Episode 125 - Authority from above - John 19:6-11

6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Where we pick up our study today is the moment after Pilate has had Jesus flogged and beaten, seemingly thinking that will appease the crowd who has brought Jesus to them to be crucified. Pilate has repeatedly asserted that he found no guilt in Jesus. But, his hope that he would pacify the mob and avert the culpability of executing an innocent man would be disappointed. He repeats again, “I find no guilt in him” when he tells them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him.” (v. 6) 

According to John’s account, this is when the Jews make it more clear why they are insisting upon Jesus being crucified; “he has made himself the Son of God.” (v. 7) This term could be used for the Messiah. Both Matthew and Mark record that when Jesus was being interrogated before Caiaphus, the high priest asked him if he was the Son of God (Matthew 26:63 and Mark 14:61). Jesus responded by claiming to be the Son of Man. As mentioned earlier, the Son of Man is a person spoken of in Daniel 7:13 that is given all authority by the “Ancient of Days” and will rule for eternity. The high priest deems this claim to be blasphemy and that is their justification for taking Jesus to Pilate to be executed. 

I would tend to expect that Pilate would use this accusation as a convenient excuse to acquiesce to the mob’s demand. Instead, John says that Pilate “was more afraid.” Here is this powerful individual with whom we might expect had no fear except the authority of Caesar. Yet, he is frightened by this report that Jesus has claimed to be this prophetic figure. Perhaps this has something to do with the dream his wife had to have nothing to do with Jesus. (Matthew 27:19) But, John doesn’t tell us that. Whatever the cause, it suggests that Pilate has been given adequate information to make a just decision.

This leads to Pilate questioning Jesus again. It seems to me that Pilate’s demeanor may have been more frantic in light of his fear. He asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus didn’t answer him. It would seem that Pilate already suspects the truthful answer to his own question and Jesus’ refusal to speak the answer indicates that he knows Pilate already has the answer to his question.

Pilate then, perhaps from his anxiety and internal conflict, asserts his authority to Jesus. There is a sense in which Jesus is really the one in control in this conversation. Yet, he is not using his authority to change his temporal circumstances, but to reveal the truth to Pilate and to the world concerning his identity. Jesus responded to Pilate, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given to you from above.” (v. 11) In that response lies more irony and double-entendre. From an earthly perspective, Pilate’s authority is from Caesar and Jesus’ statement is true. It reminds Pilate that his authority is nothing innate within himself, but given to him by a higher authority. But, the double-entendre that’s happening here is Jesus speaks of this authority “from above.” It’s the same word Jesus uses when speaking with Nicodemus and says, “Unless a man is born again/from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) The Greek word (translit. anothen) can mean either “again” or “from above.” In the same way that Jesus tells Nicodemus that he needs a “birth” from above, Jesus is now telling Pilate that his real authority is “from above.” In other words, he could do nothing to Jesus if not allowed by God the Father. As I see it, this is Jesus also answering Pilate’s question, “Where are you from?” Jesus is from above, from the Father. This explains the rest of Jesus’ words to Pilate; “Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” (v. 11b) He means the one who decided that Jesus should be executed and acted to deliver him under human authority for that purpose has committed a greater sin before God. 

As I write this, we are approaching Lent and can’t help but reflect upon the injustice of the guiltless Jesus experiencing such cruelty. It’s easy to think of Jesus as a pitiful victim of this crowd and this Roman leader. But, we’re told these people have no authority unless granted from above. It puts things in perspective that as tragic and unjust as this is in one sense, it is the same authority from above allowing it that also makes it possible for each of us to receive a new birth and see the kingdom of God. It is through these events that divine justice with respect to the sins of the world is being addressed in Jesus’ death on the cross. By believing that Jesus is from God the Father and the divine purpose of his death on the cross, we receive that new birth. What a loving gift of God to the world!