
Power from God: John 19:1-16
Focus Passage: John 19:1-16 (NIrV)
Of all the gospel writers to include Jesus’ trial, John’s perspective on these events is more unique from the other three gospel writers. In John’s gospel, we get to peek into Jesus’ conversation with Pilate that happened behind closed doors, and we also get a glimpse of the actual charge the religious leaders give to Pilate for their demands of death.
Part way through the trial, John tells us that the religious leaders give their real reason for demanding Jesus’ death. After Pilate restates that he found no fault in Jesus, the Jewish leaders replied, “We have a law. That law says he must die. He claimed to be the Son of God.” (v. 7)
When Pilate heard this, John says that he was even more afraid. He brings Jesus back into the palace and asks Him, “Where do you come from?” (v. 9)
But Jesus remains silent, which both confuses and angers Pilate. Pilate continues with another question, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you understand? I have the power to set you free or to nail you to a cross.” (v. 10)
It is then that Jesus gave an answer, and His answer is amazing given the circumstances. Jesus replied, “You were given power from heaven. If you weren’t, you would have no power over me. So the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (v. 11)
Jesus reminds Pilate of something that Pilate already knows, but Jesus frames it in a different way. Jesus essentially reminds Pilate that everything he has been given as governor of Judea is because of God. Pilate may believe in the Roman collection of gods, but the same truth is present: Pilate is in the position he is in because he gained favor from a higher authority.
In this response, Jesus acknowledges Pilate’s position, but He frames it as not being number one. Jesus frames the Highest Authority in heaven as giving Pilate the power to decide Jesus’ fate. While Pilate initially claimed to have the power, Jesus reminded him that the power he is referring to is really a gift from God.
But Jesus subtly minimizes Pilate’s role in how He concludes. Jesus tells Pilate that because of the power given to him from Heaven for this event and decision, he will be guilty of sin for this, but “the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (v. 11)
Pilate was one of the few people who really got the picture of who Jesus was, and it scared him. Jesus was different from all the others that he had sentenced to death. It was like Jesus expected it, even though nothing said that He deserved it. Perhaps this is because Jesus kept His focus on what would happen after the cross and after His death – and maybe on even what His death would ultimately accomplish.
Jesus faced death knowing that it meant opening the way for our salvation. Those who judged Jesus as guilty were themselves guilty of sin, but Jesus was willing to look past their actions to what their actions would accomplish. When we ultimately face death, we too can look past it and see the future life Jesus has accomplished for each of us!
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