Ben Wilson

What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. So they rough him up, try to humiliate him by striking him from behind and then asking, prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is it that smote thee? And as this is going on, Peter is listening in to the trial from a waiting room.

What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. So they rough him up, try to humiliate him by striking him from behind and then asking, prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is it that smote thee? And as this is going on, Peter is listening in to the trial from a waiting room.

And people recognize his Galilean accent and say, hey, aren't you one of his followers? But famously, Peter denies knowing Christ three different times. And Jesus had prophesied that this would happen. And when Peter realizes what he has done, he goes out and weeps bitterly. The council of high priests then bind Jesus and take him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the region.

And people recognize his Galilean accent and say, hey, aren't you one of his followers? But famously, Peter denies knowing Christ three different times. And Jesus had prophesied that this would happen. And when Peter realizes what he has done, he goes out and weeps bitterly. The council of high priests then bind Jesus and take him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the region.

And they have a problem, which is they asked him, are you the Christ? And he said yes, but this can be interpreted purely as a religious title. And Pilate is really reluctant to get involved in a religious squabble. So he asks him the most relevant question. Are you trying to lead a rebellion? And so he says, quote, aren't thou the king of the Jews?

And they have a problem, which is they asked him, are you the Christ? And he said yes, but this can be interpreted purely as a religious title. And Pilate is really reluctant to get involved in a religious squabble. So he asks him the most relevant question. Are you trying to lead a rebellion? And so he says, quote, aren't thou the king of the Jews?

And Jesus answers, my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from hence. Okay. Um, and so I'm condensing here, obviously, but this is the key question to pilot. Are you trying to start a rebellion? Are you really trying to overthrow Roman rule?

And Jesus answers, my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from hence. Okay. Um, and so I'm condensing here, obviously, but this is the key question to pilot. Are you trying to start a rebellion? Are you really trying to overthrow Roman rule?

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.

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.