Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 105:419 (Jul 1948)
Article: The Son of God among the Sons of Men Part 14: Jesus and Pilate
Author: Everett F. Harrison

BSac 105:419 (Jul 48) p. 307

The Son of God among the Sons of Men
Part 14: Jesus and Pilate

Everett F. Harrison

XIV. Jesus and Pilate

The treachery of Judas so facilitated the plans of the Jewish leaders with respect to Jesus that they were able to seize and condemn Him even at the Passover season, when many of His Galilean sympathizers were at hand. One more obstacle lay in their path, however. The decree of death could only be passed by the governor, the representative of the Roman empire. To him they must go. Ordinarily he would be sought out at Caesarea, but on this occasion he was in Jerusalem. To be there brought him no personal pleasure. He was there because the interests of Rome demanded that he keep a watchful eye on the turbulent Jews. At Passover time they might give their commemoration of deliverance from Egypt a practical turn and stir up rebellion against their Latin overlords.

In the strenuous days of the Maccabees, when the Jews were fighting desperately to gain their freedom from the Syrians, their leaders appealed to Rome for aid. The Romans gave little more than moral support. A century later, however, they came in to settle a dispute between rivals for the throne, and they decided to stay, putting an end to Jewish independence. A few decades later they made Herod the Idumean king of the realm. Shortly before the death of this cruel and murderous tyrant, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Archelaus, son of Herod, continued his father’s record of bloodshed and terrorism. By 6 A.D. the Jews had had enough.

A delegation of Jews appeared at Rome appealing for

BSac 105:419 (Jul 48) p. 308

annexation of their land to the Roman province of Syria. The many thousands of Jews in Rome backed the appeal. It may seem strange that they should prefer the rule of the alien Romans to that of the Idumeans who were so much closer to them in race, culture and religion. Actually, however, the Herodian house had little concern for the faith of Israel, so the Jews were ready to trade masters if only they would be permitted to carry on their religious life as they chose. Thus it came to pass that Jesus’ ministry was spent under Roman jurisdiction and that He was tried for His life before a Roman magistrate.

On his trips to the holy city, the governor was accustomed to make use of the elegant palace which Herod had built for himself. No doubt this was the praetorium or judgment hall referred to in John 18:28. To this spot the Jews led their prisoner early in the morning. Here was enacted a drama unparalleled in the history of man. Here Jesus became the object of contention between the many and the one. Here the many employed every device they could muster with fiend...