29: The soldiers wove together thorns into a crown for Jesus. It is not certain what exact type of thorn bush was used; but, in any case, the thorns would have been fairly large. The reed was some stick or stalk that was available to the soldiers in that place. With the robe, crown, and the reed in his right hand, Jesus would resemble a king. The soldiers then made sport of him. Pretending to truly bow in homage, they hailed him as the king of the Jews.

Personal Journal Entry #12034
Prayer Journal Entry #12035
Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 1:1-4:35

28: This verse presents a bit of confusion. The robe placed on Jesus is referred to as being purple in the other gospels. There is no inconsistency here, however. The best solution to this is to point out a couple of things. First, that this was what would now be seen as a red cloak is certain. This is what the soldiers wore, and they would have had access to such. Secondly, both purple and crimson (or scarlet, as the case is here), could be worn by royalty. The description of such a cloak, then was based just as much on its use as its color. Thus, scarlet and purple were often interchanged as referring to the same thing. A crimson, scarlet, or purple cloak would have red in it. The ancient mind would not see purple as an even mixture of blue and red, but would think mainly of the red.

Personal Journal Entry #12033
Prayer Journal Entry #12033
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 39:1-40:38

27: The band of soldiers could have been as many as five or six hundred. No matter how many their were exactly, it was a large multitude of ruffian Romans. They were neither religious, like the Jews, or refined, like Pilate. They were very possibly part of the same group that came to arrest Jesus the night before. They took Jesus into the Praetorium, the judgement hall, likely located inside Pilate’s castle of Antonia. It was a large place, well suited for the evil purposes they had.

Personal Journal Entry #12032
Prayer Journal Entry #12032
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 36:1-38:31

26: Pilate released the prisoner they asked for, much to his chagrin. Here it is mentioned that he had Jesus scourged, or did it himself, before actually turning him over to his soldiers for execution. This was yet another attempt on the part of Pilate to release Jesus. The whipping was quite intense, and involved a whip full of sharp objects. It could easily kill a man if done long enough. By it Pilate hoped to satiate the Jews thirst for blood. But, it was not enough.

Personal Journal Entry #12031
Prayer Journal Entry #12031
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 34:1-35:35

25: It is important to understand a few things about this statement by the people. For one thing, it was likely instigated by the Jewish leaders. It seems doubtful that the entire mob would instantly make this statement as one man. They were led to it. Also, it had to do with Jewish law. By Jewish law, the blood of an innocent person would be upon the heads of those who condemned him, as well as on the heads of their descendants, for the rest of time.
Next, the result of this statement must be considered. In the course of human history, no race of people has suffered more terribly, or obviously, than have the Jews. But, finally, this does not lead to any justification for antisemitism. Though the Jews are guilty of his blood, Pilate’s hand washing made him no less a sinner than they. Indeed, all of mankind is guilty for necessitating this sacrifice. The wonderful thing is that it is this very blood which saves all of mankind from their sin.

Personal Journal Entry #12030
Prayer Journal Entry #12030
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 31:1-33:23

21: Pilate was here addressing the crowd, not the Jewish leaders. This second time Pilate asked for an answer. But, it was not the answer her was looking to receive.
22: Pilate had discovered that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Although he did not believe in the full implications of this; like his wife, he was very sensitive to his own sense of guilt and his superstition. He was trying earnestly to get them to let him release Christ as well.
23: It is such a glory to the plan of God to see that a Roman judge would find Jesus not guilty. And yet, like the rest, Pilate condemned Jesus as a matter of convenience. It was at this stage that the people, likely instigated by the Jewish leaders, began to accuse Pilate himself of disloyalty to Caesar.
Crucifixion was a common way for the Romans to execute someone like Barabbas. The Jews were putting Jesus into the same category with a hardened criminal. Besides this, they may have remembered Jesus’ own words about being crucified.
 24: The whole thing had reached riot proportions, a riot that Pilate would not want to be responsible for. Pilate condemned Christ to save his own skin. He was not unaccustomed to perverting justice.
The washing of hands was likely done as a sign to the Jews, instead of being a purely Roman practice. Pilate was familiar with the customs of the Jews, being their governor. It is interesting to see what those around Christ during all of this did to try and expiate their guilt. Judas threw down his money. Pilate washed his hands. The Jewish leaders claimed they would believe Christ if he came down from the cross. Everybody was after justifying themselves. But it didn’t work.

