First Appearance Before Pilate: Luke 23:1-7
“3) So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4) Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5) But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.” 6) When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7) And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.” Luke 23:3-7
The first appearance before was rather short. Pilate listened to the charges the Council brought against Jesus. They were formable charges.
According to both Luke and John, Herod focused on the accusation of Him claiming to be King of the Jews. This was the most serious charge as far as Rome was concerned.
Let me make two observations. First, Jesus did not back down from the claim even though His life depended on it. He was indeed the King of the Jews! (See John 1:9-12)
Second, according to the dialogue recorded in John 18:33-40, Jesus made in clear that His kingdom was not of this realm. His was the kingdom of Heaven.
Herein is the important revelation that reality exists of two kingdoms. They are called by many names. Scripture refers to them as the kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of earth. They are also called the kingdoms of light and darkness. (Colossians 1:12-3) They can be revered to as the kingdoms of God and Satan.
The comparisons throughout the Bible are many. Love versus hate. Truth versus deception. Life versus death. Freedom versus bondage. Power versus weakness. Truth versus deception. Hope versus despair. Peace versus turmoil. Health versus sickness. The list is very long and very opposite.
God wants His People to walk and live in the full blessings of His Kingdom. (See Ephesians 1:3) Part of spiritual growth is moving experientially into our position “in Christ” and embracing the full benefits of His kingdom in our daily lives.
Unfortunately, many Christians claim to be in the kingdom of light, but walk and live in the kingdom of darkness. (See 2 John 5-10) According to Galatians five, Jesus came to set us free from bondage to the flesh so we can walk in the Spirit. We need not go on as slaves to sin and Satan.
From this brief exchange with Jesus, Pilate realized that Jesus was innocent of any charge of insurrection. His mission and the fruit of His ministry was not aimed at this realm. He was offering people what no political entity could bring. He was offering peace with God and a new life.
During this exchange, Pilate also discovered that Jesus was from Galilee. That meant He was under the jurisdiction of Herod.
It just happened that Herod was in Jerusalem at the time. This offered Pilate the brief hope of handing the matter over to Herod. He quickly sent Jesus away to Herod.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“3) So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4) Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5) But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.” 6) When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7) And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.” Luke 23:3-7
The first appearance before was rather short. Pilate listened to the charges the Council brought against Jesus. They were formable charges.
According to both Luke and John, Herod focused on the accusation of Him claiming to be King of the Jews. This was the most serious charge as far as Rome was concerned.
Let me make two observations. First, Jesus did not back down from the claim even though His life depended on it. He was indeed the King of the Jews! (See John 1:9-12)
Second, according to the dialogue recorded in John 18:33-40, Jesus made in clear that His kingdom was not of this realm. His was the kingdom of Heaven.
Herein is the important revelation that reality exists of two kingdoms. They are called by many names. Scripture refers to them as the kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of earth. They are also called the kingdoms of light and darkness. (Colossians 1:12-3) They can be revered to as the kingdoms of God and Satan.
The comparisons throughout the Bible are many. Love versus hate. Truth versus deception. Life versus death. Freedom versus bondage. Power versus weakness. Truth versus deception. Hope versus despair. Peace versus turmoil. Health versus sickness. The list is very long and very opposite.
God wants His People to walk and live in the full blessings of His Kingdom. (See Ephesians 1:3) Part of spiritual growth is moving experientially into our position “in Christ” and embracing the full benefits of His kingdom in our daily lives.
Unfortunately, many Christians claim to be in the kingdom of light, but walk and live in the kingdom of darkness. (See 2 John 5-10) According to Galatians five, Jesus came to set us free from bondage to the flesh so we can walk in the Spirit. We need not go on as slaves to sin and Satan.
From this brief exchange with Jesus, Pilate realized that Jesus was innocent of any charge of insurrection. His mission and the fruit of His ministry was not aimed at this realm. He was offering people what no political entity could bring. He was offering peace with God and a new life.
During this exchange, Pilate also discovered that Jesus was from Galilee. That meant He was under the jurisdiction of Herod.
It just happened that Herod was in Jerusalem at the time. This offered Pilate the brief hope of handing the matter over to Herod. He quickly sent Jesus away to Herod.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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