WHAT ROLE DID PONTIUS PILATE PLAY IN THE TRIAL OF JESUS? (PART THREE)

WAS PILATE AN ACCOMPLICE OR INNOCENT?

(Pontius Pilate, Jesus' controversial judge)

INTRODUCTION

In our sub-sub-theme "What role did Pilate play in the trial of Jesus?", we continue our sub-theme "The Condemnation of Jesus," which is part of our main theme "Discovering the historical and prophetic portrait of the life of Jesus Christ."

Last Sunday, the Prophet continued his presentation on the following theme: What role did Pontius Pilate play in the trial of Jesus? In the second part, he focused on

"HOW PILATE PROCEEDED TO OBTAIN THE CONDEMNATION OF JESUS," from the filing of the complaint to the final decision.

To help us understand the unfolding of this trial, the Prophet spoke to us about the "EIGHT STAGES OF JESUS' TRIAL BEFORE PILATE." We thus discover, in a simple and moving way, the unfolding of the trial, from the filing of the complaint to the final decision, the condemnation. A teaching that blesses even more lives, and which we will continue in this third part.

In this third part, on the theme "What role did Pilate play in the trial of Jesus?", we will address this question. Was Pilate complicit or innocent? Do we consider him innocent or complicit in the death of Jesus?

According to the biblical account in the Gospels, Pilate washes his hands after approving Jesus' crucifixion and thus refuses to let the weight of this condemnation weigh on his conscience. He refuses to bear the burden and shifts the responsibility for Jesus' condemnation onto the Jewish leaders and the Jewish people.

PART THREE

WAS PILATE ACCOMPLICE OR INNOCENT?

(Pontius Pilate, Jesus' Controversial Judge)

Pontius Pilate, the judge implicated in Jesus' death, inherited a highly risky position. Since the conquest of Judea in 63 BC, no form of government had proven more satisfactory or more durable than Pilate's. Historical and religious research tells us that Pilate was the fifth ruler of the Roman province of Judea and that his term lasted ten years, between 25 and 37 AD.

Historically, the Roman Emperor Tiberius sought to stabilise his territories, generally retaining governors who effectively managed the lands entrusted to them for long periods. Pilate thus perfectly fulfilled his role during the trial of Jesus, which explains why he remained in this post for so long, from 26 to 36 or 37 AD.

WHAT IMAGE DOES THE BIBLE GIVE US OF PILATE?

To authentically answer the question "Was Pilate complicit or innocent?" based on biblical foundations, we must first ask: what do the Scriptures say on this subject? What image does the Bible give us of Pilate? How does the Bible describe his personality?

Pontius Pilate, the Roman procurator who governed the province of Judea at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, appears, according to the Gospels, as a good, just, and balanced man, concerned with the fairness of the death penalty.

The Gospels present Pilate as a good judge, whom Jesus never questioned. According to the biblical account, Jesus, the preacher, was fairly tried on the basis of an accusation brought by the Jewish Sanhedrin, one of his chief accusers.

In the account of Jesus' death, Pilate embodies the image of a judge who refuses and hesitates to condemn a man in whom he sees no crime. This is why he symbolically "washes his hands" to prove his innocence, thus avoiding burdening his conscience and bearing the burden of Jesus' condemnation, instead placing the responsibility on the Jewish people.

Reading the Bible, it is curious to note that the Gospel accounts are very favorable to him, while some historical sources from the same period strongly criticise him, characterising him as a bloodthirsty man who was merciless toward his adversaries.

It is worth noting that only one biblical passage presents Pilate as a villain. It is that of Luke. "At that time, they denounced the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices," the passage says, referring to the executions authorized by the Roman authorities.

LUKE 13:1

At that same time, some people who were there told Jesus what had happened to some Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with that of their sacrifices.

But in general, the Gospels present Pilate as an honest and just man. In Matthew's account, he asks the Jews, "What evil has he committed?" "What do you accuse this man of?" He returns to the Jews and says, "I find no crime in him."

JOHN 18:29-31

29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, "What do you accuse this man of?" 30 They answered him, "If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." 31 Pilate then said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death."

LUKE 23:4-5

4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this man." 5 But they persisted, saying, "He is stirring up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee, where he began, to this place."

