John 18:28-40

18:28-32 | As the Jewish leaders schemed to put an innocent man to death, they were careful to not violate their law or to bring an accusation against Jesus - revealing both the weakness and purposefulness of their wickedness.

18:33-34 | Jesus answered shrewdly, because if Pilate was asking his question as a Roman, then the answer was no - Jesus was not a Roman king. But if Pilate was asking as the Jews had asked the question, then the answer was yes, because Jesus was the Messiah, the King of the Jews.

18:35-36 | Pilate tried to outwardly cooperate with the Jews while keeping Jesus at arm’s length.

18:36 | Pilate’s question reflected the cynicism of his day - and ours. Skeptics were teaching that truth is unknowable and therefore a matter of opinion, so if such a thing as absolute truth existed, there would be no way to know it. Ironically, the answer to Pilate’s question - the Truth (14:6) - was standing right in front of him.

18:39 | Pilate did everything possible to avoid facing the issue of Jesus’ innocence or guilt. Throughout this account, Pilate is portrayed as a man who refused to take responsibility.

18:40 | Barabbas was a robber, a term that means he was an insurrectionist and murderer (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). Matthew simply says that he was a “notorious prisoner” (Matt. 27:16). The secular records of this time period tells us that Barabbas was both: he had been caught in the act of insurrection, trying to set his people free from the Romans, and he had killed someone. Thus, he was awaiting execution.