Jesus Before Pilate John 18:28-38 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

In this lesson we will continue to compare scripture with scripture to harmonize the seemingly disjointed presentation of this event throughout the Gospels to determine how the verses are properly arranged. In this passage Jesus is being led from Caiaphas to Pilate before the trial.

We begin with a large council of men gathered together in the palace to interrogate Jesus (Mark 15:1). After pronouncing Jesus a blasphemer before the council, Caiaphas delivered Jesus to Pilate at the judgment hall (Luke 23:1, Matt. 27:2, John 18:28). Pilate then enquires as to the nature of the accusation against Jesus (John 18:29). The council representatives then falsely (Rev. 19:16) accuse Jesus of perverting the nation (Luke 23:2). The council considered the proclamation by Jesus Christ that He was the King of the Jews at the right hand of the Father as blasphemy (Luke 23:3, Mark 15:2, Matthew 27:11). When you are right you need no defense and so Jesus gave no answer towards His defense (Matthew 27:12, Mark 15:4).

Now at this point John contains a part of the account that is not included in the other three Gospels. Looking at this we are to understand that the Gospels are supplemental to each other in order to form a complete picture of the event and not contradictory as some would have it. In John we learn that Pilate found no fault with Jesus, but the Jews insisted on His guilt and called for His death (John 18:30-31). When Pilate told them to judge Jesus by their own law they lied and said that their law forbade putting a man to death (Lev. 24:16, John 10:31).

Pilate then went back into the judgment hall to question Jesus further (John 18:33). Now here is where some would see a contradiction. Matthew and Mark record that when he was accused of the chief priests and elders Jesus answered never a word (Matt. 27:12, Mark 15:3). But in John we see Jesus and Pilate having a conversation (John 18:34-38). However, closer inspection will reveal that the moment of accusation in Matthew and Mark occurs out on the porch of the judgment hall in front of the chief priests and elders and that the conversation in John occurs privately inside of the judgment hall. Therefore, we have two separate moments in time being described between these Gospels concerning accusations of blasphemy by Jesus Christ in revealing Himself to be the King of the Jews.

There are a number of places in the King James Bible where we are told of “the end of the world” (Matthew 24:20). This is to be understood that God is not simply describing the end of an age. The Bible tells us that the devil is the god of this world (2Cor. 4:4, Luke 4:6-8, 1Jn 2:15-16, James 4:4), so when Jesus Christ comes again He is going to destroy this world system, and cast the devil into the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:3). Then Jesus Christ will establish His Kingdom and it will no longer be called this world (Rev. 11:15). Therefore, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is not here now and it is not of this world (John 18:37).