We have you now

Jesus saw the approach of the Temple guards and Judas. I can only imagine the resolve it took to ask, “Whom do you seek?” (John 18:7 ESV) Not just once but twice did Jesus speak these words. Jesus at this moment was laying down His life for his friends. Twice He told the guards He was Jesus. Jesus also said to the guards “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” In the face of the authority of the Pharisees, Jesus was displaying His authority over everything. The phrase “I told” establishes His authority. Essentially I told you so, it is so. The authority now established by Jesus leads to His next statement. Because I told you so and I am He,” if you seek me, let these men go.” Jesus knew the apostles would suffer many things later because of Him, but He also knew it was not their time only His.

Amid the fray that followed, Peter was reprimanded for cutting off the ear of a guard Malchus. Jesus, whose arrest was imminent, showed His love for those there to persecute Him and healed Malchus restoring his ear. Jesus was bound and led back to the Temple to face the Pharisees. I cannot imagine the beating, physical, and verbal abuse Jesus received from the guards.

In the Temple

Arriving at the temple, Jesus stood before the Pharisees who further abused Him both physically and mentally. Then early in the morning, Jesus was led to Pilate. Pilate listened to the accusations of the Pharisees against Jesus. Pilate also considered the words of His wife who pleaded with Pilate not to be involved with Jesus as she had dreams of Jesus and that He was holy (Matthew 27:19). Now there are many theories on the actions of Pilate. Some portray him to be weak and caving into the wishes of the Pharisees to keep the peace. I, however, look at Pilate through the eye of other historians who believe Pilate manipulated the Pharisees. Pilate used Jesus and in initially denying the request to crucify Jesus also used put the Pharisees in a position of submission.

Master Manipulator

When Pilate gave the crowd the option of releasing the beaten Jesus or releasing the robber Barabbas, the crowd chose Barabbas. What a shock this must have been to the Romans the crowd choosing a robber such as Barabbas. I believe this is where Pilate manipulated the Pharisees. In response to the choice to release Jesus or Barabbas, Pilate had Jesus beaten. After the beating of Jesus, Pilate brought Jesus back into the view of the crowd. The beating Jesus received was brutal and at this point, Jesus was losing considerable amounts of blood. It is here as Pilate attempted to release Jesus that the manipulation of the Pharisees occurred. Pilate, who in denying the request to crucify Jesus, caused the Pharisees to swear an oath to Caesar, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 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 Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 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.” (John 19:12-15 ESV). In one fell swoop, Pilate was rid of the “troublemaker” Jesus, and obtained an oath of loyalty to Caesar from the Pharisees. So was Pilate a coward, or a very shrewd soldier and politician? I think Pilate got what he wanted. The condemned Jesus was then led to the place called, in Aramaic, Golgatha, a place we call Calvary.