Backed Into A Corner. John 18:28-40

John 18
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate 
28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then He was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. 29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” 30 “We wouldn’t have handed Him over to you if He weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. 31 “Then take Him away and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. 32 (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way He would die.) 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked Him. 34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about Me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought You to me for trial. Why? What have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, My followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But My Kingdom is not of this world.” 37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” 38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” 40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.) 

The Jews had arrested Jesus at night and now it was almost morning. They had been at it all night. All in the veil of darkness. Why? What exactly was the rush? Their hatred for Jesus, they want Him dead.

The Jews were not worried about murdering an innocent man yet they did not want to defile themselves and be unable to attend Passover by going into the Roman headquarters. Hypocrites. 

Then comes the old adage " "He must be guilty of something or he wouldn't have been arrested in the first place". Verse 30 “We wouldn’t have handed Him over to you if He weren’t a criminal!” 

In their Jewish court, sentencing didn't include execution. They want Jesus dead. To accomplish this, He has to stand trial in Roman court. Jesus had not broken any Roman law. There were a lot of Jews in town for the Passover Festival. If Pilot doesn't do what they want, he will have a riot on his hands. Pilot is backed into a corner and looking for a way out. 

How many times have we been backed into a corner and looked for a way out? Did we do the right thing or go with the crowd? If you're like me, in your "before Christ" life, you went with the crowd and maybe didn't care about the consequences. In our "after Christ" life we should be doing what's right, if we're not, we better start. 

Take a step away from the crowd today. Let the world know you follow Jesus and you may find you're never backed into a corner again. 

Blessings, Cecilia