LUKE 23:13-25

13 Then Pilate gathered the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as a seditious man. And behold, I have examined him before you and have found him guilty of none of the crimes of which you accuse him. 15 Neither does Herod, for he sent him back to us, and behold, this man has done nothing worthy of death. 16 Therefore, after having him flogged, I will release him." » 17 At each festival, he was obliged to release a prisoner to them. 18 They all shouted together, “Kill this man and release Barabbas to us!” 19 This man had been imprisoned for a sedition that had taken place in the city, and for murder. 20 Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus. 21 And they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 Pilate said to them the third time, “What evil has he done? I have found nothing deserving of death in him. Therefore, I will scourge him and release him.” 23 But they cried out with a loud voice, demanding that he be crucified. And their cries became even louder. 24 Then Pilate decided that what they asked would be done. 25 He released the one they asked for, the one imprisoned for sedition and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.

WHY DO THE GOSPELS PRESENT PILATE AS A GOOD JUDGE?

From a biblical perspective, I have found two reasons why Jesus' disciples held Pilate in high esteem and considered him a good, just, and honest man.

First, I firmly believe that, reading the Scriptures, the idea of a good and just Pilate was conceived by the Christians of the early Church because of his acts of kindness toward their Lord Jesus, despite the wickedness of the Jews of his time. Pilate's recognition of Jesus' innocence during his trial and his willingness to save him from the death penalty constituted, for them, an act of consideration and love for Jesus, sufficient to lead them to regard Pilate as a good and just man despite his evil side, as perceived by other historians of the same period.

The second reason is that Pilate had made another important and historic decision in favor of Jesus, once again demonstrating the Roman authorities' empathy for him by allowing his body to be buried. According to historical research, the bodies of those beaten and murdered were to be thrown into a common grave, while those condemned to the cross were not allowed to be buried: their bodies were hung until they decomposed, then devoured by birds of prey and other carnivorous animals.

But an exception was granted to Jesus: all four Evangelists report that Pilate handed the body over to his disciples and arrangements were made for his burial. This is further evidence of his charity toward Jesus: the Gospels confirm that Jesus was buried in a decent burial.

JOHN 19:38-42

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away the body of Jesus. 39 Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about 30 kilos. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. 41 Now there was a garden at the place where Jesus had been crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 They laid Jesus there, because it was the preparation day for the Jewish Passover, and the tomb was nearby.

Of all the biblical accounts in the four Gospels, the majority of the New Testament texts present Pilate as a good man, and this is no coincidence. This has a historical basis. At the time the Gospels were written: Mark around the 70s of the first century AD, Matthew around the 80s, Luke between the 90s and 100s, and John's account between 100 and 110 AD.

Historically, at this time, the Temple in Jerusalem had been burned down during the entry of General Titus into Jerusalem in 70. Part of the city had then been destroyed by the Roman legions, and the wall was already in ruins. And all these events around Jerusalem were interpreted by Jesus' disciples as divine punishment for his murder by the Jews.

It was in this context that Pilate, a foreign Roman ruler, was perceived as a good man, while the Jews were labeled wicked by Jesus' disciples. Historical and religious research tells us that Pilate was the fifth ruler of the Roman province of Judea and that his term lasted ten years, between 25 and 37 AD (1000 BC).

Despite his good and innocent side, as presented in the Gospels, [Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John] all literally assert that Pontius Pilate played a direct role in Jesus' death, since it was he who ultimately approved his crucifixion.

DID PILATE JUDGE JESUS FAIRLY?

During the trial, Pilate, as judge, had the duty to first seek to determine Jesus' guilt. According to the Gospels, he began his interrogation with a very pertinent question about Jesus' political claims to be "King of the Jews."

At the time, proclaiming himself King of the Jews was a serious political offense under Roman law. It was therefore the most serious accusation against Jesus, as indicated by the inscription on his cross. This can be considered authentic evidence of the grounds for his condemnation by the Roman court.

LUKE 23:3-5

Pilate questioned him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "You say so." 4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this man." » 5 But they persisted, saying, "He is stirring up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee, where he began, to this place."

If we accept, as the Gospels report, that Jesus was denounced by the Jewish authorities because of his threats and violence against the Temple, we can conclude that Pilate considerably modified the accusation by inscribing on his cross: "This is the King of the Jews," thus signifying his condemnation for political rather than religious and traditional reasons.

