“We have no king but Caesar”

Maundy Thursday, April 1, 2021

Read John 19:1-15

Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty of any crime (4,6; 18:38) and he should have released him. But he foolishly let the people make the decision, not expecting that they would choose Barabbas (18:39-40; Matt.27:15-20). So he had Jesus flogged, thinking that this would satisfy the crowd (1-3; Luke 23:14-16), particularly when they saw him mockingly dressed as a bloodied king (5). His announcement, “Here is the man”, was part of that mockery, yet the ironic reality was that here was the true and perfect man, God in human form, unrecognised by them (1:14).

But Pilate did not yet understand that the Jews’ real charge against Jesus was blasphemy (7; 5:18; 8:58-59; 10:33; Mark 14:64). Already impressed by Jesus (and troubled by his wife’s dream, Matt.27:19), when he heard that Jesus had claimed to be divine he was “even more afraid” (8) and returned to speak with Jesus again (9). But Jesus had already answered his question (18:36-37), and so this time he remained silent (Isaiah 53:7). Pilate was surprised by such disregard for his authority (10), but Jesus knew that ultimately it was because of God’s authority and will that he stood there before Pilate (11).

Pilate was now certain that Jesus should not die but it was too late – he dared not risk being reported for ignoring a charge of treason (12). In his anger, he taunted the Jews, proclaiming Jesus as their king (13-14). Their emphatic response of “we have no king but Caesar” (15) was the final rejection of Jesus. But it was more than that, for as Jews they believed in the kingship both of God and of the coming Messiah (Psalm 47:6-7; 149:2; Isaiah 9:7). These awful words, spoken by the chief priests, are an abandonment of God’s covenant with Israel and of their hope of a Messiah.