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MEMORY VERSE: “Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy” (Mark 15:9, 10).

Suggested Reading: Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 407–411.

“[Christ’s] abasement was the pledge of His exaltation. The blood drops of agony that from His wounded temples flowed down His face and beard were the pledge of His anointing with ‘the oil of gladness’ (Hebrews 1:9) as our great high priest.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 734.

1. PILATE’S WEAKNESS Sun, Oct 26

a. When Jesus was brought back to the court of Pilate, what argument did the governor present in His favor?

Luke 23:13–15: 13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.

b. How was Pilate ruined by his weak inconsistency?

Luke 23:16: I will therefore punish and release him. ”

John 19:1: Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.

“[Pilate] had declared that Jesus was innocent, yet he was willing for Him to be scourged to pacify His accusers. He would sacrifice justice and principle in order to compromise with the mob. This placed him at a disadvantage. The crowd presumed upon his indecision, and clamored the more for the life of the prisoner. If at the first Pilate had stood firm, refusing to condemn a man whom he found guiltless, he would have broken the fatal chain that was to bind him in remorse and guilt as long as he lived. Had he carried out his convictions of right, the Jews would not have presumed to dictate to him. Christ would have been put to death, but the guilt would not have rested upon Pilate. But Pilate had taken step after step in the violation of his conscience. He had excused himself from judging with justice and equity, and he now found himself almost helpless in the hands of the priests and rulers. His wavering and indecision proved his ruin.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 731, 732.

2. GOD’S WORK IN PILATE’S BEHALF Mon, Oct 27

a. What additional opportunity did God give Pilate?

Matthew 27:19: Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream. ”

“In answer to Christ’s prayer, the wife of Pilate had been visited by an angel from heaven, and in a dream she had beheld the Saviour and conversed with Him. Pilate’s wife was not a Jew, but as she looked upon Jesus in her dream, she had no doubt of His character or mission. She knew Him to be the Prince of God. She saw Him on trial in the judgment hall. She saw the hands tightly bound as the hands of a criminal. She saw Herod and his soldiers doing their dreadful work. She heard the priests and rulers, filled with envy and malice, madly accusing. She heard the words, ‘We have a law, and by our law He ought to die.’ She saw Pilate give Jesus to the scourging, after he had declared, ‘I find no fault in Him.’ She heard the condemnation pronounced by Pilate, and saw him give Christ up to His murderers. She saw the cross uplifted on Calvary. She saw the earth wrapped in darkness, and heard the mysterious cry, ‘It is finished.’ Still another scene met her gaze. She saw Christ seated upon the great white cloud, while the earth reeled in space, and His murderers fled from the presence of His glory. With a cry of horror she awoke, and at once wrote to Pilate words of warning.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 732.

b. To try to free Jesus, what idea did Pilate offer the mob?

Mark 15:6–10: 6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews? ” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.

“It was customary at this feast to release some one prisoner whom the people might choose. This custom was of pagan invention; there was not a shadow of justice in it, but it was greatly prized by the Jews. The Roman authorities at this time held a prisoner named Barabbas, who was under sentence of death. This man had claimed to be the Messiah. He claimed authority to establish a different order of things, to set the world right. Under satanic delusion he claimed that whatever he could obtain by theft and robbery was his own. He had done wonderful things through satanic agencies, he had gained a following among the people, and had excited sedition against the Roman government. Under cover of religious enthusiasm he was a hardened and desperate villain, bent on rebellion and cruelty. By giving the people a choice between this man and the innocent Saviour, Pilate thought to arouse them to a sense of justice. He hoped to gain their sympathy for Jesus in opposition to the priests and rulers.”—Ibid., p. 733.

3. CHRIST OR BARABBAS? Tue, Oct 28

a. What did the priests do to ensure Christ’s condemnation—and what would this ultimately mean for them?

Matthew 27:20: Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

b. To Pilate’s suprise, what final choices did the multitude make?

Matthew 27:21–23: 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you? ” And they said, “Barabbas. ” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? ” They all said, “Let him be crucified! ” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has he done? ” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified! ”

John 18:39, 40: 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? ” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas! ” Now Barabbas was a robber.

“ ‘What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?’ Pilate asked. Again the surging multitude roared like demons. Demons themselves, in human form, were in the crowd, and what could be expected but the answer, ‘Let Him be crucified’?”—The Desire of Ages, p. 733.

