Session 69 | John 19:9-16
John 18:28-19:16 | Jesus Before Pilate
Verses 18:28-38 – see session 67
Verses 18:39-19:8 – see session 68
Verse 19:9 –
Pilate has asked four previous questions:
Art thou the King of the Jews? (Jn. 18:33).
what hast thou done? (Jn. 18:35).
Art thou a king...? (Jn. 18:37).
What is truth? (Jn. 18:38).
Now Pilate asks Whence art thou? This does not seem to be a practical location concerning Jesus’ hometown, but fully related to the fear of verse 8. Pilate seems to want to know if Jesus is the Son of God.
Verse 19:10 –
Pilate seems incensed that Jesus gave him no answer (v. 9). Jesus would “bow down” to no man, and any answer would be an attempt to gain Pilate’s favor.
Verse 19:11 –
While Romans 13:1 could be used here, I personally think this is a reference to the circumstances the crucifixion. Jesus laid down His life, it was not taken from Him. The scene in John 18:4 displays this truth.
Verse 11 almost seems to excuse Pilate for his actions, as if Jesus is displaying grace to Pilate. Such a position is perhaps too much eisegesis, but it can certainly be seen in the text. However, it cannot be seen as fully gracious because Jesus speaks of the greater sin, implying that Pilate was in a position of sin.
There is no grace shown to he that delivered me unto thee, presumably a reference to Caiaphas.
The term greater sin goes in the face of the position that says “all sin is sin.” The Bible (and here, Jesus Himself), certainly has a different view.
Verse 19:12 –
Jesus’ answer seems to have taken Pilate from offended to conciliatory, and Pilate once again sought to release him.
The leadership, however, had a political game to play, bringing up a supposed loyalty to Caesar (of which we will say more in verse 15).
Verse 19:13 –
Seemingly under pressure, Pilate brings Jesus for judgment, seeking to both give the Jewish leadership what it wants and not showing any kind of disloyalty to Caesar.
We should not forget that Pilate’s best course of action would have been true justice, even if it cost him his position or his life.
Verse 19:14 –
We are told again that it is the preparation of the passover (see also John 18:28), thus the Passover Lamb had not yet been consumed, Jesus Himself to be the antitype of the Passover Lamb.
We are told that it was about the sixth hour.
Most take this to be about noon, at first glance. In fact, the NIV “translates” this as “about noon.” The ESV contains a translators note saying, “that is, about noon.”
Hebrew time worked much like Gentile time today, with two twelve-hour portions to the day. However, in Hebrew time the reckoning began at sunrise and sunset, rather than Midnight and Noon, as for the Gentiles.
This puts the sixth hour to be either midnight or noon, on a Hebrew scale. We know that it was the third hour when they crucified him (Mark 15:25), making it impossible that the sixth hour in this verse be anything but midnight.
This makes an odd schedule, but is really the only way to reconcile the accounts of the four Gospels. Since the Jews had a compelling reason to finish this business, the unorthodox schedule fits the context.
Pilate’s words, Behold your King! appear to strengthen the case that Pilate wants to pin 100% of this on the Jews.
Verse 19:15 –
As in 1 Samuel 8:7, the people reject their legitimate King in exchange for the Roman Caesar.
To reject Jesus as Messiah was detrimental by itself, but to stoop to the level of declaring sole allegiance to Caesar was really to reject their own Judaism and Jewish hopes.
Verse 19:16 –
Pilate should have taken a stand, but acquiesced to the Jewish will (compare Lk. 23:25).
He delivered Jesus unto them for crucifixion, then they took Jesus for the completion of the matter.
The logistics were carried out by the Roman guards, but the Jewish people made the decision.
This aligns with Acts 2:23, in which Peter says to the Jewish people ye have taken and have crucified Jesus.