Personal Journal Entry #12029
Prayer Journal Entry #12029
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 29:1-30:38

19: Pilate was sitting on the judgement seat. He was preparing to make some sort of decision when his wife sent a messenger to him. The Romans were very superstitious. Dreams could mean much to them. It is unclear how Piltaes’s wife determined Jesus’ innocence. She had likely heard of him, but it is more likely that the dream itself made her confident of his righteousness. She suffered many things in that she was greatly concerned about the involvement of her husband in the matter. Though neither her nor her husband had any fear of the True God,  they were likely both very wary of what they would have seen as divine displeasure. For them, a bad dream could only be a bad omen for the future.
Many have speculated about the source of this dream. Was it sent from God, or was it from the devil, or neither? This is a complicated issue. However, the best answer is the most strait-forward one. Pilate’s wife was a superstitious unbeliever with a guilty conscience. The guilty conscience was from God, the manifestation of this guilt, or the way in which it afflicted her, was likely of the devil. There are other examples of this in scripture, such as king Saul. Her life was full of idolatry and devilish ways of thinking. These could not but produce a bad dream in connection with feelings of guilt associated with the conviction of the Spirit. In this way, a work of God can be closely associated with a work of the devil in the soul of an unbeliever.
20: It is, at first, amazing that the Jewish leaders were able to convince the crowd. However, two things must be remembered. First, it was God’s plan that Jesus be crucified. Second, the Jewish leaders were good at threatening people, and persuading people. Many in the multitudes, though they liked Jesus, did not love him. Their allegiance was fair weather only. Thus, this trial, combined with threats from the Jewish leaders against any who would support Christ, was more than enough to persuade them.

Personal Journal Entry #12028
Prayer Journal Entry #12028
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 27:1-28:43

17: The offer for release was made to the Jewish people who were gathered there. The leaders of the Jews were already assembled. Pilate assembled an assortment of the general Jewish population of Jerusalem for this question. Thus he surely thought that they, not being biased against Jesus like their leaders were, would ask for his release. It is for this reason that he presents Jesus as the one who is called Christ. This was to woo the common people to rally behind their Messiah. This was not because he himself believed, but so as to kill two birds with one stone. He would do the Jews a favor and get rid of this problem prisoner at the same time.
18: Pilate was more than aware of the facts of the case. He knew that Jesus was no menace to Rome. Had Jesus been against Rome, he could have made that abundantly clear early on in his ministry. Pilate knew that Jesus had great support among the people, and that the Jewish leaders hated him for it.

Personal Journal Entry #12027
Prayer Journal Entry #12027
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 24:1-26:37

14: Pilate continued to try to get Jesus to say something, and possibly made accusations of his own to solicit a response. However, Jesus kept silent.
Pilate was quite amazed by this silence, likely for several reasons. For one thing, as has been stated, he knew Jesus could speak, and speak well. Jesus had not been known as one to keep his mouth shut, but as a powerful orator. It seemed strange that he would now choose to remain silent. Also, Pilate was unsure as to why Jesus would say nothing to answer the charges. Surely Jesus took the situation seriously. Surely he understood that his very life was in danger. What would make him fail to defend himself? Then, finally, Pilate marveled at the self-control that Jesus exercised in this. It would not be easy for anyone to stand by while their character was defamed so vociferously.
15: This was a custom, not a law. Pilate could have opted out. However, he had made the Jews very upset in the past. Evidently, being confused by Jesus’ failure to defend himself, Pilate sought to turn this thing to his own political advantage. This releasing of a prisoner also included a full pardon.
16: Barabbas was evidently quite a scoundrel. He was a murderer and had committed treason. Pilate chose to offer him on purpose, hoping to solve the whole dilemma in this way.

Personal Journal Entry #12026
Prayer Journal Entry #12026
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 21:1-23:33

11: Pilate had been informed, of course, by the lying Jewish leadership. With him they focused upon the political threat that Jesus might pose. They surely told Pilate that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews. This was intended to cause Pilate to treat Jesus as a political threat and examine him as such.
Jesus’ answer to this question might at first be confusing. He affirms that he is the king of the Jews. Surely this would automatically cause Pilate to judge him as a threat to the order Rome had set up in the region. However, we know that Jesus explained the nature of his kingdom to Pilate. He explained that his disciples had not fought for his kingdom at that time because his kingdom was not then of the world.
The kingdom of Christ is at this time in men’s hearts. It cannot be furthered by force. It is, at this time, a spiritual kingdom. However, the day is coming soon when, Jesus’ kingdom will be of this world. He will come in power and glory to set up his earthly kingdom. He will be not only the King of the Jews, but the King of Kings of the whole world.
12: Now that they were in a Roman court, the Jewish leaders were free to testify themselves. But, it seems plain by the language used here that their testimony was no more coherent or accurate than that which they had procured the night before. Regardless of the poor job by the Jews, Jesus did not answer their charges. He kept to his purpose, and the fulfillment of prophecy.
13: Pilate knew that Jesus could hear. He was not truly concerned that Jesus had gone deaf. Instead, he was speaking in this way to incite Jesus to some kind of response. Pilate, understanding how the Jews were, saw Jesus as no threat to Rome. He knew the Jewish leaders themselves were the biggest threat. He knew that their pretended concern for Roman political matters was only to get Jesus out of their way. He knew the wickedness of these men, and how Jesus had driven them almost to lunacy. He was hoping for a good show from Christ, a man whom he knew had more than enough to say. He knew that Jesus could answer the charges quite well. He wanted to see Jesus give them a challenge. He enjoyed their consternation.

Personal Journal Entry #12025
Prayer Journal Entry #12025
Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 17:1-20:26