John 19:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"

NIV: It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

NASB: Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, 'Look, your King!'

CSB: It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon. Then he told the Jews, "Here is your king!"

NLT: It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, 'Look, here is your king!'

KJV: And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

NKJV: Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

John refers to "the day of Preparation of the Passover," which in this case seems to suggest a Friday morning, prior to the celebration of Passover. Instead of preparing to remember Israel's miraculous rescue from Egypt—commemorated by the sacrifice of spotless lambs (Exodus 12:5–6; 13:8–10)—Jerusalem's religious leaders are working to unjustly murder their own Messiah.

Scholars often debate what time system John uses. Most believe he uses a Roman arrangement, much like that used today, which begins at midnight. This would make "the sixth hour" a point in the early morning (John 18:28). Others believe John is using a Jewish reckoning, which would imply a time around noon.

Pilate's declaration of Jesus as "your King" is deliberately misleading. He knows, quite well, that Jesus has not made any claims to earthly political power (John 18:36–38). He also knows this crowd does not see Jesus as their Master. This is simply part of the governor's attempt to save face (John 19:12–13). Rather than risk a riot if he does what is right (Matthew 7:24), Pilate will use the excuse that Jesus is an insurgent. He can simultaneously degrade Jewish leaders (John 19:19–22) by claiming to execute their "King."

John 19:1–16 continues Jesus' interrogation by the Roman governor, Pilate. Pilate has already recognized Jesus' innocence and continues to look for ways to release Him without an execution. Religious leaders refuse this, using the threat of a riot to coerce the governor. Eventually, Pilate gives in and orders Jesus to be crucified. Parallel accounts are found in Matthew 27:24–30, Mark 15:12–15, and Luke 23:20–25.

Pilate recognizes Jesus' innocence, but fears the mob assembled by Jewish religious leaders. He attempts to satisfy them by having Jesus viciously whipped and mocked. This only results in more cries for Jesus' death. The governor then shifts to protect his own reputation, ordering Jesus to be crucified on a charge of being "King of the Jews." John is directly present as Jesus is executed. He notes the fulfillment of several prophecies as Jesus dies. Once He is confirmed to be dead, Jesus' body is taken by two friendly members of the ruling council. They hastily bury Him in the borrowed crypt of a rich man.

When Jesus was first brought to Pilate, His innocence was obvious (John 18:36–38). However, the mob refuses to be satisfied with anything less than crucifixion. Pilate gives in to these demands. John, who is present for the entire gory spectacle, notes several instances of fulfilled prophecy (Psalm 22:18; Psalm 69:21; Exodus 12:46; Zechariah 12:10). Jesus is then buried in the borrowed tomb of a rich man (Isaiah 53:9) to complete yet another Old Testament prediction. A guard will be posted to ensure no one steals the body (Matthew 27:62–68), which will only serve to confirm that Jesus' eventual resurrection was a true miracle (John 20:1–8).

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.