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85. The
hearing before Pilate The
leaders of the people brought Jesus to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. They
accused him, saying: He is stirring up the people! He claims he is the
Saviour, the King! Pilate asked Jesus: Are you a king? Jesus replied: My
Kingdom is not of this world. Otherwise my servants would fight for me. I am
a king and I have come into the world to give witness to the truth. Everyone
who cares for the truth listens to what I say. Then Pilate asked: What is
truth? Pilate
said to those who had accused Jesus: I find no reason to declare him guilty.
Every year during the feast of the Passover I release one of your prisoners.
Should I release the King of the Jews this Passover? But they shouted: Not
Jesus! Set Barabbas free! Barabbas was a robber. So Pilate set Barabbas free
and ordered Jesus to be scourged. The soldiers made a crown out of thorns and
pressed it onto Jesus’ head. They hung a purple robe around his shoulders and
mocked him: Hail, King of Jews! And they hit him in the face. Pilate
led Jesus out to his accusers and said: Behold, the man! But they shouted: He
should hang on a cross. Pilate said: Then take him and crucify him! I find no
reason to condemn him. But they countered: We have a law which says he must
die. For he has declared that he is the Son of God. They kept on pressing
Pilate until fear overcame him and he condemned Jesus to death on a cross. (Jn
18, 22-19, 16) |
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