Why did Pilate scourge Jesus even though he knew Jesus was innocent?

[tonychanyt]

Mark 15:

12 Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Pilate thought Jesus was innocent. Why did he scourge Jesus?

Mark was succinct. Luke gave more timeline detail in 23:

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.”

According to Pilate, Jesus wasn't guilty as charged, and Herod concurred. Jesus did not deserve the death sentence. Therefore Pilate flogged Jesus instead, even though Jesus was innocent.

What was Pilate's logic here?

Just to please the chief priests, Pilate would punish Jesus and then release him. He thought scourging Jesus might satisfy Jesus' enemies. Instead of releasing Jesus as innocent or executing Jesus as guilty, he attempted a compromise by flogging Jesus.

John gave a blow-by-blow account in 19:

1 Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

Pilate still wanted to release Jesus after the flogging. He asked Jesus' enemies to look at Jesus' pitiful state.

5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”

Blood wasn't enough. They wanted death.

12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

Finally, Pilate let Jesus be crucified. It was out of his hand.

Why did Pilate scourge Jesus?

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but there was pressure on him from the Jewish authorities to execute Jesus. They threatened to report that to Caesar if he did not execute Jesus. Pilate attempted a compromise approach to release Jesus. He thought that flogging Jesus would generate pity on him. It did not work. In the end, Jesus was crucified. Pilate's attempt failed. Jesus was flogged and then crucified as Scriptures predicted.

 

[Grip Docility]

Mark 15:


Pilate thought Jesus was innocent. Why did he scourge Jesus?

Mark was succinct. Luke gave more timeline detail in 23:


According to Pilate, Jesus wasn't guilty as charged, and Herod concurred. Jesus did not deserve the death sentence. Therefore Pilate flogged Jesus instead, even though Jesus was innocent.

What was Pilate's logic here?

Just to please the chief priests, Pilate would punish Jesus and then release him. He thought scourging Jesus might satisfy Jesus' enemies. Instead of releasing Jesus as innocent or executing Jesus as guilty, he attempted a compromise by flogging Jesus.

John gave a blow-by-blow account in 19:


Pilate still wanted to release Jesus after the flogging. He asked Jesus' enemies to look at Jesus' pitiful state.


Blood wasn't enough. They wanted death.


Finally, Pilate let Jesus be crucified. It was out of his hand.

Why did Pilate scourge Jesus?

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but there was pressure on him from the Jewish authorities to execute Jesus. They threatened to report that to Caesar if he did not execute Jesus. Pilate attempted a compromise approach to release Jesus. He thought that flogging Jesus would generate pity on him. It did not work. In the end, Jesus was crucified. Pilate's attempt failed. Jesus was flogged and then crucified as Scriptures predicted.

Close to this collection of verses is a very profound shadow of something that was to come.

Mark 15:7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. ... 12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Revelation 12:12 But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”