November 2, 2023
Torn Between Power and Conscience
(Some information may be too graphic for small children)
“Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, ‘Where are You from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer.” John 19:8-9 (NASB)
When I was young, I never really entered any church. It wasn’t a place I was interested in visiting. It wasn’t that I didn’t know who God was, but He was foreign to me. He lived in an untouchable realm. When I did visit a church (for a funeral or something to that effect), I had a sense of reverence for the sanctuary of God. It was a place to be respectful and behave. My desire wasn’t for the things of God, but my conscience told me to respect His House.
“Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;” The Romans were deeply superstitious people. Even though there appeared to be no apparent fear for Pilate before, something unsettled him in this event. If Jesus was some type of god, He might bring bad luck to Pilate. The last thing he needed was more trouble from the Jews. “Like all Romans, whose lives were bound up with the Pantheon and who had heard of stories about the gods visiting the earth in human form, the thought of a god-man in his presence would not have been welcomed for Pilate, even if he was not a religious person.”[1] Pilate already had the attention of his leaders as he dealt with the Jews. Dongell says, “Repeatedly, his unsavory behavior extended beyond slander and robbery into violence and murder. So shocking were Pilate’s acts of cruelty that on at least two occasions he was called to account by Roman imperial authority. These factors encourage us as readers to hear cynical, cruel overtones in Pilate’s words, which, on their own, might be heard as fairly reasonable and sincere.”[2] “‘Where are You from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer.” As Pilate called for an answer from Jesus, the silence was deafening. It irritated Pilate, despite his fears of angering Jesus. The question posed by Pilate was not that of “where” Jesus was from (as a geographic location or country) but was Jesus from earth or was he a god? Calvin says, “This example is highly worthy of observation. Though the countenance of Christ was so disfigured yet, as soon as Pilate hears the name of God, he is seized with the fear of violating the majesty of God in a man who was utterly mean and despicable. If reverence for God had so much influence on an irreligious man, must not they be worse than reprobate, who now judge of divine things in sport and jest, carelessly, and without any fear? for, indeed, Pilate is a proof that men have naturally a sentiment of religion, which does not suffer them to rush fearlessly in any direction they choose, when the question relates to divine things.”[3]
Despite what people think when a decision is made, the conscience visits them; good or bad. This is something God places within the heart of every person (lost or saved). It is hard-wired into each person from birth. More may be added through the early years of life if parenting was good or moral. If not, the laws of society still influence people. The laws originated with God in His plan. Even Pilate had a conscience. He just decided to ignore the small voice. Each of us does this as well each day when we choose to ignore God’s Word. Don’t be a Pilate today...
[1] Borchert, G. L. (2002). (Vol. 25B, p. 252). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Dongell, J. (1997). (p. 218). Wesleyan Publishing House.
[3] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). (Vol. 2, p. 219). Logos Bible Software.