Interacting With Jesus: Pilate

Read John 18:28-19:16

Questions

1. They had already taken Jesus to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest, and Caiaphas, the high priest. Why did they take him to Pilate?
2. Where did the discussion between Pilate and the Jewish leaders take place?
3. Why didn’t the members of the Jewish council enter Pilate’s house?
4. What is ironic about this situation?
   1. What are some major inconsistencies among religious people today?
   2. How can we guard against such things in our own lives?
5. What do you learn about Pilate?
6. What do you learn about the Jewish leaders?
7. What seems to be their relationship?
8. Where did the discussion between Pilate and Jesus take place?
9. Where were the Jewish leaders?
10. What did Pilate first ask Jesus?
11. In Mark, the high priest asked Jesus if he was the Christ, or Messiah. Why was Pilate concerned about “king” rather than “Messiah”?
12. What is Pilate’s area of interest?
13. What do you think Jesus meant by his question to Pilate?
14. How did this question give an opportunity for Pilate to change?
15. How did Pilate answer?
16. What do you think his mood was at this point?
17. Why did Jesus tell Pilate about being a king?
18. What did Jesus want Pilate to realize?
19. What power does Jesus claim to have?
20. What is Pilate’s response?
21. What do you learn about Pilate from this?
22. What does Jesus tell him?
23. What are some ways to interpret what Pilate says?
24. What do these indicate about Pilate’s spiritual state?

Pilate concludes that there is no reason for Jesus to die. But rather than free him, he asks the crowd. Under pressure, it is easy to ignore what we know is true and do what is easy instead. We need to seek what is true, but then we need to act on it.