Station 4: Pilate Tries Jesus

Scripture

John 18:33-37: Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Reflect

Consider how Jesus must have felt being abandoned by his own people and turned over to heathen unbelievers for judgment. Jesus was not guilty of anything, yet he was being tried by one who knew nothing of the Scriptures or of God’s kingdom. Think of what it must have felt like to be accused by liars and deceivers before someone so powerful as the Roman governor from a foreign land.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, sometimes when I feel I have been let down by those I care about the most, I want to abandon them and go my own way. I have no right to be this way nor to feel as I do. Teach me always to be just and compassionate if ever I am in a position when I must make a decision concerning someone else.