Introduction

- Jesus went through two judgments.

1. The Religious Judgment:

John 18:13-23. He was judged by Annas, emeritus high priest.

Matthew 26: 57-68. He was judged by Caiaphas, the actual high priest.

Matthew 27:1. Early in the morning Jesus is formally condemned.
 
2. The Political Judgment:

Luke 23: 1-6. Pilate judges Jesus.

Luke 23: 7-12 Herod judges Jesus 
 
Lucas 23:13-25. Pilate judges Jesus again.

Jesus was judged by two systems.

The Jewish system, religious. The Roman system, politic.

The legal Jewish system (religious) could judge any cause.

The person should only go through the Roman system (politic) when there was death penalty.

The Jews took Jesus to Pilate to have the sentence confirmed.

Then Pilate makes 4 efforts to get Jesus out of the judgment:

01. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod.

- Luke 23:7-11. This Herod is the son of Herod, The Great.

- Herod, The Great, reigned when Jesus was born.

- This is the Herod that order Jesus' death.

- But the Herod that receives Jesus is the one that ordered the death of John, the Baptist.

- Luke 23:8 – “because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.”

- He had heard people talking about somebody more powerful in words and acts then John, the Baptist.

- The news about Jesus had come to the palace and he wanted to see a miracle.

- Jesus remains silent.

- Luke 23:11 – Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate.

02. Pilate order Jesus to be “only punished”
 
- Luke 23:16

- Isn’t the punishment enough?

- John 18:12. Jesus is bound.

- John 18:22. Jesus is struck.

- John 19:2. Jesus receives a crown of thorns and bleeds.

- John 19:3. Jesus is mocked and struck even more.

- He spent the night awake.

- John 18:4. He gave himself to us voluntarily.

03. Pilate tries to exchange Jesus for Barabbas.

- Matthew 27:24

- Barabbas had killed a few people during a rebellion.
 
- He was condemned to death.

-Pilate’s idea: Barabbas was clearly guilty, he could pay with his life the “mistake” Jesus has done.

- Matthew 27:19. The woman’s word increases Pilate’s crisis.

- Matthew 27:22. The multitude shouting brought difficulties to Pilate.
 
04. Pilate washes his hands in front of the crowd.

- Matthew 27:24. It was a Jewish custom.

- Deuteronomy 21:1-9. When someone is found dead, and it is not known who killed the person, the elders of the city would kill a heifer and wash his hands on her.

- Deuteronomy 21:7. The elders declared themselves innocents

- Pilate’s attitude is well understood by the Jews.

Conclusion

- Matthew 27:22. “What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ?”

- Matthew 27:17. Pilate refers to Jesus as "the Christ."

- Barabba’s name was Jesus Barabbas. Jesus’ name was very common.

- The wife’s dream ( Matthew 27:19 ) and his consciousness ( Matthew 27:18 ) tormented Pilate.

- The question that has been standing until our days.

-“What shall I do then with Jesus”?

- This is a question everybody needs to respond.

- It’s a question of crisis.

- What’s your answer for this question.

- Do you accept Jesus or reject him?