Let’s read John 19:9-11, “And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”  The Lord, standing trial before Pilate refused to offer any defense or excuse.  This very occasion was prophesied in Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB, SO HE OPENETH NOT HIS MOUTH.” 

In a remarkable statement to Pilate, the Lord informed him that the power he exercised as governor was a power that God Himself had given to him!  It might sound odd that the Lord would put someone as harsh and evil as Pilate into a high political office.  By His sovereign will, the Lord will put into any office whom He will to serve His purposes.  We read in Daniel 4:17 that, “…the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

The Lord acknowledged Pilate’s sin, but also remarked that others had committed a greater sin.  “…he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”  Who was the Lord referring to as the one who delivered Him to Pilate?  I believe it was the Jews who delivered the Lord to Pilate, and Judas who delivered Him to the Jews that have the greater crime to answer for.

JUDAS DELIVERED UP THE LORD JESUS – We read in Matthew 26:14-15, “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.”  Judas sought out the chief priests and bargained with them for a sum of money for him to delivered Christ to them. 

THE CHIEF PRIESTS DELIVERED UP THE LORD JESUS – We read the Lord’s words in Mark 10:33, “Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.”

THE JEWS DELIVERED UP THE LORD JESUS – We read the words of Peter in Acts 3:13, “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”

We see that these share in the great guilt of delivering the Lord Jesus into the hands of the Gentiles (Pilate).  Christ was delivered up for money, for jealousy and hatred.  Of course, all these bear great responsibility for their actions.

HOWEVER, we also read that God delivered up His son in Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”  God had an entirely different motive for delivering up His Son.  He delivered Him up because of love.  Romans 4:25 says that, “(Christ) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”  It was an act of the greatest love that God delivered His Son into the hands of Pilate.  It was so He might be crucified for our sins. 

There are two aspects of Christ’s being delivered up to be crucified.  Man hated the Lord and wanted Him dead.  The Lord loves man and wants us to be saved and live eternally with Him in Glory. Man acted in greed and hatred.  God acted in love.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Do you realize that God loves you and does not want you to perish in Hell for eternity?  We read in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God wants to save you.  Will you repent of your sins and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior today?  We are told in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (CC)  (515.2)