Which side of the fence did Pilate fall on?

[landscaper]

This morning I'm reading through all four gospels' accounts of the crucifixion, and I notice that there are some difference I hadn't paid much attention to before. It seems that Luke and John give the most detailed accounts, and that Matthew and Mark sort of hit the high spots. What I'm wondering about, though, is where Pilate actually stood in his beliefs on who Jesus actually was.

The first three gospels make it sound like Pilate tries to uphold the integrity of his office and offer unbiased justice to Jesus simply because he thinks that it is the right thing to do. He eventually gives into to the angry masses, Jesus is tortured, abused, and made sport of, and a sign is placed on his cross seemingly to mock His claim to be the "King of the Jews".

In John, however, as Pilate tries to exonerate Jesus the crowds accuses him of being disloyal to their king Caesar, and Pilate seems to be saying, "Caesar? Here's your true King! Would you actually crucify your King?" John goes on to say that Pilate, himself, wrote the sign reading "King of the Jews" that was placed on Jesus' cross, and maybe not to mock Jesus, but rather to emphasize once again what a mistake he thought the people were making. We know that all those events had to occur just as they did in order for Jesus' purpose on earth to be filled, but Pilate surely didn't, so, if I'm interpreting all that correctly, where did Pilate actually stand? Was he a believer, or just a guilt stricken politician that wanted no responsibility for the killing of a man that committed no verifiable crimes against the law?

[landscaper]

Well, here's my answer from my pastor. This is much the conclusion I was coming to, but much better stated and much more thoroughly researched than I'm capable of. Though half-hearted and probably full of underlying motive, the softening of Pilate and his defense of Jesus is intriguing to me for some reason.


"Pilate is known in history to be corrupt and brutal (in fact, he was "fired" and recalled to Rome because he was too brutal and he lost his governorship 10 years after it began. Luke 13:1 shows one instance of several when Pilate murdered Jews). Because Pilate was known to be corrupt and brutal, it makes all the more significant the fact that he repeated "I find no guilt in this man" three times. In history, Pilate was quick to pull the trigger for the smallest offense or for personal gain. Therefore he must have been very impressed with Jesus' innocence, and "wanted to release him" (Luke 23:20, 22; John 19:12). He didn't want to kill a man who he considered harmless and innocent. Partly this was due to his wife's dream too (Matt 27:19). He was even "afraid" to kill Jesus, due to Jesus' harmlessness (John 19:8).

But Pilate's primary concern in this situation was to keep the peace with the Jews (Mark 15:15 says "Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd..."). His resistance to release Jesus was political too - to test the Jews to see how badly they wanted to kill him and if perhaps an alternative could be reached, like releasing a prisoner for Passover. His resistance also would give a delay to give time for any supporters of Jesus to speak out in his defense and to make sure there would be no backlash if the crucifixion should happen. Ultimately Pilate's brutal nature came through as he condemned an innocent man to appease a crowd of people.

Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd to blame them for Jesus' death (Matt 27:24), blame which they were more than willing to accept. Pilate wasn't really afraid of the Jewish crowd (annoyed is more like it) as he made fun of them for being so upset over a man who in his opinion posed no real threat or danger. Pilate jokingly refers to their charges against Jesus when he says "do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" (Mark 15:9) and refuses to appease the Jewish leaders about changing the sign (John 19:21) - but this may have been to insult the Jews in return for their insistence on crucifying an innocent man as much as a realization that Jesus did have something legitimate within. Pilate also insults the Jews and Jesus in John 19:2-5 when he brings out a beat-up Jesus and says "here is your king." Again Pilate insulted the Jewish crowd in John 19:6 when he says "you take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him" (the Jews weren't allowed to crucify Jesus, so Pilate was mocking their powerlessness). And again Pilate insulted the crowd in John 19:15 when he says "shall I crucify your King?"

