No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
This declaration belongs to the trial before Pilate that led from the judgment hall to Calvary where Jesus was led to be crucified. It was spoken when Jesus, weary, pale, wounded, mocked and crowned with thorns, was hurried back from Herod to the Roman court. Pilate was irritated to have the responsibility returned after sending the case away, and asked the Jews what they wanted done. He would not condemn without a charge that could be brought and proved.
In it he reports that he sent Jesus to Herod and announces their joint finding that nothing worthy of death had been done. That means Jesus was not guilty of a capital offense. Pilate's own examination had found no blame, and the accusers had failed to prove or sustain a single charge. Herod, tetrarch of Galilee and one of their own nation, likewise found no offense deserving death, confirming Pilate's finding that the charges were unproved and Jesus was innocent.
The charges they rejected had come from malice and envy, which Herod as well as Pilate understood. Herod knew Jesus was innocent, yet tried to have Him perform a miracle to satisfy curiosity and secure His release. Jesus did not answer and did not use His power to escape suffering. Although declaring Him innocent, Pilate proposed to chastise or scourge Him and release Him in order to appease the crowd and pacify His accusers. To punish one acknowledged to be innocent was a weak compromise that sacrificed justice and principle.
That offer of terms exposed weakness and failure to uphold justice. It emboldened the accusers to presume on his indecision and press harder for condemnation, clamoring the more for the prisoner's life. Under pressure from the priests and rulers the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate delivered Jesus to them to be crucified and put on the cross to carry out their will. This condemnation despite proven innocence was what the disciples had been prepared for, showing that the crowd that hailed Jesus as king could turn to demand His crucifixion, so that changing public opinion cannot be the basis of faith.
This declaration belongs to the trial before Pilate that led from the judgment hall to Calvary where Jesus was led to be crucified. It was spoken when Jesus, weary, pale, wounded, mocked and crowned with thorns, was hurried back from Herod to the Roman court. Pilate was irritated to have the responsibility returned after sending the case away, and asked the Jews what they wanted done. He would not condemn without a charge that could be brought and proved.
In it he reports that he sent Jesus to Herod and announces their joint finding that nothing worthy of death had been done. That means Jesus was not guilty of a capital offense. Pilate's own examination had found no blame, and the accusers had failed to prove or sustain a single charge. Herod, tetrarch of Galilee and one of their own nation, likewise found no offense deserving death, confirming Pilate's finding that the charges were unproved and Jesus was innocent.
The charges they rejected had come from malice and envy, which Herod as well as Pilate understood. Herod knew Jesus was innocent, yet tried to have Him perform a miracle to satisfy curiosity and secure His release. Jesus did not answer and did not use His power to escape suffering. Although declaring Him innocent, Pilate proposed to chastise or scourge Him and release Him in order to appease the crowd and pacify His accusers. To punish one acknowledged to be innocent was a weak compromise that sacrificed justice and principle.
That offer of terms exposed weakness and failure to uphold justice. It emboldened the accusers to presume on his indecision and press harder for condemnation, clamoring the more for the prisoner's life. Under pressure from the priests and rulers the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate delivered Jesus to them to be crucified and put on the cross to carry out their will. This condemnation despite proven innocence was what the disciples had been prepared for, showing that the crowd that hailed Jesus as king could turn to demand His crucifixion, so that changing public opinion cannot be the basis of faith.