Christ does not answer the questions of His accusers. First of all, of course, because there is no point in answering...
Christ does not answer the questions of His accusers. First of all, of course, because there is no point in answering those who will certainly interpret any answer with bias. But this reason cannot be exhaustive, since not only Christ's words but His whole behavior was a sermon. The way He carries Himself before His accusers brings to mind not only His own words about not casting pearls, but also the Third Commandment, with which those words are connected. Therefore, to reveal the highest truths before biased accusers is the same as knowingly handing them over to be mocked.
In recent years one has often heard, in and out of place, the repeated phrase: "By silence God is betrayed." But Christ's silence shows that this principle should not be absolutized.
Pilate also is incapable of understanding Christ. This is not only because of his pagan mentality; after all, many pagans were able to respond to the preaching of the Gospel. More important is the fact that Pilate was used to being guided by the rules of this world, and they hinder the perception of everything that goes beyond practical advantage. But the people, prompted by the chief priests and demanding Barabbas's release, are guided by the same rules. Barabbas looks like a hero in the eyes of the people; his actions appear more understandable than Christ's preaching. And so we see Christ sent to die instead of Barabbas.
If the thought that Christ suffered for our sins ever begins to sound abstract to someone, it is worth remembering that He was sent to the cross intended for another man. The salvation of humanity began with a chance given to Barabbas, and now each of us is a pardoned Barabbas.
That day words came from the crowd about the blood lying on those gathered before Pilate and on their children. In the centuries that followed, people calling themselves Christians would more than once use these words to inflame their own thirst for bloodshed. But the evangelist did not mention them in order to call for revenge. Every person who commits lawlessness takes part in Christ's crucifixion. This means that all are guilty of shedding His blood.
Yet it was precisely for us, who crucify Him, that He went to the cross.
27
27:11 Art thou the king of the Jews? - Jesus before Caiaphas avows himself to be the Christ, before Pilate to be a king; clearly showing thereby, that his answering no more, was not owing to any fear.
27:15 At every feast - Every year, at the feast of the passover. Mar 15:6; Luk 23:17; Joh 18:39.
27:18 He knew that for envy they had delivered him - As well as from malice and revenge; they envied him, because the people magnified him.
27:22 They all say, Let him be crucified - The punishment which Barabbas had deserved: and this probably made them think of it.But in their malice they forgot with how dangerous a precedent they furnished the Roman governor. And indeed within the compass of a few years it turned dreadfully upon themselves.
27:24 Then Pilate took water and washed his hands - This was a custom frequently used among the heathens as well as among the Jews, in token of innocency.
27:25 His blood be on us and on our children - As this imprecation was dread. fully answered in the ruin so quickly brought on the Jewish nation, and the calamities which have ever since pursued that wretched people, so it was peculiarly fulfilled by Titus the Roman general, on the Jews whom he took during the siege of Jerusalem. So many, after having been scourged in a terrible manner, were crucified all round the city, that in a while there was not room near the wall for the crosses to stand by each other.Probably this befell some of those who now joined in this cry, as it certainly did many of their children: the very finger of God thus pointing out their crime in crucifying his Son.
27:26 He delivered him to be crucified - The person crucified was nailed to the cross as it lay on the ground, through each hand extended to the utmost stretch, and through both the feet together. Then the cross was raised up, and the foot of it thrust with a violent shock into a hole in the ground prepared for it. This shock disjointed the body, whose whole weight hung upon the nails, till the persons expired through mere dint of pain. This kind of death was used only by the Romans, and by them inflicted only on slaves and the vilest criminals.