The Apostles’ Creed (Part 10) – Suffered under Pontius Pilate

<aside> 💡 Bad guys of history.

Adolf Hitler. Osama Bin Laden. Sadam Hussain. Pol Pot. Vladimir Putin.

Responsible for the death of many people through their wickedness.

One other bad guy of history.

Name is well-known. But unlike Hitler, Bin Laden, Hussain, Putin - this bad guy wasn’t a world leader or Prime Minister. More like a local MP.

The reason he is well-known because he gave orders for the most wicked act in all of history.

Killing the Son of God.

And his name is included in the next line of the Apostles’ Creed. This summary of what the Bible teaches.

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So far we see that Christians profess, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”

The next line tells us that they believe Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate.”

Why does the Creed tell us that Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate?

Why is it important for us to believe this?

Two reasons.

Firstly, it reminds us that Jesus is real man who lived in a real place at a real time in history.

Pilate was Roman governor in Judea from AD26-36. We can locate Jesus’ death during this time.

He suffered. It did happen. This really happened. Pilate gave the order. Pilate causes Jesus to suffer. He who was kind, loving, healed sick, provided for needs.

”*Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.” (*Mark 15:15)

Secondly, it reminds us that Jesus was innocent.

Pilate examined Jesus and made this declaration.

“*When the chief priests and the temple servants saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate responded, “Take him and crucify him yourselves, since I find no grounds for charging him.” (*John 19:6)

Jesus was declared not guilty. An innocent man. He did not break Roman law. He never broke God’s law - not in thought, word, or deed.

Yet he suffered.

Under Pontius Pilate and because of Pontius Pilate who gave the order even though he knew he was innocent.

That’s because Jesus’ suffering had a purpose. A reason. Which was to save us.

Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate. That’s what Christians believe.

Do you believe this? That Jesus’ suffering really did happen. That Jesus’ was innocent and was suffering for us.