1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
In the morning, the chief priests and elders take Jesus to Pilate the governor. They had decided that Jesus needed to be put to death but they had no authority to impose the death penalty on anyone, that was something only Rome could do. The problem was that blasphemy wasn’t going to be enough to get Rome to impose the death penalty, they had to show Jesus as a potential political threat who might spark a revolution against Rome.
Meanwhile, Judas has a crisis of conscience. He realises that He has been instrumental in the condemnation of an innocent man. He returns the thirty pieces of silver and throws it down in disgust for what he has done. The chief priests and elders aren’t interested and tell him to sort out his own problems. Judas realised his sin but there is no indication that his remorse moved him to repentance or belief in Jesus as his saviour. Instead, he can’t deal with what he has done and hangs himself. Even Judas’ betrayal of Jesus wasn’t something that wouldn’t be covered by Jesus’ death on the cross. There is no sin so grave that it is not covered by Jesus’ death on the cross.
Jesus is taken to Pilate who asks Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus confirms that He is and yet Pilate sees no threat in Him. Pilate sits amazed because he can’t see a revolutionary threat against Rome in this quiet, calm man who remains silent in the face of his accusers.