The Liberator: The Death of Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus' death was unique. Why did this perfect man have to die? 

 Word of the arrest by the Jews had come early to Pilate, the Roman procurator. Pilate must have been mumbling about his feelings in front of his wife as he dressed quickly and went to the fortress.

He really didn't like the idea of doing any favors for the religious leaders. He resented their religion and had already had several confrontations with them. When he had taken money from the Temple treasury to build an aqueduct for the good of the people, they had caused an uprising. When he had brought the Roman emblem into the holy city, they had staged still another revolt. (Merrill C. Tenney, The Zondervan Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1969, p. 656). After all his past problems with these priests, he did not look forward to meeting them over this prophet.

The Jewish leaders brought the prisoner to the Roman fortress, but they did not enter into the Gentile judgment hall because they did not want to be defiled for their upcoming Passover festival. Pilate's frustration clearly showed on his face as he had to come out to them.

"What accusation do you bring against this man?" Pilate asked.

"If he hadn't done something wrong, we wouldn't have delivered him to you."

"You take him then, and judge him according to your own law," he said.

"We are not permitted to put anyone to death." The religious leaders had hoped Pilate would just accept their verdict. But when he questioned them, they had to come up with charges which would satisfy the Roman. So they said: "This man is misleading the nation, forbidding others to pay taxes to Caesar and saying he is the Messiah, a king!"

Pilate looked at Jesus.

"Don't you want to answer?" he asked. "Don't you hear the things they're charging against you?"

Jesus didn't answer, so Pilate brought him into the judgment hall. Taking his place on the judgment seat, he began to question his prisoner.

"Are you the King of the Jews?"

"Are you asking this for yourself, or did they tell you to ask me this?"

"Am I a Jew?" replied the exasperated governor. "Your own nation and chief priests have brought you to me. What have you done?"

"My kingdom is not of this world," the Nazarene replied.

"You are a king them?"

"I am a king. For this I was born. For this I came into the world: that I should give witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to me."

"What is truth?" replied the impatient procurator sarcastically.

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