To demonstrate the integrity of Roman justice, Jesus had to be declared innocent by the Roman authorities. Unfortunately, this was not the case, as he was found guilty in absentia by the Roman court; one can imagine that Jesus was considered a danger to the imperial power of his time. Crucifixion, a spectacular torture, was the punishment reserved for those convicted of high treason, whether princes or slaves.

DO THE BIBLICAL TEXTS INCRIMINE PILATE OR DEMONSTRATE HIS INNOCENCE?

If we analyse the biblical texts, Pilate's innocence regarding Jesus' death is incontestable: he does not attribute any crime or responsibility to Jesus. "On the contrary, he attempts to explain to the Jewish leaders in particular, and to the Jewish people in general, that Jesus did not deserve death. He deserved at most to be whipped, beaten, and sent to prison." This is the decision of Pilate, the judge who tried Jesus.

After all, according to the biblical account, the one who "washes his hands" is the representative of the Roman Empire. And those who favor the condemnation of Jesus, according to these biblical texts, are the Jews—the people and religious authorities of his time.

In exercising his powers, he literally had the power of life and death over citizens; in other words, he could condemn them to death. He was also responsible for appointing the high priest of the Temple, placing him closest to the Jewish elite and power. He also held political, military, judicial, and fiscal powers, since he was responsible for tax collection. This gave him decision-making power.

Despite his position and decision-making power, the biblical accounts show that Pilate was under considerable pressure, emphatically pointing out that the Jews even blackmailed him: "Listen, if you are Caesar's friend, you cannot tolerate anyone wanting to establish a kingdom within another kingdom." All of this was blackmail aimed at forcing him to condemn Jesus and not release him.

JOHN 19:1-16

1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. 2The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns in their hands and put it on his head. They clothed him with a purple robe. 3They came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him with their hands. 4Pilate went out again and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no fault in him.” 5So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law, he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was greatly afraid. 9 He returned to the Praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus did not answer him. 10 Pilate said to him, “Aren’t you speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have authority to crucify you and that I have authority to release you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, whoever hands me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king is speaking against Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and had him sit on the judgment seat at the place called the Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the preparation for the Passover, and about the sixth hour, Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king!” » 15 But they cried out, “Death, death! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 Then he handed him over to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away.

PILATE FACED A DILEMMA

However, he had to make a final decision: should Jesus simply be punished, released, or sentenced to death? This was not an easy decision for him, given all the pressure from the Jews behind him.

Although he owes his fame to his role in Jesus' trial, recounted in the Gospels, Pilate remained an enigma and a legend until the Christian era. It is known that his role was primarily military in the province of Judea, as governor.

Historically, it was during the great pilgrimages from Judea to Jerusalem, when the whole world and all the governors traveled to Jerusalem for the Easter celebrations, that Jesus was arrested, tried, and condemned. Therefore, the security of the province of Judea, and especially the city of Jerusalem, was of paramount importance to Pilate, as governor of that province. And when we read the account of Jesus' condemnation, we must also understand that it was in this context that he had to make the decision to condemn him.

These historical circumstances of his time placed the governor Pilate in a delicate position, torn between his conscience and the need to maintain public order. In short, he played an ambiguous role in Jesus' trial. Although he acknowledged his innocence, he was forced to yield to public and political pressure and sentence Jesus to death, fearing unrest in the city.

He therefore had to choose between avoiding public unrest and condemning Jesus. For had he dared to release Jesus, the religious leaders would have incited the population to sow unrest. He therefore preferred to sacrifice Jesus for peace in his province, of which he was governor.

If we can ask this question, did Pilate have the supreme authority to release Jesus? Yes, but historical circumstances prevented him from doing so. For Jesus was judged from beginning to end according to Roman law.

And during this trial, Pilate was therefore confronted with a historical necessity of his time, which Christian memory has transformed over time into a drama of conscience, as the Jews wanted to see in Pilate the one who would satisfy their desire to condemn Jesus. He was thus torn between obedience to his conscience and obedience to the public voice.

The decision to condemn Jesus to death: we can therefore conclude that it was a matter of circumstances rather than individuals (Pilate), since the execution was collective and strongly influenced by the elders, priests, Pharisees, scribes, the Sanhedrin, as well as the population.

In Conclusion

The question of Pilate's innocence or incrimination in the death of Jesus remains open. Many believe that Pilate was a good judge who wanted to save Jesus at all costs, but that historical circumstances did not allow it. Others believe that he had full authority to free Jesus and save him from death, but that he did not do so in order to preserve his power and position as governor of Judea.