What did Pilate know?

[ZiSunka]

I was reading John 18, about Jesus being taken to Pilate to be executed, and it doesn't seem like Pilate was very aware of Christ or what he had been doing in Israel for three years. He had to go out to the Jews to ask them what they were accusing Jesus of, and he had to ask Jesus, "What did you do?"

How aware of Christ's ministry do you think Pilate was before he was dragged in by the Jews?

 

[Cright]

Good question lambslove!

Matthew 15:21-28 talks about a Canaanite woman (non-jew) who heard about Christ and went into a Jewish area to find him. Bowed down to Him and called Him Lord. He brushed her aside and called her a dog before granting her wish. Even the disciples were trying to get rid of her!

We don't have a lot of examples (that I know of) of non-Jew's knowledge of Jesus, but this woman did have knowledge of him... enough of it to have faith in who He is... it will be interesting to hear more replies on this!

 

[Matthan]

What about the Centurion with the sick servant. Never before had Jesus seen such faith as was found in that Gentile....

I have always looked on Pilate as a dupe who chose political correctness over what was right. He saw the Jews moving closer to riot, so he capitulated to their wishes and ordered Jesus crucified. He knew Jesus was guiltless, but that did not matter in the end.

What do we see in the world today? A bunch of political dupes, always wanting to appease rather than do what is right.... Sure makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Matthan <J><

 

[Sword-In-Hand]

I agree with Matthan. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but still he played to the crowd and feared the mob more than the Man.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

I feel bad for Pilate, in a way one can understand.

Pilate was friends with [forget his name] but his friend was implicated in a plan to assasinate the ceaser of that day and was found out. Ceaser had him executed and anyone else he thought to be involved. Since Pilate was a cohort of this guy when the Jews screamed they would send word to Rome that "you are no friend of Ceasers" one can immediatly feel the pressure. His life was at stake.

However, he was spinless and self serving in that he protected himself rather than innocent Jesus. If we were in his place, i really wonder what we would do. Its a good thing to ponder on.

 

[ZiSunka]

Well, plus, he was afraid of another riot like the one that had taken place in the temple when he went for his visit under the banner of Caesar. The Jews got so angry that he had brought that banner into the temple that it took a legion of soldiers to put the riot down. Hundreds were killed or injured and the entire city was under heavy security. Then, at passover, there were millions of people in Jerusalem for the festival and this guy with a huge following comes to town which the Jewish leaders saw as a challenge to their authority.

I really think they were worried that Jesus was going to lead an insurrection against the temple leaders and install himself as chief priest and perhaps kill them. That's why they had him arrested on the evening of passover, because the next day was a temple day and they were thinking that when Jesus came to temple, he was going to stand up and take over, all with the approval of the people. They had to act on the passover or it would be too late. He had to be arrested, tried, convicted and executed before the first day of Unleavened Bread when everyone came to the temple.

They turned to the Roman occupation government for help. I'll bet they told the captain of the guard, "look, here's this guy Jesus, he's got a crowd of followers and he's got them all rialed up. You should have seen the scene they made last sunday when he came into town. We know he's come with his hoards to take over the city and proclaim himself king, and he's going to lead them in a rebellion and there's going to be another riot and if that happens, Rome is going to come down hard on Pilate and you. We have to arrest him tonight and get him executed before our holiday or he will raise up trouble." And the captain of the guard, worried about what would happen if Jerusalem got out of hand with millions of festival-goers in it, rushed out with Judas and the Jewish leaders to stop the rebellion before it could begin. They found him in the garden and the rest is history.

But my question is, what did Pilate know of Jesus, if anything, or was he completely clueless?

 

[Carrye]

But my question is, what did Pilate know of Jesus, if anything, or was he completely clueless?

I don't think he knew much of him, if anything at all. Pilate was a Roman, and it was the Jewish authorities who had problems with Jesus. They just took him to Pilate because they couldn't accomplish the punishment they wanted (see Jn 18:31). The Romans were much more afraid of large groups gathering (evidenced in the accounts of Josephus) than they were of a lone man. It was the Jews who knew Jesus, not Pilate.