Finding no fault in Jesus and not wanting to put Jesus to death, Pilate thought of a way out of his dilemma by bringing attention to a custom that he thought would satisfy the Jews: But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish that I release for the King of the Jews?
Surely the Jews would rather have Jesus released than Barabbas who was a robber and murderer. But Pilate underestimated the hatred the Jews had for Jesus as they cried out saying: Not this Man, but Barabbas.
Pilate was quickly running out of options. In a last, desperate attempt to please the crowd he had Jesus brutally scourged.
Not content with brutally beating Jesus, Pilate’s soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, mocking His claim that He was a king. This further humiliation added to the Lord’s suffering.
PILATE HOPES TO APPEASE THE CROWD 19:4-5
The fact that Pilate came out from the Praetorium again implies that he had been looking on with approval as the soldiers beat and humiliated Jesus.
Having ordered the scourging, Pilate then had the audacity to come out to the crowd and say that he found no guilt in Jesus.
After brutalizing Jesus just short of death, Pilate hoped that it would satisfy the bloodthirsty mob. Jesus, bleeding from His scourging and the crown of thorns, His face bruised and swollen from being beaten by Pilate’s soldiers, looked like anything but a king. So Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man” instead of “your King” as he had before.
PILATE UNDERESTIMATED THE HATRED OF THE JEWS 19:6-7
Once again, Pilate underestimated the depth of the Jewish leaders’ hatred for Jesus. The sight of the Lord’s bruised, torn, and ravaged body merely increased their appetite for more blood.
That was enough for Pilate. Disgusted with the Jews’ callous attitude and wanting simply to be rid of Jesus, Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”
They reminded Pilate that they had already judged Jesus according to Jewish law,found Him guilty, and deserving of death.
The specific charge that the Jews brought against Jesus was the charge of blasphemy because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.
PILATE, GRIPPED WITH FEAR, QUESTIONS JESUS AGAIN 19:8-10
Pilate was gripped with fear that the man he had just scourged and beaten might use his supernatural powers to take vengeance on him.
Taking Jesus with him, Pilate entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” His question had nothing to do with Jesus’ earthly residence; Pilate already knew that He was a Galilean.
The silence of Jesus was certainly judgmental, in the sense that Pilate had heard the truth and rejected it (Jesus told him He was a king from another realm). Pilate would receive no further answer from Jesus.
PILATE REPROVED BY JESUS 19:11
Pilate may have had the power of Rome backing him up, but he did not have ultimate control over the events related to the Son of God.
Nothing that happens is outside of the sovereignty of God, including the death of His Son. Thus, Jesus reproved Pilate and said: You would have no authority over Me unless it had been given you from above.
PILATE IS INTIMIDATED BY THE JEWS 19:12
Pilate, unconvinced of the guilt of Jesus, made efforts to release Him, but the Jews fired back, accusing Pilate of not being a friend of Caesar if he let Jesus go.
This was the last straw for Pilate. He could not risk having the Jewish leaders report to the emperor that he had released a traitor to Rome, especially someone who made himself out to be a king in opposition to Caesar.
Pilate, being completely intimidated by the Jews, feared for his position, his possessions, even for his life. He felt that he had no choice now but to give in to the Jews’ demands and sentence Jesus to death.
PILATE’S FINAL PRONOUNCEMENT 19:13-16
Ironically, Pilate rendered judgment on the One to whom the Father had granted all judgment (John 5:22) and who will one day pass eternal judgment on him.
The supreme moment to which all of redemptive history pointed had arrived, so John carefully set the scene. It was the day of preparation for the Passover, when they were preparing to kill the paschal lamb to make atonement for the sins of the people.
