2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES
Wednesday in the Word
Second Baptist Church
April 29, 2026
John 18:5-Chapter 19:8
Verses15-1 8. From our last Lesson we know that Judas led the enemies of Christ to the garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. Interesting point to know is that the garden of Gethsemane was at the foot of the Mt of Olives and on the east side of Jerusalem. They mob would lead Jesus that night through the sheepgate. This was the exact way the Passover lamb would be brought into the city. This mob didn’t even realize that on the night of Passover they were bringing the true Passover lamb into the city to be examined by the high priest. We covered in our last discussion the tri-fold betrayal of Peter on that night. Peter attempted to blend into the crowd that was persecuting Christ. Three times his identity was questioned and three times he denies his association with Christ. The proud defiant Peter was humbled by a servant girl. And the lesson becomes, how often do we deny our association with Christ?
Verses 19-24. The ancient Hebrew law required two or three witnesses to prove a man guilty. This angry mob has brought Jesus to a sham trial with the hopes that they could bait him into saying something that would justify their hatred for him. They declared him guilty before this sham trial and were now seeking some evidence to go with their predetermined verdict. Plenty of people heard Jesus, surely, they could find someone who could testify of his guilt. They had no witnesses willing to go on record of any claims of guilt. To add insult to injury, one in the crowd decided to slap Jesus. Apparently, it was more egregious to ask for witnesses and a fair trial than to charge a man with a crime he did not commit. Hitting a person in court was detestable and it revealed the hypocrisy of the events. It should be noted that Micah 5:1 predicted that the Christ would be struck on such a manner. Jesus response to this detestable act was a calm response that proved he was without guilt. After this he was taken away from Annas to Caiaphas.
Verses 25-27. John details how Peter betrayed Christ the third time. His third betrayal is followed by the crowing of the rogter. Peter was quickly sifted by the devil just as Jesus predicted. Let none of us think we are too strong to be sifted. Peter is the only one who knows he failed the Lord. His sifting doesn’t happen in the dayLight, but at night with few witnesses who know the truth. Often times our failures are more private than public. The roster also signals the early morning and daylight. Everything that proceeded was done in the cover of darkness. Now the mob would try to make things seem legit by taking Jesus to Pilate.
Verses 28-29. The hypocrisy of the mob was on full display. It was seen as an unclean act to enter the home of a gentile. The Jews, at this moment, ate the Passover a day later than Jesus, they were concerned about being defiled by entering the home of Pilate. The mob, who was trying to get an innocent man condemned, was concerned that they would not be able to have a good time eating and drinking. They were concerned with the outer appearance of their actions versus the wickedness in their hearts. They were atready defiled by their actions and didn’t even know it. Pilate comes out of the palace to meet this mob asking what charges they were bringing against Jesus.
Verses 30-32. The mob declared that the only reason they wouLd bring a man to Pilate was because he was an evil doer. Roman Law required a clear charge, witnesses, and a chance for the accuse to speak. Pilate was following the established protocol by requesting the charges be made known. Of course, the mob didn’t have any charges to bring. Pilate told the mob to judge him by your own laws. Pilate. The problem for the mob was that the Sanhedrin had no power to execute a man under roman occupation. Jesus told his followers that this would happen.
Verses 33-40. Pilate takes Jesus inside the palace to speak to him in hopes that Jesus would give him a reason to find him guiLty. The contemporary hearers need to understand that Pilate didn’t want to upset the religious leaders. Pilate knew that his position would be jeopardized if he didn’t handle this situation in a way that pleased the crowd. Pilate attempts to get Jesus to say he was guilty of treason by saying he was calling himself king over Caesar. Of course, Jesus doesn’t give Pilate anything to work with to establish guilt. Pilate returns to the mob and offers the idea that the Jews get to let a prisoner go free every year. Pilate assumed that they would let Jesus go. Instead of Letting Jesus go, the crowd decides to let Barabbas go free. The very things the mob accused Jesus of Barabbas was guilty of. Pilate is obliged to release someone to the Jews. The Jews have made it clear that it must not be Jesus. They have asked, instead, for Pilate to release Barabbas. As dangerous as Barabbas was, they do not consider him as great a threat as Jesus to the well-being of their nation. In their minds, Jesus is worse than a robber, a revolutionary, and a murderer. They want Jesus executed, and Barabbas released. Isn’t it interesting that Barabbas is substituted for Jesus, and Jesus for Barabbas? Jesus, the Prince of Peace, dies in the place of a revolutionary, intent on overthrowing Roman rule.
Chapter 19:1-3. Pilate tried to satisfy the mob. We know that Pilate was a cruel and harsh governor. He did not care for the Jews; indeed, he seems to have despised them. It was not out of the kindness of his heart that he sought to spare the life of Jesus. It was out of self-interest, pure and simple, that he sought to release Jesus. Pilate has Jesus beaten. Most !ikely, Pilate thought that this would please the mob. This kind of torture normally kiLled the accused. Pilate assumes that seeing Jesus whipped within an inch of his life would be enough. Jesus was beaten, and the soldiers mocked him with a fake crown and an old purple/scarlet robe. The thorns had come to be associated with sin (Genesis 3:18). Thorns were not introduced into the world until sin came. Jesus is bearing our sins. These soldiers become symbolic gestures of the sins of the world being placed on Jesus. Not his own sins, but the sins of others. Jesus is slapped in the face to highlight the type of insults he was enduring. After this beating, Pilate could have freed Jesus himself. Pilate has all the power to set Jesus free. Even though he knew Jesus was innocent, he stiLI aLlowed him to suffer. Pilate is guilty of going along with the crowd, instead of standing up for what is right. Many are guilty because they didn’t use their power for justice.
Verses 4-6. As he brought Jesus out for the Jews to behold this bloody and beaten king, Pilate informed them once again that he found no basis for condemning Him. The Jews cried out, demanding that Pilate crucify Jesus: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate saw that there was no way he could change their minds. And at this point, when his position and power were on thin ice with Rome, he sensed that he did not dare to anger these Jews once again. And so he responded, “You take him and crucify him! For I find no reason for an accusation against him!” (verse 6). The Jews quickly responded, “We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God!”
Verses 7-8. The real reason for the animosity of the Jews toward Jesus is out in the open. Jesus is not merely claiming to be the “King of the Jews,” He is claiming to be the Son of God. I don’t think that Pilate believed these claims were true. Pilate was caught in the middle, between a highly agitated and committed group of Jews, and a man whom he now understood was claiming to be more than a king, but that He was the Son of God.
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