Day 8 Part4...Christ Goes Before Pilate...

Lk23.5-7. But they were the fiercer, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, and beginning from Galilee to this place." When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. [Jerusalem was not Herod’s usual abode].

Lk23.8-12. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Lk23.13-17.Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him"(for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

Jn18.33-38.Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?"
Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews.

Lk23.18-22. And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" — who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."

Jn19.7-15.The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the “Son of God." Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"

Mt27.24-25. When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."
Lk23.23-25.They were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

As you will notice above there is a contradiction between the synoptic gospels and John.
This is further proof that the average Jew kept the Passover on a different day than Christ.
Many have to come to the conclusion that John made a mistake, or as the world would say, that the bible has error. This may be the case unless there is an answer. There is a chronological contradiction & a difference from the synoptic gospels. [a general view of the whole) = synoptic]

What is the contradiction?
The synoptic gospels say that Christ was crucified at the 3rd hour = 9:00 am and died the 9th hour
= 3:00 p.m. = 6 hours.
John says, Pilots final judgment concerning Christ's crucifixion was at the 6th hour = noon.

John’s thesis is that Christ was the symbolic Passover lamb that takes away the sins of the world. Much of John is focussed on this theme that Christ is the Passover lamb. We may not like this as it may seem like a cope out, but so much of the bible is symbolic. I give some examples below. E. Martin

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearer’s is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

Jn1:29The next day John [the Baptist] sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

Jn1:35-36 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God!

Example of Symbolism below.
Jn1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Dr L Martin.["Secrets of Golgotha."]

A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term (Word) [NT:3056 Logos] around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. This word was well suited to John's purpose in John 1. Thayer's Greek Lexicon

Taking into account what has been previously discussed, is that Jesus was interrogated, tried in the house of Annas and Caiaphus and the Hall of Hewn Stone, which was on the temple mount just 300 yards from Fort Antonias, so the walking back and forth would not have taken up to much time, as it would have if they had to go to Herod’s palace.

Where was Pilot? I consulted another Rabbi who had the title and name of Dr .E. Martin who said the sentence of the Sanhedren did not end the matter. There were still the Roman authorities that had to be consulted. It was necessary to take Jesus to Pilot, the Roman procurator, for his approval of the judgment. Where was Pilot at the time? Was he in Herod's Palace on the southwestern hill, or among the majority of his troops in the fortress called Antonia situated just outside the north western angle of the Temple enclosure? This fortress named after Mark Anthony by Herod has by far the best credentials. There are good reasons to believe that it was to this Praetorium that Jesus was brought to be finally judged by Pilot.

This can be shown in several ways. On the Holy Days, when many thousands of Jews were gathered at the temple area, it would have been wise for the Roman Procurator to move from Herod’s palace to the fortress of Antonia. This information is stated by Josephus [a Jewish historian, contemporary with Christ] concerning other procurators at other times, so it is most likely that Pilot did the same. Pilot’s wife sent him a message about a dream she had. If Pilot had been at their usual residence of Herod’s palace, then there would be no need to send a message.

I was surprised, and impressed by the efforts of Pilot to give Christ a fair hearing and the benefit of the doubt. The verses below strongly suggest that Pilot was a desperate man, taking extreme measures to release Christ.

Had Pilot found the slightest illegality in the manner of the trial, even from the Jewish point of view, he would no doubt have released Jesus. From my prospective, Pilot bent over backwards to save Jesus, putting all of his efforts together I thought was pretty impressive. See below for the sequence of the events.

Jn18.28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover.

Matt 27:15-18. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

Jn18.29. [1st time] Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

Luke 23:2. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."
Jn18.31.Then said Pilate unto them, Take you him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

Jn18.33. [2nd time] Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Are you the King of the Jews?

Lk23.6,11. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 11.Sent him again to Pilate.

Lk.23.14-16. said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him"

Matt.27.19. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."

Jn18.38. [3rd time] Pilate said unto him, what is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. NIV

John 19:4 [4th time] Pilate therefore went forthagain, and said unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him.

Jn19.6. When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate said unto them, Take you him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

Jn19.7-8.The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

Jn19.9. [5th time] And went again into the judgment hall, and said unto Jesus, Whence are you? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Jn19.12.And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.

Jn19.14-15. And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15. But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, we have no king but Caesar.

Matt.27.21-23. The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said,"Barabbas!"

22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"

Matt.27.24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."

25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."

Jn19.19.And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The Christ was mocked, ridiculed and beaten by the high priest’s soldiers. Herod’s soldiers mocked him and then the Roman soldiers flogged him.

Mt27.26-31. Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

Through Fort Antonia’s east gate they took the Christ then down the slope to the Red Heifer bridge that crossed the creek Kidron at the bottom of the Kidron valley.
When the procession of Roman soldiers, followers and the crowds, including the religious leaders, reached almost to the top of mount Olives on the west side, they came upon an outcrop of rock shaped like a skull, called Golgotha which had many trees around it.

There were three prisoners, the Christ and two others who were thieves. They all were forced to carry a cross piece except Jesus who had his cross piece carried by someone else, who was forced to carry it, walking along behind Him. Lk23.26.

Lk23.26-32. Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander & Rufus who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.

Greek: NT:4716 [staurós] (stow-ros') = Cross. Is an upright "stake" such as is used in fences or palisades.
(from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament,

For a interpretation of the expression “For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry” I asked my friend Barnes, the following is his answer.

Luke 23:31. This seems to be a proverbial expression. A "green" tree is not easily set on fire; a dry one is easily kindled and burns rapidly; and the meaning of the passage is - "If they, the Romans, do these things to me, who am innocent and blameless; if they punish me in this manner in the face of justice, what will they not do in relation to this guilty nation? What security have they that heavier judgments will not come upon them? What desolations and woes may not be expected when injustice and oppression have taken the place of justice, and have set up a rule over this wicked people?" Our Lord alludes, evidently, to the calamities that would come upon them by the Romans in the destruction of their city and temple. The passage may be applied, however, without impropriety, and with great beauty and force, to the punishment of the wicked in the future world.

Jn19.17-22.They went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'" Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

to be continued...