Thoughts on the Gospel of John (188) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.
John 19:1–4

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (188)
Pilate must admit that he finds no guilt in Jesus. His duty is therefore obvious: the innocent man must be released. But for his political career Pilate still needs good relations with the Jews – hence the previously mentioned second attempt to avert Jesus’ death sentence. The governor falls back on a custom according to which one prisoner was released at the Passover.

Obviously, Pilate did not expect that the Jews would come out in favour of releasing the rebel Barabbas. But because Pilate has offered this lazy compromise, he gradually loses his authority.

Finally, the governor makes a third attempt to appease the Jews and prevent a death sentence. He has Jesus scourged and allows the soldiers to mock Him with a crown of thorns and a purple robe. Does Pilate want to move the crowd and their leaders to pity and on the other hand convey to them that they need not take Jesus’ royal claims seriously? In any case, he hopes to be able to release the prisoner; he cannot prove Him guilty of anything.

How did the Lord feel when He was treated in this way? We hear His lament in the prophetic words, “The ploughers ploughed on my back; they made their furrows long”, and, “Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness” (Psalm 129:3; 69:20).

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Genesis 24:32-49 · Psalms 8:1-9