Audio - Jesus Brought Before Pilate and Herod
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The Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 2, 2008
Jesus Brought Before Pilate and Herod
TEXT: NKJ Luke 23:1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him
to Pilate. 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." 3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King
of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "It is as you say." 4 So Pilate said to
the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man." 5 But they were
the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea,
beginning from Galilee to this place." 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked
if the Man were a Galilean. 7 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. 8
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. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He
answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently
accused Him. 11 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. 12 That
very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they
had been at enmity with each other.
Jesus, the Lamb without Blemish
Jesus is about to be crucified—the Lamb of God is about to offer Himself as the
Ultimate Sacrifice—according to the institution of the Passover the lamb must be
without blemish—perfect
NKJ Exodus 12:5 'Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year.
You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 'Now you shall keep it until
the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the
congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.
It is interesting to note that twilight in the Jewish day would be about 3:00
pm—the exact time that Jesus died on the cross—it should not be a surprise
though—because Paul taught us that Christ was our Passover Lamb
NKJ 1 Corinthians 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new
lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was
sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor
with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth.
Jesus’ accusers, the Sanhedrin, the council of the Jews, could not find fault
with Jesus—even the false witnesses they hired could not agree on a lie to
condemn Jesus
NKJ Mark 14:55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony
against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 For many bore false
witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57 Then some rose up
and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58 "We heard Him say, 'I will
destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another
made without hands.' " 59 But not even then did their testimony agree.
Even Jesus’ betrayer, Judas Iscariot, knew Jesus was innocent
NKJ Matthew 27:1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the
people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him,
they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then
Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and
brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4
saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is
that to us? You see to it!" 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the
temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Jesus is Brought before the Roman Governor
The Jewish leadership council, the Sanhedrin, (about 70 Pharisees, scribes, and
priests with judgment authority over the Jewish people) led Jesus before Pontius
Pilate to be condemned to death—but Pilate was not comfortable with condemning
Him—Jesus was not guilty of any crime—Pilate tried to offer the Jews an
honorable way out—he could release Jesus as his gift to the Jews for the
Passover—or he could release another prisoner instead—Pilate offered the most
ruthless of Jewish prisoners, Barabbas, whom the Jews feared and despised—surely
they would choose Jesus—the innocent man, found guilty of no crime—and have
Barabbas remain in prison
NKJ Matthew 27:17 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. 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."
Pilate’s wife had a premonition that killing Jesus would bring suffering—she
encouraged her husband to rid himself of Jesus as quickly as possible--Pilate
was aware that Herod was in Jerusalem for the Passover—and since Jesus was
technically a Galilean, Herod should hear the case
TEXT: NKJ Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were
a Galilean. 7 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.
Herod was pleased to see Jesus—he had heard much about Him, and was hoping Jesus
would perform a miracle or do some sort of sign to entertain and to impress
him—but Jesus knew Herod’s heart—He knew Herod was just a curious fool—and Jesus
knew it would be folly to engage with Herod—Scripture tells us to avoid such
folly
NKJ Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be
like him.
Herod and his men mocked and beat Jesus
TEXT: NKJ Luke 23:8 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. 9 Then he questioned
Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and
scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 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. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with
each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
Once again we are at the mercy of the translators—the words translated as
gorgeous robe are the same words used to describe the garments of the “shining
angels”—Herod threw a white robe on Jesus as a mockery—such robes were used to
show a position of authority such as a mayor or some other elected office—but
this white robe made a statement—this was indeed royalty, the King of the
Jews—and just as the high priest would wear a white robe to enter the Most Holy
area of the temple to make the atonement sacrifice for God’s people—Jesus wears
this white robe before the temple veil separating the Most Holy area from the
rest of the temple is going to be torn from top to bottom opening that area for
all of us to meet with God—when John gave us his revelation of heaven, he
described Christ as wearing a white robe dipped in blood
NKJ Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He
who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and
makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many
crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed
with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the
armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white
horses.
Jesus was executed on the word and at the insistence of the Jewish council and
the same crowd of God’s people that gave praise and laid palm branches under the
feet of Jesus’ donkey during His triumphant entry a week prior—Pontius Pilate
found no fault with Jesus
NKJ Luke 23:4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no
fault in this Man."
Pilate even ceremonially washed his hands before the crowd of Jews—he washed his
hands of Jesus’ blood—the blood of this execution was on the hands of the Jews
NKJ Matthew 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." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus,
he delivered Him to be crucified.
King Herod found no fault with Jesus—but prior to sending Him back to Pilate, he
placed a white robe on Him as a mockery and as a sign to Pilate that Herod found
no fault with Jesus
NKJ Luke 23:11 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.
Pilate had Jesus whipped—and sent Him to be crucified—the blood of the Lord is
on the hands of those that God chose to be His own—but just as Judas had
remorse—so did many of the Jews—and God forgave them and let them into His
Church—consider Peter’s sermon on Pentecost Day—as he preached full of the Holy
Spirit
NKJ Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they
heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39
"For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as
many as the Lord our God will call."
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!