Episode 124 - "I find no guilt in him" - John 19:1-5
John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”
At the beginning of this section where Jesus is ultimately condemned to death by crucifixion, Pilate’s internal conflict of him being convinced of Jesus’ innocence and the manipulating demands of the crowd are only increased. Additionally, the irony increases as well.
From John’s prologue to this gospel, John records, “He came unto his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11) The question “Who or What is his own?” is a reasonable question to ask. Jesus certainly came to “his own” people the Jews. Our immediate context of John 19 makes it very plain that the Jews are rejecting him as their Messiah-King. So, we can see how that interpretation of John 1:11 is accurate. However, as the Word who through all things were created (John 1:3), everything and everyone are technically his own. He is not just the Messianic King of the Jews, he is the Creator of the world and all things and all people are his own. With the Roman soldiers flogging him, mocking him, and beating him, there are representatives of “the world” who are rejecting him as well. Yet, in their rejection, their mocking words ring truthfully regarding Jesus’ identity.
Why does Pilate have Jesus flogged and have him beaten if he believes that Jesus is not guilty of any offense? It seems to me that his words to the crowd give us an indication of what is going on in his mind. After Jesus has been flogged and beaten up, he presents Jesus to the crowd and says, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” (John 19:4) I believe the only answer to this is that by having Jesus beaten up, flogged, and humiliated in such a way, Pilate believed the crowd would be moved by Jesus’ appearance and be satisfied to leave him alone and not demand his execution. He was wrong.
As I have worked through this study, I’ve called your attention at least a few times to the repetition of keywords or themes throughout the book. Repetition helps us understand what is important. In these few verses, a Greek word that is found numerous times in John occurs twice. The word means “Behold! Look! Pay attention!” In this translation, its first occurrence is in verse four and is translated “See.” This is the same word expressed by John the Baptist and pointing his own followers to Jesus he says, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) The point to the hearers is to get their attention and to say, “Don’t miss this!” Here in verse four the point by Pilate is “Don’t miss this! I believe Jesus is innocent.”
The second occurrence is in verse five as the bloodied and bruised Jesus comes out to the crowd and Pilate says, “Behold the man!” I think Pilate’s intent is simply for the people to look at Jesus’ condition and reconsider their motives toward him. However, I cannot help but think that John records these words of Pilate to remind us “the Word (who was with God and was God) became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)
It is important for us to “behold Jesus.” As we read about his life and ministry, we need to pay careful attention to the fact that he is truly God, yet he is truly man, but without any sin(guilt). That is how he can be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He did this for us knowing that many would reject him, mock him, abuse him, and kill him. This is the love of God spoken of in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”