The Cross Throughout the Scriptures - Part 19
The fourth trial is the first trial before Pontius Pilate, where Jesus witnessed or testified an honorable confession, 1Ti 6:13.

This was the day the memorial supper, the Passover, would be eaten.

The Jews took Jesus to the Roman governor, because the Law stated they were not to try someone in court on a Sabbath or holy day.

Luk 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”

Mat 22:21 “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

They were implying He was setting Himself up as a King and trying to lead a revolt against Rome.

Here was a rival to Caesar and a dangerous revolutionary!

1Ti 6:13 “Christ Jesus, who has testified the honorable confession before Pontius Pilate,”

Pilate had the discernment to observe the innocence of Jesus, but not the character to free Him.

He has a kingdom of regenerate people, the Church or Body of Christ.

Joh 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

Today the voice of the Lord is the Bible, the Word of God.

Spiritual blindness and lack of a human spirit make spiritual phenomena impossible to absorb, 1Co 2:14.

I find in Him - in Jesus - No Fault!

The fifth trial was before Herod, Luk 23:8-12.

Mat 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

The sixth and final trial before Pilate, Luk 23:13-25.

Pilate knew it was the custom of the Passover for the Roman government to release to the Jews some notorious prisoner, already condemned to death.

He was a habitual professional criminal, possibly the Number One man of the crime syndicate in that area.

Satan did not want Christ to bear the sins of the world on the Cross, but wanted Him stoned to death by Jewish Law, frustrating the Plan of God.

The custom of washing hands indicated this person was innocent, and if he’s executed, it is a judicial murder.

Even under Jewish law this meant innocence, Deu 21:6-9.

Some 30 years later on the very spot on the pavement on which he washed his hands, the Romans crucified 36,000 Jews.

In His third attempt, Pontius Pilate had discussed the whole thing with our Lord because He was innocent and he knew it.

Pontius Pilate chose expediency and cowardice, and he goes down in history just that way.

“The voice of the people is idiocy.”

Act 4:26 “The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord, and against His Christ.”

Act 4:27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

Act 4:28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries 2002