Not too much should be read from Pilate writing "King of the Jews" on the sign on Jesus' cross. There is a double meaning there for Christians that we can recognize, but Pilate was probably still just making fun of the Jews. From what I discovered writing the crime the criminal had committed on a sign above their crosses was the common practice for a crucified person - to explain the charge and to warn others not to repeat it.

I think all we can know for sure about Pilate is that he truly believed Jesus to be innocent of a crime deserving death (Luke 23:22), such a realization bothered his conscience but not so much that he refused to capitulate, and that Pilate liked to insult the Jewish mob, that Pilate wasn't afraid of them. The Bible does perhaps portray a seed of the Gospel planted in Pilate by Jesus, but whatever became of that seed we do not know. I do not think Pilate would have crucified Jesus if at that time Pilate had been converted. Pilate really wasn't forced into it, just inconvenienced and annoyed into it. On other occasions Pilate actually did wipe out crowds of Jews that were annoying him (Luke 13:1 being just one of them, and not the one that cost him his job)."

[gobama123]

Good read.

God Bless you

[Deep Woods]

I don't think Pilate's judgement time before GOD will be very pleasant. IMHO...Pilate should have stood up for JESUS..even if it meant being crucified himself. There is alot that we can learn from this event...such as what happens (as in the case of Pilate) if we are not willing to stand for GOD and what HE says is right.
Pilate feared man more than he feared GOD...It cost him his soul.......What will it cost you?????

[Jeff]

Good information and good discussion. Thanks for putting it up!

[StraightUp]

I don't think Pilate's judgement time before GOD will be very pleasant. IMHO...Pilate should have stood up for JESUS..even if it meant being crucified himself. There is alot that we can learn from this event...such as what happens (as in the case of Pilate) if we are not willing to stand for GOD and what HE says is right.
Pilate feared man more than he feared GOD...It cost him his soul.......What will it cost you?????

I certainly agree with your premise, but I have often thought about it this way--- what if a majority of people HAD stood up and put a stop to Jesus' crucifixion? Was it not God's plan for Jesus to be a sacrifice for sin? When Jesus "set His face" toward Jerusalem was it not God's will for his blood to be shed?

[Deep Woods]

JESUS' blood had to be poured out...but would'nt you had rather have your blood shed along with HIS, as opposed to being the ones to cause HIS blood shed????

[Williefb]

I think Pilate was a typical politician. My studies have indicated that Pilate had been reprimanded from Rome for his leadership and wanted to keep the Jews quiet so he gave in to their demand for the crucifixion of Jesus. I don't think that he was a believer at the time of the crucifixion but I do think he believed Jesus to be innocent.

As for those who have mentioned Pilate standing before God in judgement, no one can say for sure that he didn't turn to Christ before dying and even if he didn't there's not a one of us that could stand before God in judgement and make it to heaven without Jesus.

[StraightUp]

JESUS' blood had to be poured out...but would'nt you had rather have your blood shed along with HIS, as opposed to being the ones to cause HIS blood shed????

Well, sure. I think we agree that man could not have stopped that crucifixion no matter how vehemently they defended Him.

[StraightUp]

I think Pilate was a typical politician. My studies have indicated that Pilate had been reprimanded from Rome for his leadership and wanted to keep the Jews quiet so he gave in to their demand for the crucifixion of Jesus. I don't think that he was a believer at the time of the crucifixion but I do think he believed Jesus to be innocent.

As for those who have mentioned Pilate standing before God in judgement, no one can say for sure that he didn't turn to Christ before dying and even if he didn't there's not a one of us that could stand before God in judgement and make it to heaven without Jesus.

+1

[rustypjr]

I personally don't think we can determine his outcome. He would have had the opportunity to hear the preaching of the first church. So we really don't know what eternity he has in store. All I do know is that Pilate could not have stopped it. God's will was being done.

And on a side note it don't really matter in my faith which way he fell. Of course I would love to get up to heaven and Peter say "Rusty how graceous is God. I was preaching and behold Pilate recieved Christ as Lord. He became on fire for God. And did great things for the Way."