The Unjust Trials of Our Lord Jesus (4) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" They answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you."
John 18:28-30

The Unjust Trials of Our Lord Jesus (4)
After their late night and dawn sessions, having in their eyes valid reason to condemn Jesus to die, the hypocritical Jewish leaders took Jesus to the governor, Pilate, whose authorization was needed for a death sentence. They called Jesus an evildoer and accused Him of many things. Pilate told them to judge Him according to their law. They said, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." Jesus did not answer a word to all this.

They next specifically accused Jesus of "perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King" (Lk. 23:2). This latter was sedition, a serious crime, for the Emperor was supreme; kings were appointed by him. Then Pilate asked Jesus, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered affirmatively. When Pilate next asked what He had done, He replied, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." As Pilate continued questioning, Jesus replied, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." To the good confession that Jesus, who is the Truth, witnessed before Pontius Pilate (1 Tim. 6:13), Pilate answered, "What is truth?" However, he went out and told the Jews, "I find no fault in Him at all."

Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.