Thoughts on the Gospel of John (185) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

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. Then Pilate said to them, you take Him and judge Him according to your law. Therefore the Jews said to him, it is not lawful for us to put anyone to death, that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
John 18:29–32

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (185)
The religious leaders of the Jewish people have interrogated Jesus – and have rejected Him. Now He has been brought before the secular courts. Will He be judged differently here? At first it seems so. But in the end, the governmental power that God entrusted to men to praise the good and punish all who do evil is used to condemn the “Holy One and the Just” to death (cf. Romans 13:4, Acts 3:14). This is called judicial murder.

At first sight, the Roman governor appears friendly and just, compared to the high priests of the Jews. But at the end of the trial, it becomes clear that prestige with people is more important to him than truth and justice.

Pilate senses that the case brought before him is not one for him; he wants to return his responsibility to the Jewish people. Therefore, he asks for a clear accusation. The religious leaders are evasive. Indignant, they tell Pilate that they are in no way unjust. For them it is irrevocably clear: Jesus must die.

Several times the Lord spoke of His having to be lifted up – a reference to His crucifixion (cf. ch. 3:14; 8:28; 12:32–33). Because only the Romans were authorised to execute a death sentence in Israel, Jesus was crucified – and not stoned as the Jews usually did. This is how every word of God is fulfilled.

(to be continued on Sunday 27 April)

Today’s reading: Genesis 6:1-12 · 1 Peter 3:8-17