Jesus and Pilate

“For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth.” — John 18:37

All through that night, the religious leaders questioned Jesus. They found people to tell lies about Him. But their stories didn’t agree.

At last the high priest asked Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of God?”

“I am,” said Jesus.

“He has spoken against God!” the high priest shouted. And they decided that Jesus must die.

But only the Roman governor could order someone to be put to death. So early in the morning, they took Jesus to the governor, a man called Pontius Pilate.

“Are You the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked Jesus.

“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If it were, My servants would fight to stop My arrest. But My kingdom is from another place.”

“So You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

“You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born, and came into the world: to tell people the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to Me.”

“What is truth?” said Pilate.

Then Pilate went out to the crowd. “I find nothing wrong with this man,” he said. “It’s your custom for me to set one prisoner free at Passover time. Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?”

But the chief priests had stirred up the crowd. “No, not Him!” they shouted. “Give us Barabbas!” Barabbas was a man who had led a violent rebellion.

Then Pilate had Jesus whipped. The soldiers twisted some thorny branches into a crown and pushed it onto His head. They dressed Him in a purple robe, the colour kings wore. And they made fun of Him. “Hail, King of the Jews!” they jeered, and they hit Him.

Pilate brought Jesus out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. “Here is the man!” said Pilate.

When the chief priests saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

“I find nothing wrong with Him,” Pilate said again.

But the crowd shouted louder and louder. Pilate was afraid of the crowd. So at last he gave in. He set Barabbas free. And he handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Barabbas was guilty, and he went free. Jesus had done nothing wrong, and He was condemned in Barabbas’s place. That’s what Jesus did for us. We are like Barabbas. Jesus took our place.

Read it in your Bible: John 18:28–19:16; Mark 14:60–64

Dear Jesus, thank you that you took my place, like you took Barabbas’s place. You are the true King. Help me to listen to you, because you tell the truth. Amen.