QT 27/01/2026 Tue. John 19. Acquittal Overridden 无罪判决被推翻
QT 27/01/2026 Tue. John 19. Acquittal Overridden
READ http://www.esv.org/john19
Readers may find it strange—and deeply troubling—that although the trial judge, Pontius Pilate, publicly declared Jesus innocent, Jesus was nevertheless crucified. John 19 presents us with a sobering picture of justice acknowledged, yet ultimately overridden.
Pilate’s verdict is clear and repeated. After examining Jesus, he comes before the crowd and declares: “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” (John 19:4, ESV)
This is not a private opinion but a public judicial declaration. Jesus stands acquitted. Again, when the cries of the crowd grow louder and more violent, Pilate insists:
“Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” (John 19:6, ESV)
Three times across the Gospel accounts, Pilate affirms Jesus’ innocence. The Roman judge knows the truth. Yet truth alone does not prevail. As pressure mounts, Pilate attempts to release Jesus. But the accusation shifts from religious outrage to political threat:
“If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” (John 19:12, ESV)
Here lies the turning point. Pilate’s sense of justice collapses under fear—fear of losing power, position, and favour with Rome. Though Jesus is acquitted by the court, the verdict is overridden by political expediency and human cowardice. An innocent man is condemned so that a governor may preserve his career.
Yet John’s Gospel shows us something even deeper. While Pilate’s moral authority fails, God’s sovereign purpose does not. Ironically, Pilate demonstrates unexpected firmness in one final decision. When he orders the inscription to be placed above Jesus on the cross—“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”—the chief priests object:
“Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” (John 19:21, ESV)
Pilate refuses to amend it: “What I have written I have written.” (John 19:22, ESV) Pilate may bend when his own power is threatened, but the written declaration remains unchangeable. Even here, God’s truth stands firm. Jesus is King—proclaimed not by a disciple, but by a Roman governor, written in multiple languages for all to see.
John then draws our attention beyond human decisions to divine fulfillment. As Jesus hangs on the cross, the soldiers cast lots for His garments:
“This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
‘They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.’” (John 19:24, ESV)
What appears to be random cruelty is, in fact, the precise fulfillment of prophecy written centuries earlier. Even in the chaos of injustice, God’s Word is being accomplished. Finally, Jesus Himself declares the completion of God’s plan: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’” (John 19:28, ESV)
Nothing is accidental. Nothing is out of control. The acquittal may be overridden in a human courtroom, but God’s redemptive purpose is never overturned.
Reflection and Application
Jesus was declared innocent—yet He was condemned. Why? So that the guilty might be declared righteous. The One without sin was treated as a criminal so that sinners could receive forgiveness and life.
John 19 reminds us that salvation does not rest on human justice, but on divine grace. When earthly systems fail, God’s purposes prevail. When truth is silenced by power, God’s Word is still fulfilled. And when all seems lost, Jesus declares, “It is finished.”
The acquittal of Jesus was overridden by men—but through that injustice, God secured our eternal redemption. “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:4)
May your hearts be filled with humility and thanksgiving when you ponder over John 19 today!
QT 27/01/2026 星期二. 约翰福音19 无罪判决被推翻
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/jhn/19/
读者或许会感到困惑——甚至深感不安：尽管审判官彼拉多公开宣告耶稣无罪，耶稣却仍被钉上十字架。《约翰福音》第19章向我们展现了一幅发人深省的画面：公义虽被承认，却最终遭到覆灭。
彼拉多的判决清晰而反复。审讯耶稣后，他来到人群前宣告：“看！我把他带出来给你们，让你们知道我查不出他有什么罪。”（约翰福音19:4）
这并非私下意见，而是公开的司法宣告。耶稣已被宣告无罪。当人群的叫嚣愈发激烈时，彼拉多再次坚持：
“你们自己把他带去钉十字架吧！我查不出他有什么罪。”（约翰福音19:6）
在福音书的记载中，彼拉多三次宣告耶稣无罪。这位罗马法官深知真相。然而真理本身并不能取胜。随着压力不断升级，彼拉多试图释放耶稣。但控告的焦点从宗教愤怒转向政治威胁：
“如果你释放这个人，就不是凯撒的忠臣了。凡是自命为王的，就是与凯撒为敌。”（约翰福音19:12）
此处正是转折点。彼拉多的正义感在恐惧中崩塌——他害怕失去权力、地位和罗马的恩宠。尽管法庭宣告耶稣无罪，判决却被政治权宜之计与人性怯懦所颠覆。一个无辜者被定罪，只为让总督保全官场前程。
然而《约翰福音》向我们揭示了更深层的真相：当彼拉多的道德权威崩塌时，上帝的主权旨意却从未动摇。讽刺的是，彼拉多在最后一项决定中竟展现出出人意料的坚定。当他下令在耶稣十字架上方悬挂罪状牌——“犹太人的王拿撒勒人耶稣。”——大祭司们立即抗议：
“不要写‘犹太人的王’，要写‘这个人自称：我是犹太人的王’。”（约翰福音19:21）
彼拉多拒绝修改：“我所写的，我已经写了。”（约翰福音19:22）彼拉多或许会屈服于自身权力的威胁，但这道书面宣告却永不改变。即便在此刻，神的真理依然坚定不移。耶稣是王——宣告者并非门徒，而是罗马总督，用多种语言书写供众人见证。
约翰随即引导我们超越人的抉择，注目于神的应验。当耶稣悬于十字架时，士兵们为他的衣裳拈阄：
“这就应验了经上所说的：“他们分了我的外衣，又为我的内衣抽签。”（约翰福音19:24）
看似随机的残酷，实则是数世纪前预言的精准应验。即便在不公的混乱中，神的话语仍在成就。最终，耶稣亲自宣告神计划的完成：这事以后，耶稣知道一切都已经成就了，为了要使经上的话应验，就说：“我渴了。”（约翰福音19:28）
万事皆非偶然，万事皆在掌控。人间的法庭或许能推翻无罪判决，但神的救赎旨意永不改变。
反思与应用
耶稣被宣告无罪——却仍遭定罪。为何？为使有罪者得称义。无罪者被当作罪犯对待，为使罪人得赦免与生命。
约翰福音第十九章提醒我们：救恩不倚靠人的公义，唯凭神的恩典。当世俗制度崩塌时，神的旨意仍得胜；当真理被权势扼杀时，神的话语依然成就；当万物看似消亡时，耶稣宣告：“成了！”
世人的不公推翻了耶稣的无罪宣告——但借着这冤屈，神成就了我们永恒的救赎。“原来他担当了我们的病患，背负了我们的痛苦”（以赛亚书53:4a）
愿今日默想约翰福音第十九章时，谦卑与感恩充满你们的心！
