Ben Wilson

Like these chief priests are saying, and Jesus says what he wants to hear. My kingdom is not of this earth. You know, my people didn't fight back against being arrested. So like, clearly I'm not trying to start a rebellion and this is good enough for pilot who declares I find in him no fault at all. But by now there is a mob outside his palace and they are not happy with this.

So Pilate tries to pass the buck and send him to Herod, who's the king in the area. Herod questions him, but Jesus refuses to answer his questions. So Herod sends him back to Pilate. So you've got the chief priests, the Roman governor, and the Jewish king, and they are all trying to pass off responsibility and avoid being the ones to pass a sentence on Jesus.

So Pilate tries to pass the buck and send him to Herod, who's the king in the area. Herod questions him, but Jesus refuses to answer his questions. So Herod sends him back to Pilate. So you've got the chief priests, the Roman governor, and the Jewish king, and they are all trying to pass off responsibility and avoid being the ones to pass a sentence on Jesus.

So it's like a real kangaroo court situation. The court of the chief priests basically tries him for blasphemy, but that is not a charge that holds any sway with the Romans. And so they deliver him to the Romans under the charge of sedition, applauding against the government.

So it's like a real kangaroo court situation. The court of the chief priests basically tries him for blasphemy, but that is not a charge that holds any sway with the Romans. And so they deliver him to the Romans under the charge of sedition, applauding against the government.

And that charge is clearly spurious, but they threaten Pilate, basically tell him, you know, if you don't convict this guy, then you're no friend of Caesar's. In other words, like threatening to rat him out. back in Rome.

And that charge is clearly spurious, but they threaten Pilate, basically tell him, you know, if you don't convict this guy, then you're no friend of Caesar's. In other words, like threatening to rat him out. back in Rome.

So Pilate really doesn't want to convict him, but he also doesn't want to be at odds with the chief priests and doesn't want them to follow through on this threat to kind of rat him out to the Roman government. And I mean, think about the guy's position. He's a foreigner. He's just trying to keep the peace. And so he wants to be on good terms with the local religious leaders.

So Pilate really doesn't want to convict him, but he also doesn't want to be at odds with the chief priests and doesn't want them to follow through on this threat to kind of rat him out to the Roman government. And I mean, think about the guy's position. He's a foreigner. He's just trying to keep the peace. And so he wants to be on good terms with the local religious leaders.

So he devises what he thinks is a clever solution. There is a criminal named Barabbas, and he is widely regarded to actually have been guilty of his crimes. And there is tradition that one prisoner will be released on Passover. So there is a crowd outside of his palace awaiting the verdict of this trial. And he goes out to them and says, I find no fault in this man at all. Speaking of Jesus.

So he devises what he thinks is a clever solution. There is a criminal named Barabbas, and he is widely regarded to actually have been guilty of his crimes. And there is tradition that one prisoner will be released on Passover. So there is a crowd outside of his palace awaiting the verdict of this trial. And he goes out to them and says, I find no fault in this man at all. Speaking of Jesus.

who do you want me to release? The innocent Jesus or the obviously criminal Barabbas? And remember, the crowds had been wildly in favor of Jesus just a few days before. N.T. Wright actually suggests that the reason that this crowd is so opposed to Jesus is that this is not an organic crowd or mob.

who do you want me to release? The innocent Jesus or the obviously criminal Barabbas? And remember, the crowds had been wildly in favor of Jesus just a few days before. N.T. Wright actually suggests that the reason that this crowd is so opposed to Jesus is that this is not an organic crowd or mob.

This is a picked crowd of supporters from the Pharisees who are brought there for the specific purpose of pressuring Pilate into executing him. And so he says, look, who do you want me to let go? Jesus, in whom I find no fault, or Barabbas? And they all cry out, Barabbas. And so Pilate ceremonially washes his hands to try and clear himself of any guilt in this execution.

This is a picked crowd of supporters from the Pharisees who are brought there for the specific purpose of pressuring Pilate into executing him. And so he says, look, who do you want me to let go? Jesus, in whom I find no fault, or Barabbas? And they all cry out, Barabbas. And so Pilate ceremonially washes his hands to try and clear himself of any guilt in this execution.

But ultimately he does free Barabbas and hand Jesus to his soldiers to be killed. So, you know, this has been a miscarriage of justice from start to finish. He's apprehended under one charge, tried under another. He's found innocent and is still sent to be executed. He is first scourged, which is to be severely whipped. And then he is humiliated.

But ultimately he does free Barabbas and hand Jesus to his soldiers to be killed. So, you know, this has been a miscarriage of justice from start to finish. He's apprehended under one charge, tried under another. He's found innocent and is still sent to be executed. He is first scourged, which is to be severely whipped. And then he is humiliated.

He is given mock regal regalia, a crown of thorns, a scarlet robe, and a reed to hold as a scepter. After being humiliated and tortured in this way, he is taken to a hill called Golgotha, where he is crucified. In the New Testament in its world, N.T. Wright kind of explains crucifixion. He says, crucifixion was a brutal and barbaric form of execution.

He is given mock regal regalia, a crown of thorns, a scarlet robe, and a reed to hold as a scepter. After being humiliated and tortured in this way, he is taken to a hill called Golgotha, where he is crucified. In the New Testament in its world, N.T. Wright kind of explains crucifixion. He says, crucifixion was a brutal and barbaric form of execution.

If you had ever seen a crucifixion, and they were common in places like Judea and Galilee, the experience would have been terrifying.