Session 13

This chapter is covering t trial of Jesus before Pilate. In t first verse of chapter 15 we read, "Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led Him away and handed him over to Pilate." A question might come up here. Why was Pilate involved in the trial of Jesus since the priests and the Jews have already reached a decision to put Him to death? 
The chief priests and the Sanhedrin have the religious authority to make decisions. They could try any Jewish person and make religious decisions concerning Him, but Pilate was the Roman ruler during that time. He was representing the judicial authority. The Jewish Sanhedrin had no authority to kill or crucify Jesus unless they get the approval of the Roman Ruler. That is why they took Jesus before Pilate to put his seal on the decision they have already made.
In the book of Mark, Chapter 15 of verse 2, we find the question "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replies, "Yes, it is as you say" Dr. Nagy, why would Pilate ask Jesus this strange question in the beginning of the trial? 
This particular question is not strange or unexpected for Pilate to ask as it entailed many issues that were related to Pilate, Jesus and the Jews. Pilate was a representative of the Roman Empire and whoever made himself a king of the Jews, would be opposing Caesar. This was one of the accusations that the Jews charged against the Lord Jesus to stir Pilate against Him to issue of the death sentence. They even said to Pilate," We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." (Luke 23:2) We also remember what Herode did when the wise men came to ask about the newborn king of the Jews. He killed all the children below the age of two. This justifies the question " Are you the king of the Jews?"
What did this question mean for the Jews and for the Lord Jesus? 
This was a sarcastic question toward the Jews. Pilate was mocking them, as he knew that the chief priests handed Jesus over to him out of envy. As for Jesus it was a disdaining question because it was obvious that Jesus was not in power or had no clothing or position of a king.
Dr. Nagy, did the Lord Jesus ever claim that he was the king of the Jews or try to set himself as king over the Jews? 
The Lord Jesus never called Himself a king over the Jews or any other people group during His lifetime on earth. On the contrary, He always confirmed to the people around Him that He did not come to be an earthly king. He said about Himself that He is the Son of Man. He did not come to be served but to serve and offer Himself as a sacrifice on behalf of many people. When the Lord Jesus fed miraculously the multitudes, they wanted to set Him as king. The Bible says that when the Lord Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. He refused to give the crowds the chance to make Him a king.
So, how did the Jews get this idea that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews?
They inferred it from several events where the crowds cried out that He was the king coming to the world but Jesus did not have approve of this. For example, when the wise men came to the manger asking where is the newborn king of the Jews, was a big reason to trouble Herode and Jerusalem and hundreds of children were killed as king Herode ordered to kill them. He was afraid of the newborn king. Another incident was His triumphal entry to Jerusalem. The crowds cried out Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the in Lord, the King of Israel, in another passage they said, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Dr. Nagy, how do we interpret the reply of the Lord Jesus to their question" Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus gave Pilate a clear-cut answer. He said, " Yes, it is as you say. " The answer is yes; I am the king of the Jews as you say.
How could the Lord Jesus give this answer and how do you say that He never called Himself a King. On the contrary, He refused to be one. Is Jesus truly the king of the Jews? 
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the King of the Jews, but He is the King of heaven and earth as well. One of His names in the Bible is, "The King of kings" and" Lord of lords. "The alpha and the omega the beginning and the end. They are all names of God Almighty blessed be His name. Jesus did not come to the world to set Himself as king over the Jews or other nations, but He came as we said before to lay Himself on behalf of all men. There is a difference between the fact that the Lord Jesus was a king that came to the world and between calling Himself a king over the world, which He did not do at all as we said before. This is clear in the gospel of John chapter 18 and verse 36.
How did Jesus answer the question while being a king but not an earthly one or a king over the Jews? 
The Bible clarifies this in the book of John chapter 7 and verse 37 the scripture says, "Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "you say rightly that I am a king." We see from this answer that Jesus says He is a king but His kingdom is not from this world. His kingship is spiritual over the spirits, the souls and the bodies of all those who accept His reign by faith in His person that He is the only savior for them and for the world. To give the whole picture, I say that He is going to come again as a king and a judge over the world to judge the living and the dead. And the scripture saying, "but bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me", will be fulfilled (Luke 19:27). He will reign over the heaven and the earth and His rule shall have no end.
Dr. Nagy, the Bible said that the Lord Jesus remained silent and refused to give back any answers to Pilate, which was surprising to Pilate. Why did Jesus answer this question then kept silent?
This question as you can see has great importance because if Jesus did not answer Him, then this would be hiding the truth, His reality as a king and as we said His kingdom was a spiritual kingdom. No human being can claim a spiritual kingdom over human beings except God himself. If the Lord Jesus kept silent in this situation, He would be denying His Divinity, which is the truth that He is God coming in the flesh. Jesus cannot do that as for the other questions they had no value and would not affect the sequence of events because He, all glory belongs to Him, knew quite well that He would be crucified to redeem us; therefore, He kept silent.
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