Jesus lived and ministered in a particular time in human history. The Roman Empire was in charge of the known biblical world. Israel - the Jewish people - had little to no say about their political state or future. What Rome said, was. In our passage today, Jesus is indeed condemned to death by Rome’s representative, the governor of the region, Pilate.
But this hardly means that Jesus was a threat, in this instance to Rome. After much effort to dissuade the crowd from demanding his death, Pilate finally relented to his condemnation not because he feared or was threatened by Jesus, but because he wanted to avoid a riot from the people. Pilate doesn’t seem to fear Jesus taking anything over or being a challenge to the state or the empire. Rather, he seems to be seeking to uphold the pax Romana by avoiding an uproar.
To be clear, Pilate is no friend of Jesus. In fact, he seems quite indifferent. But just how accurate is it to say that the main reason Jesus died was because he threatened the empire?
Jesus’ death comes as a result of a multitude of reasons. The religious leaders brought the charges. The crowd delivered the verdict. Pilate signed the sentence. And the soldiers executed it.
But the New Testament epistles will go on to demonstrate that it was the sinfulness of the world that put him on the cross. All of humanity’s sinfulness - yours and mine, included.
When the epitome of loving justice showed up, human “justice” couldn’t handle it. It didn’t compute, just didn’t make sense and the result was to squash it. Neither Israel nor Rome could make sense of Jesus. He didn’t fit their categories of power, order, or justice.
It’s still a conundrum today. As much as humans recognize the goodness of Jesus and want to insert elements of his person, truth, and goodness into human life, it can only go so far in terms of moral shaping, ethical positioning, or legal grounding. Jesus Christ didn’t come merely to add something extra to the human condition, but to transform it from the inside out.
Matthew 27:11-26
Jesus was brought before the governor. The governor said, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.” But he didn’t answer when the chief priests and elders accused him.
Then Pilate said, “Don’t you hear the testimony they bring against you?” But he didn’t answer, not even a single word. So the governor was greatly amazed.
It was customary during the festival for the governor to release to the crowd one prisoner, whomever they might choose. At that time there was a well-known prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. When the crowd had come together, Pilate asked them, “Whom would you like me to release to you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” He knew that the leaders of the people had handed him over because of jealousy.
While he was serving as judge, his wife sent this message to him, “Leave that righteous man alone. I’ve suffered much today in a dream because of him.”
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and kill Jesus. The governor said, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
“Barabbas,” they replied.
Pilate said, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said, “Crucify him!”
But he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?”
They shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I’m innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It’s your problem.”
All the people replied, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus whipped, then handed him over to be crucified.
Psalm 94:16-23
Who will stand up for me against the wicked? Who will help me against evildoers? If the Lord hadn’t helped me, I would live instantly in total silence. Whenever I feel my foot slipping, your faithful love steadies me, Lord. When my anxieties multiply, your comforting calms me down.
Can a wicked ruler be your ally; one who wreaks havoc by means of the law? The wicked gang up against the lives of the righteous. They condemn innocent blood. But the Lord is my fortress; my God is my rock of refuge. He will repay them for their wickedness, completely destroy them because of their evil. Yes, the Lord our God will completely destroy them.
Prayer
God,
Do you laugh when you see us all trying to figure out Jesus’ death? I suppose you don’t laugh about such things. I just imagine our philosophical reasoning seeming pretty silly to you.
But you can’t blame us. It is strange that Jesus died. It would seem to us that you could just show up and fix things. But you didn’t. And I’m still learning why.
So help me, God. I don’t expect to contribute to a path toward crucifixion today. But I do see how even the little things can contribute to evil. Give me eyes to avoid it all. Even more, give me a heart that desires loving justice, and hands that help make it real.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.