When the Gavel Falls

Maryann Adams

Central Truth

Knowledge of God's sovereignty provides peace, comfort, and power to stand strong against unrelenting opposition.

Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above."

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews^{1

19:7
Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 12, 14, 31, 38} answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic^{2

19:13
Or Hebrew; also verses 17, 20} Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.^{3

19:14
That is, about noon} He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus,

Footnotes

[1] 19:7 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 12, 14, 31, 38
[2] 19:13 Or Hebrew; also verses 17, 20
[3] 19:14 That is, about noon

Two years ago, I sat in a courtroom with several other potential jurors. As the judge began to speak, a dead silence filled the room and revealed the sober-minded, reverent spirit we all felt for the judge's authority. That same mood is often experienced when the penetrating sound of a falling courtroom gavel declares the finality of a verdict or sentencing.

In today's passage, Pilate gives his verdict on Jesus to the angry priests, rulers, and people: "I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges. . . . [N]othing deserving death has been done by him." (Luke 23:14b, 15b) But, as pressures mount, Pilate acts out of fear and selfish motivation. He ultimately appeases the demanding crowd's loud cries for Jesus' crucifixion and delivers Him over (John 19:16). By this decision, which reflects his rejection of the truth about Jesus, Pilate declares his own eternal death sentence. However, the decision fulfills what God's sovereign plan required. The injustice suffered by One leads toward justice for many: the fulfillment of God's merciful, sovereign plan for the forgiveness of sin.

What can we learn from Pilate? What can we learn from Jesus?

Pilate's life gives warnings. People-pleasing brings initial personal satisfaction and relief from human pressures. But, in the end, it destroys (Proverbs 14:12). Rooted in the sins of pride and selfishness, dependency on man's support and praise fosters cowardly, fearful behaviors. Pilate did not stand strong in the face of opposition. He ran. He ran from God's grace as truth was brought to him multiple times through Jesus, his conscience, and his wife (Matthew 27:19).

In contrast, Jesus reveals peace, power, and a steadfast focus on His purpose: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." (John 4:34) Jesus remains perfectly composed despite the unfathomable suffering and abuse "for the joy that was set before him." (Hebrews 12:2b) Jesus stands strong against Pilate, confronting the taunts with truth about God and His sovereignty. Knowledge of God's sovereignty provides peace, comfort, and power to stand strong against unrelenting opposition.

And so, when the gavel falls for you, what will your sentence be?

1. How does the tone of your conversations reflect your confidence in God's sovereignty?

2. Will you review or memorize a new passage in Scripture that will help you when facing a Pilate-like situation of satisfying people's wants more than obeying God?

3. If you do not believe Jesus is God, and you doubt your need for Him, will you pray and ask God to keep drawing you to Himself (John 6:44), and perhaps reach out to Watermark's Great Questions ministry?