Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs,
transferred from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican
before 400 A.D.
The stairs are the stone seen through the wood.
John 18:28-39
28 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
30 "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."
31 Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."
"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
34 "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
3 5"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"
Scala Sancta, Vatican, uncovered from the wooden coverings typically placed there.
To Pilate, this felt like he could lose standing with the Emperor. There was no Legion stationed in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate was only the rank of Equestrian, so he could not garrison a full legion under his command. Jerusalem was garrisoned by Cohors II Italica, it was only one Auxiliary cohort. Another, probably, at Caesarea.
Each of these auxiliary units would have been commanded by a tribune. There are 10 cohorts in a Legion and Judea had two cohorts.
Pilate had not wanted to go to Judea.
Pilate would only be in Judea from 28 A.D. to 38 A.D. He wrote a famous letter to Claudius about Good Friday, referred to by historians of the day. Lost.
The predecessor of Pilate....5th Governor of Judea
Valerius Gratus 4th Governor of Judea
He succeeded Annius Rufus in 15 and was replaced by Pontius Pilate in 26 or 28 A.D.
The government of Gratus, chiefly remarkable for many and frequent changes Gratus made in the appointment of the high-priesthood. Let that sink in.
He deposed Ananus, and substituted Ishmael ben Fabus, then Eleazar, son of Arianus, then Simon, son of Camith, and lastly Joseph Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Ananus.
Pilate could have shoved this off on the High Priest. "
Ananias son of Nedebeus was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem. In Roman History, it's a fair assertion that Ananus of Roman History is Aramaic for Ananias. We could reconstruct a mental guess conversation, that did not take place.
Pilate would say to Ananias, he certainly looked comfortable being High Priest. And now it was time for Ananias to step forward and make his real employer, the Roman Empire, to become more comfortable and do what the High Priests have done, like Samuel, for centuries. To slay the unrighteous in their eyes. As Rome has done.
Pilate didn't want the backwaters of the suburb of their greater Roman Empire in Syria. Historians say the papers exist of his requests. And Pilate did make violence during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, during Holy Days. Pilate, constantly on the alert for insurrection. Would have noticed events like Capernaum, all 3 thousand turning up the first day of Jesus' ministry. And then what Scriptures call the 'Large Crowd.' Still following Jesus to the widow of Nain's son being raised to life as Jesus merely touches the funeral bier. Which quickly became the "Great Crowd."
Yes, we can easily assert and find correct assumptions, Pilate knew from oral history as part of Israel, Messiah Claims cause death from Rome and from the History of both Israel and Judea.
Instead, Pilate made a huge error, seeking his career and comfort. And he did this without planning. As if he didn't take the time to examine this huge mistake. We realize the lack of depth in Pilate. This was too easy. If Pilate regretted what he was doing to the man who healed them all, the blind, the deaf, the lame, the leper, Pilate would have put as much thought as he did to the Holy Day murders by clubs, apparently by men dressed in Civilian clothes and later revealed as soldiers. Pilate saw the conclusion from the Great Crowd and the Large Crowd. And went with comfort and a jump to this decision.
Ascend.
Don't be Pilate.
Jesus said He could call down 12 Legions of Angels. Stick with Jesus. His Angels arrive with memorable Style.
Abba, Yes, thank you, Father
For Jesus Christ
Messiah, Savior
of not the few
but of the world.
Draw us to You.
Oh, the places He would go. You uphold Life by Your Word. A Beautiful Promise and Sure Truth. Life Forevermore in Jesus the Only Son of God. God is Truth.
Dwell in us
Dwell in the people we Love
Dwell in the people you have given us
Please, Father
Help us to seek You First
And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.
Jesus our Wonderful. Amen in Jesus Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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