Devotions

I Find No Basis for an Accusation

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Jesus has been bound and brought before all of the Jewish religious leaders, the chief priests, the Sanhedrin, the peoples’ council of elders and Jesus has told them he is the Son of Man. It is for this that they want to crucify him. The whole assembly carries Jesus before Pilate who finds “no basis for accusation”. Pilate tries to push this off to Herod because Jesus was from Galilee but Herod sends him right back. Pilate washes his hands, a symbolic gesture for the Jews, and they say, “His blood be on us”. The sentence is decreed and Jesus is on his way to the cross.

He Regretted What He Had Done

Matthew 27:1–10
Judas could not find any way back from his act of betrayal. The chief priests had encouraged him to betray Jesus and had offered him money, an incentive to do so, but now, after it was done, they didn’t want anything to do with Judas. This is just like evil company, they will talk you into doing what they want and then blame you because you didn’t do the right thing.

Jesus is Brought Before Pilate and Herod

Luke 23:1-12
Mark 15:1-5
Matthew 27:11-14
John 18:28-38 

I Find No Basis for an Accusation

Luke 23:1–12
They all came to Pilate in Luke 23:1 “The whole assembly”, the Sanhedrin, the chief priests and scribes, the council of the elders, and officers of the temple. And in Luke 23:2 “they began to accuse him”. Jesus was not misleading anyone. Jesus had never made any threats against Caesar and had never spoken against paying taxes. It was the scribes and Pharisees who tried to catch Jesus with this line, but Jesus answered, “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”. Finally, Pilate says in Luke 23:4 “I find no basis for an accusation against this man”. But the crowd continues to press now throwing in Galilee as Jesus starting point. Pilate, a good politician, now hopes to dodge this whole mess and sends Jesus to Herod, Galilee is Herod’s jurisdiction.

See How Many Charges They Are Bringing

Mark 15:1–5
Jesus is not reacting to these false accusations and Pilate doesn’t understand. Why isn’t Jesus defending himself? Doesn’t Jesus know that they are seeking his death? Even if Jesus had responded, how do you justify yourself against false accusations?

He Answered Nothing

Matthew 27:11–14
Jesus did not react in any way to this mob or the false accusations or even Pilates taunting him with “Are you the king of the Jews?” Of course, an answer of yes would have been treason against Caesar. But whatever the emotional pressure of the moment, Jesus remained composed. 

It is Not Permitted for us to Kill Anyone

John 18:28–32
Pilate tries to avoid any involvement saying in

John 18:31 (LEB) So Pilate said to them, “You take him and judge him according to your law!” The Jews said to him, “It is not permitted for us to kill anyone,”

But the Jews throw a decision right back at Pilate because they could not “kill anyone”. Only the governor, Pilate had this power. From the beginning, “They were conscious they had no case of which Pilate could take cognizance, and therefore insinuate that they had already found Him worthy of death by their own law; but not having the power, under the Roman government, to carry their sentence into execution, they had come merely for his sanction”1.

The Jews Ask For Barabbas

Matthew 27:15-26
Mark 15:6-15
Luke 23:13-25
John 18:39-19:16 

His Blood Be On Us and On Our Children!

Matthew 27:15–26
Pilate saw nothing in Jesus worthy of death, but the Jews insisted that he was guilty according to their Jewish law. Rome allowed religious autonomy, but the death penalty could only be delivered by Roman decree. Pilate says this man is not guilty, the Jews insist, he must be crucified. So Pilate washes his hands, and “The effect of the whole complex is to underline in the strongest way the responsibility of ‘the Jews’ for Jesus’ death. The symbolic washing of hands recalls the ritual prescribed in Deuteronomy 21:6–9, and the metaphorical language of Psalms 26:6; 73:13. Cf. 2 Samuel 3:28 for David’s similar declaration of his own innocence of a killing which was likely to be attributed to him”.2

He Customarily Released for Them One Prisoner

Mark 15:6–15

Nothing Deserving Death Has Been Done by Him

Luke 23:13–25

We do not have a king except Caesar!

John 18:39–19:16

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Matthew 27:1-26
  • Mark 15:1-15
  • Luke 23:1-25
  • John 18:28-40
  • John 19:1-16

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels

This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 163). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. France, R. T. (1985). Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 396–397). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.