The Gospel of John | Condemning The Innocent, Releasing The Guilty – John 18:28-40
Jesus would be condemned though innocent as the Passover lamb slaughtered on behalf of the guilty that they might go free.
Having been brought before the High Priest is something resembling a trial, the Pharisees and the High Priests brought Jesus up to Pilate to attempt to solicit their desired punishment. The tension between Jerusalem and Rome had been tense with the city teetering on open rebellion and chaos. Pilate, as the one designated to maintain order in the city had been under intense scrutiny. Any further issues within the city limits would likely result in severe punishments for Pilate. Thus, Pilate stood seeking to balance keeping the Pharisees placated and happy while simultaneously staying out of their business. The Pharisees had brought Jesus to Pilate seeking the death penalty, something the Pharisees could not legally enact on their own without the authority of Rome behind them. Now, Jesus stood before Pilate bringing the two goals into conflict with one another. Pilate had to get involved, bearing the weight of the controversial decision on himself in order to placate the Pharisees. His passivity would only be seen as contradicting the will of Israel.
Meanwhile, the Pharisees sought to leverage their own authority and power in order to put down the supposed insurrection. They had already declared Jesus to be guilty even though they had heard no real compelling evidence for the case of Christ’s claims being false. The trial had been pre-decided long before the arrest was made in the silence of the night. In seeking the death penalty, they would require validation from Rome and be able to consider themselves largely “innocent” in the death of this Rabbi Jesus. Then, when given the opportunity to release a prisoner, an option that would both convict and release Jesus Christ, the Pharisees chose to release the violent criminal Barabbas instead. This section functions as a Roman legal trial. Yet, the primary difference is the lack of evidence, witness, and charges against the accused. As unfair as this might be, this had always been the plan. To fulfill the words of the prophets long ago, Jesus would be condemned though innocent as the Passover lamb slaughtered on behalf of the guilty that they might go free.
The Innocence of Jesus Christ
As the Pharisees brought Jesus Christ before Pilate, Pilate inquired as to what crime this individual had actually committed that required He be brought before Pilate. The Pharisees, dodging the question, stating that the evidence of Jesus’ guilt is present in their bringing of Him to Pilate. At no point did they actually state the charges or crime that would necessitate the trial or the involvement of Rome, yet they stood to condemn Jesus all the same. Furthermore, when Jesus stood before Pilate, having been brought into private conversation within the walls of the palace, Jesus never denied the claims of the people or the questions of Pilate. He merely emphasized His Kingship as one that extended beyond the realms of this world. Jesus Christ remains fully King and perfect in everything He has said and done. His Kingship would far exceed the rule of the world. Thus, Jesus could stand before Pilate an innocent man and yet willfully bearing the weight of the false accusations leveled against Him. Had Jesus wanted to fight the Pilate and the Pharisees, He would have called the Spiritual armies at His fingertips. As it stood though, Christ, in His innocence, stood before a lesser King bearing the brunt of the accusations and the weight of the sin of the world.
Jesus Christ never sinned or misrepresented Himself. The truth of Jesus Christ simply appeared unbelievable to a people entangled in sins grasp. For the people, power was something to be held over others in subjugation and sinlessness had been a far off concept. For God to live in the midst of the people taking on flesh would have been something foreign to their mind and understanding. Jesus though, remained sinless as he took on flesh. Though he had been tempted in every manner, He remained sinless. Had Jesus succumbed to the allure of sin, any punishment He received would be just and the product of a just God who cannot allow sin to go unpunished. The perfection of Jesus Christ allowed Him to stand in strength before Pilate and the Pharisees and take the punishment that mankind deserved so that the people of God could be free from the effects of sin on the soul of humanity. Although the people sought to condemn Jesus Christ, He remained innocent as only a true King of all the Heavens and the Earth could rightfully remain.
- What is the interaction between the Kingship of Jesus Christ and His innocence and how are the two concepts linked to one another?
The Guilty Released
There had been significant precedence tied to Passover, where the lamb is slain for the sake of the guilty so that they might go free. The Roman officials would occasionally release one of the prisoners on Passover as a mark of the celebration. Pilate, in presenting Barabbas, gave an option to both quell the rising rebellion by convicting Jesus of the crime and simultaneously releasing Him, not finding any clear crime that He had completed. Yet, the people asked for Barabbas to be released instead. Their hatred of Jesus had run so deep that they had willingly sought the release of someone they knew to be guilty or horrendous and violent crimes to condemn Jesus Christ and restore their power relationship. The guilty would go free as Jesus Christ stood in the place of the guilty. Furthermore, the punishment had been nothing short of death. The Pharisees sought Rome to enact the death penalty which had to be administered by the government during that time.
Time and time again, we see the purpose and plan of God made clear despite the best efforts of In missing the point, the Pharisees and Pilate reinforced the whole premise of Christ’s coming. In Christ, the innocent man takes the punishment of sin upon Himself and allows the rightfully guilty to go free. At the core of the mission of Jesus Christ is to set the captives free. Yet, the scope of this scene is severely lacking when it comes to the expanse of Christ’s forgiveness. The ultimate consequence is not imprisonment by Rome but rather an eternal death feeling the wrath of God. Christ bore the weight of sin’s punishment upon Himself. Barabbas more accurately reflects our sinful state as Christ takes our place. We deserved the punishment that Christ receives by exchanging places with us when it mattered the most, in judgment. Out of a profound love for the people of God, Christ died for the ungodly to make us righteous and restore our relationship with Him to glorify His name throughout all creation.
- What does the releasing of Barabbas reveal about the hearts of the Pharisees? Of Pilate?
What Is Truth
In, perhaps, the more authentic and vulnerable moment of Pilate to Jesus, Pilate asks “What is truth?” For Pilate the question represented the competing realities presented to him, having to make the decision as to what is actually true and what is false. Furthermore, the truth the matter, when authentically lived out would have severe consequences for Pilate, thus clouding the judgment of the identity of truth. While Pilate challenged Jesus’ notion of truth, the answer to the question he sought stood right before Him. Jesus is truth. In Him is found the truth of existence and all being. What is truth is the wrong question. Who is truth would best be the question. And now, for Pilate, the truth stood in front of him and Pilate could find nothing false in Him or any reason to condemn Him. To stand in truth has consequences for those who do so. But the falsehood of the world will always leave a person wanting.
Discussion Questions
- In what ways does this scene hint to the finished work of Jesus Christ? What similarities are there?
- Why do you think the people had a willingness to release Barabbas instead of Jesus Christ? What does this reveal about humanity?
- How’s does Christ taking the guilt of mankind effect our standing and status? What changes in our identity when Christ takes our guilt?
- What is the motive for Christ’s willingness to release the guilty? How does the motive for our salvation help us to understand the nature of God? How does it help us to glorify Him?
About The Author
Daniel Burton is the founder of The Gospel Outpost. He is passionate about discipleship and seeing people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. To find out more about him, check out his Author Page.
