John 19:1-16 | Food for Thought
Questions
Pilate bragged about his power over Jesus and attempted to sway the crowds.
But how do we know that Pilate actually had far less power than he wants us to think? (fear; ruling against his personal judgment that Jesus was innocent; seeking to release Jesus, but not doing it)
In light of all these things, who or what actually had power in this situation?
How could Pilate have used this authority? What would’ve been the cost? …the benefit?
Do you resonate with having authority / ability / power, but giving it away to public opinion, the path of least resistance, etc.?
While the religious crowds and Pilate (Romans) are often opposed to one another, they share the most fundamental thing: they have no other king except Caesar.
How do we see this show up in the soldiers? …Jewish people? …Pilate?
How does this allegiance to Caesar play out differently across these people? How does it ultimately play out the same?
How does this personally change / challenge the way your allegiance shows up (from bold and brash to socially acceptable to consensus building)?
Jesus acknowledges the “chain of events” that have led him to Pilate, even saying the greater sin is laid on the shoulders of the last guy (Caiaphas).
That said, is Jesus excusing Pilate’s sin? How does Pilate’s place in the “derlivery chain” in verses 11 and 16 shape your answer?
How are the cries to crucify Jesus different from Pilate’s passivity? How are they the same?
The Jews believed that Jesus made himself the Son of God (8) and a king (12). Pilate believed he had his own authority to flog, kill, and release him.
How does our belief about who Jesus is (nature, character, attributes, etc.) shape how we see, approach, and relate with him?
How would this scene have played out differently if they all knew and believed Jesus was who he said he was?
Are there areas of your life - beliefs, practices, attitudes, relationships - where you’re living as if Jesus doesn’t really doesn’t have authority over you? …as if you have authority to overrule Jesus?
There is no such thing as neutrality towards Jesus. Either he’s a traitor to the real king or he IS the real King. Either we’re traitors of the real king, or we’re citizens of the Real Kingdom.
How is this reality not damning and despairing precisely because Jesus is the real King? What about Jesus - who he is, what he did, and what he gives us - makes this “all-or-nothing” approach a place of security for us, not insecurity?