“The Jewish leaders made their choice. Their decision was registered in the book which John saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, the book which no man could open. In all its vindictiveness this decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

“The Jewish people cherished the idea that they were the favorites of heaven, and that they were always to be exalted as the church of God. They were the children of Abraham, they declared, and so firm did the foundation of their prosperity seem to them that they defied earth and heaven to dispossess them of their rights. But by lives of unfaithfulness they were preparing for the condemnation of heaven and for separation from God.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 294.

c. How is this scene repeated today—and what is our role in it?

Joshua 24:15: And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ”

“[Satan] is full of anger because he cannot bind the people of God into bundles with the world, to render to him complete allegiance. Kings and rulers and governors have placed upon themselves the brand of antichrist, and are represented as the dragon who goes to make war with the saints—with those who keep the commandments of God and who have the faith of Jesus. In their enmity against the people of God, they show themselves guilty also of the choice of Barabbas instead of Christ.”—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 39.

4. HATED BY HUMANS AND DEMONS Wed, Oct 29

a. How did the Roman soldiers contribute to the Saviour’s torture and how did He respond?

John 19:2, 3: 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.

Mark 15:16–19: 16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews! ” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.

“Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth! Behold the oppressor and the oppressed. A maddened throng enclose the Saviour of the world. Mocking and jeering are mingled with the coarse oaths of blasphemy. His lowly birth and humble life are commented upon by the unfeeling mob. His claim to be the Son of God is ridiculed, and the vulgar jest and insulting sneer are passed from lip to lip.

“Satan led the cruel mob in its abuse of the Saviour. It was his purpose to provoke Him to retaliation if possible, or to drive Him to perform a miracle to release Himself, and thus break up the plan of salvation. One stain upon His human life, one failure of His humanity to endure the terrible test, and the Lamb of God would have been an imperfect offering, and the redemption of man a failure. But He who by a command could bring the heavenly host to His aid—He who could have driven that mob in terror from His sight by the flashing forth of His divine majesty—submitted with perfect calmness to the coarsest insult and outrage.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 734.

b. Having wounded Christ before the people, what announcement did Pilate make?

John 19:4, 5: 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! ”

“There stood the Son of God, wearing the robe of mockery and the crown of thorns. Stripped to the waist, His back showed the long, cruel stripes, from which the blood flowed freely. His face was stained with blood, and bore the marks of exhaustion and pain; but never had it appeared more beautiful than now. The Saviour’s visage was not marred before His enemies. Every feature expressed gentleness and resignation and the tenderest pity for His cruel foes. In His manner there was no cowardly weakness, but the strength and dignity of long-suffering. In striking contrast was the prisoner at His side. Every line of the countenance of Barabbas proclaimed him the hardened ruffian that he was. The contrast spoke to every beholder. Some of the spectators were weeping. As they looked upon Jesus, their hearts were full of sympathy. Even the priests and rulers were convicted that He was all that He claimed to be.”—Ibid., p. 735.

5. THE SON OF GOD Thu, Oct 30

a. What inconsistent proposal did Pilate make to the Jews—and what declaration filled him with fear?

John 19:6–8: 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.

“Pilate was startled. He had no correct idea of Christ and His mission; but he had an indistinct faith in God and in beings superior to humanity. A thought that had once before passed through his mind now took more definite shape. He questioned whether it might not be a divine being that stood before him, clad in the purple robe of mockery, and crowned with thorns.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 736.

b. What conversation took place between Jesus and Pilate?

John 19:9–11: 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. ”

c. What dishonest argument of the Jews led Pilate to cowardly yield to their demand?

John 19:12–16: 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. ” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King! ” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him! ” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King? ” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar. ” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

Who deserved the greatest blame for the crime?

“Pilate yielded to the demands of the mob. Rather than risk losing his position, he delivered Jesus up to be crucified. But in spite of his precautions, the very thing he dreaded afterward came upon him. His honors were stripped from him, he was cast down from his high office, and, stung by remorse and wounded pride, not long after the crucifixion he ended his own life. So all who compromise with sin will gain only sorrow and ruin.”—Ibid., p. 738.

“The greatest guilt and heaviest responsibility belonged to those who stood in the highest places in the nation, the depositaries of sacred trusts that they were basely betraying.”—Ibid., p. 737.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Oct 31

1. What characteristics of Pilate am I in danger of imitating?

2. How often have I, like Pilate, ignored a trustworthy warning?

3. How would I act if under the type of pressure Pilate faced?

4. What resource did Pilate use to try to absolve Jesus?

5. Who is to blame for the death of the Son of God—and why?