over falsehood and sin. He
came into the world on purpose by His words to bring men to believe
all that God had said, and to do His Will in all things; such were to
be His subjects. He came to win the _hearts_ of men, and rule and
govern them. Such a kingdom could in no way interfere with the
dominion of Caesar, or any other earthly sovereign. On the contrary,
those whose hearts are ruled by Christ, will be the most obedient
subjects to the powers that be.
Pilate was evidently convinced by the words of Jesus, that He could in
no way be found guilty of stirring up the people to disobey Caesar, but
before he told the Jews this, he put to our Lord the question, "What
is truth?" that is, what dost thou mean by that truth, which will make
every one hear Thy words. Had Pilate asked this important question
with a sincere desire to _know_ the truth, it would have been a happy
day for him; for the truth which Jesus would have taught him, is the
only thing to give real happiness in life or death. But Pilate did not
even wait for an answer, for when "he had said this, he went out again
to the Jews, and saith unto the Chief Priests and to the people, I
find no fault in this man; I find in him no fault at all." Thus did
the Roman governor, a heathen, bear witness to the blamelessness of
our blessed Lord; but the Jews, determined on the death of their
victim, would by no means accept such a sentence. It is plain from all
that follows, that though Jesus remained in the Hall, He was so placed
as to be able to hear all that was said outside.
"And the Chief Priests accused him of many things: but when he was
accused of the Chief Priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then
said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness
against thee? And he answered him to never a word. And Pilate asked
him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they
witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing: insomuch that
the governor marvelled greatly."
Men are in general eager enough to say all they can in their own
defence, especially when conscious of their innocence: well,
therefore, might Pilate be astonished at the calm and dignified
conduct of one accused of so many crimes; and whom even he held to be
guiltless. But our Lord's behaviour was thoroughly consistent with His
character, and with His work. When He had an opportunity of declaring
the great truth that he was the Son of God, the Messiah, then He spake
boldly before the Priests and the Council, as well as to Pilate: but
now, when the Jews were saying all manner of evil falsely against Him,
He treated their charges with the silent contempt they deserved. But
this seems to have increased the rage of His accusers, "and they were
the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching
throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place."
It was true that Jesus had taught throughout the whole land of Judaea:
but the Jews wished to make Pilate believe that his object was to stir
up the people to rebellion against Caesar, and other crimes: whereas
all He did was to stir up the people to believe in Him as the Messiah,
and to turn to God with all their hearts, and keep His commandments.
Pilate was greatly perplexed what to do; he could not but see that
Jesus was innocent, and he had not strength of mind to do his duty
conscientiously, without any fear of what man could do unto him: he
was, therefore, too glad of an opportunity of throwing the
responsibility of passing sentence upon another; and when he heard the
Jews thus speaking of Galilee, "he asked whether the man were a
Galilean." In Galilee our Lord had dwelt from childhood, and as a
resident in that province, He was subject to the authority of Herod
Antipas, appointed by the Romans to be king of Galilee. "And as soon
as Pilate knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him
to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time," in order to
keep the Passover Feast. Herod being acquainted with the Jewish
religion and customs, would be better able to judge between Jesus and
His accusers; and thus his opinion might help Pilate in deciding upon
the case.
Herod Antipas (who had caused John the Baptist to be beheaded) was, we
are told, exceeding glad to see Jesus: he had long been desirous to
see One, of whom he had heard many things; "and he hoped to have seen
some miracle done by him."
It does not seem that Herod wished to see Jesus from any good motive,
or from any desire to _learn_ of Him, but simply out of curiosity: he
was, therefore, disappointed. Jesus worked no miracle, neither would
He give any account of what He had done and taught. Herod "questioned
with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the Chief
Priests and Scribes stood and vehemently accused him," as they had
done before Pilate. Herod was probably provoked by our Lord's silence:
at any rate, he allowed Him to be ill treated, and himself joined in
showing contempt for His claims to be a king: for in ridicule, "Herod
with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked, and arrayed him in
a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate."