Gabbatha, The Judges Seat

Jesus is arrested and His own people, the Jews have handed him over to Roman authority. He's already suffered a horrendous night in Gethsemane. Broken in spirit and raw in emotion, His fate hangs in the balance. What was He going to be charged with and what punishment would they mete out? Now the Jews who observed the Passover did not want to enter Pilate's palace, so Pilate came out to meet them. "What charges are brought against this man, he asked. "If He were not a criminal we would not have brought Him to you", they chorused. "Take Him by yourselves and judge Him by your own laws", Pilate said. "But we have no right to execute anyone", the Jews objected. It's hard to imagine how Jesus dealt with this betrayal, with the vacillating noncommittal hypocrisies' and wagers between church and state.

Now Pilate was tasked to convict Jesus. "Are you the King of the Jews? Pilate asked Jesus. "My Kingdom is not of this world, if it were so my servants would fight to prevent my arrest". "You are a King then?!" said Pilate. "Yes you are right in saying I am a King, for this reason I was born into this world to testify to the truth". Pilate found no basis for a charge against Jesus and petitioned for the Jews as was customary during Passover to release a prisoner, Barabbas, in His place. But the people protested and wanted Jesus to be put to death instead. Pilate had Jesus flogged, his soldiers twisted a cruel crown of thorns on His brow, flung a purple robe over Him, mocked and struck Him repeatedly before parading Jesus to the incensed crowd. "Crucify! Crucify! They shouted. Pilate answered, "You take Him and crucify Him as I find no charge against Him". The Jews insisted that according to their law, Jesus had to die because He claimed to be the Son of God.


Pilate grew fearful and asked Jesus where He was from, but Jesus did not answer. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or crucify you?" "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above," Jesus said. From then on, Pilate tried persistently to save Jesus but to no avail. Finally the Jews contrived a verdict that left Pilate compromised and vulnerable. "If you let this man go then you're no friend of Caesar's as anyone who claims to be a King opposes Caesar". When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the Judges seat, The Stone Pavement, in Aramaic called "Gabbatha" It was from this seat of Roman Authority and Judgement, (coupled by the betrayal of the Jews and the Chief Priests who boisterously cried allegiance to Caesar as their King), that saw Pilate hand Jesus over to them to be crucified.

Pilate could only pass Judgement on Jesus from "Gabbatha" when the mob threw the book at Pilate. In Gethsemane we witnessed Jesus surrender His Will in exchange for His Fathers. At Gabbatha we see Jesus surrender His authority to Rome and the Jewish mob. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of mankind. How extraordinarily moving to witness Jesus surrender His Will, surrender His Authority so that you and I could live and walk in the fullness of His provision. That when we're confronted by compromising conflicting choices, deceptions and temptations, we too are able to stand our ground, that surrender does not mean weakness, that standing up for, affirming and acknowledging our faith, our allegiance and our God might cost us man's favour and approval, but this is a small price to pay in exchange for Gods eternal rewards.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4. And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:10. Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:21