This week we look at another encounter Jesus had, but its an encounter with a difference. All our previous encounters have been with people who have been changed by Jesus - the woman at the well who became an evangelist, Simon the Pharisee who learnt not to be a snob, the man at the pool who was made well etc. But there is no record that Pilate, the Roman governor, was changed by his encounter with Jesus. It wasn't an easy encounter, but we learn lots about Pilate and the nature of power from the encounter.
Reader: 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.
Isn't it strange what taxes the minds of religious leaders? The hierarchy were so concerned with the Law that they wouldn't enter Pilate's house as they believed this would make them ritually unclean and, therefore, unable to celebrate the Passover. However, they had no problems handing over someone to torture and death! I am told that in America they don't execute people on Saturday or Sunday out of respect for the Sabbath in the Jewish and Christian faiths! It's just amazing what we do to obey some laws but ignore higher moral principles.
Reader: So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
Pilate clearly wants to know what is going on and why they are bringing Jesus to him.
Reader: "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."
Well this isn't much of an answer. It's like saying that just because someone is arrested they must be guilty. Pilate is wise enough to see through this:
Reader: Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."
In other words, you deal with him. If he has offended the leaders of the people then they should deal with him. So far Pilate is being sensible and wise. He doesn't want to get involved in a religious turf war. But now we see the real reason why the people want to hand Jesus over to the Romans.
Reader: "But we have no right to execute anyone," they objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Now Pilate realises there is more afoot that a simple preacher who has upset the authorities. To claim to be a King would be treason - against the puppet government which ran Israel or against the real power, the Romans. To claim to be the King - or Messiah - would be trouble indeed as the Jews hated Roman occupation and were longing for political liberation. Jesus, however, is not going to fall into this trap.
Reader: "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
First, Jesus wants to find out how much Pilate knows and how he knows it. Pilate, however, doesn't want to be that co-operative.
Reader: "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?"
These are fair points! Pilate clearly doesn't understand the complexity of Jewish theology nor what it is that Jesus is supposed to have done to upset the leaders of the people.
Reader: Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest. But now my kingdom is from another place."
Jesus is clearly moving the discussion away from politics. He is a king but "not of this world". With hindsight we know what he means but Pilate isn't getting it:
Reader: "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Of course if Jesus claimed to be a King this would be reason enough for Pilate to have him killed.
Reader: 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."
Jesus still speaks of higher values - in this case truth. He came to testify to the truth. Pilate, however, is a politician and much more cynical:
Reader: "What is truth?" Pilate asked.
Like many involved in politics before and after, Pilate realises that truth is a flexible thing. We see our own political leaders spin and beef up documents and facts to persuade us of one view or another but all the time claim to tell the truth. Like Pilate we may be tempted to ask exactly what truth is!
Reader: With this Pilate went out again and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 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'?"
Despite his cynicism Pilate is still being wise. He realises that Jesus is a popular figure and is trying to reach the people over the head of the leaders. He knows it was partly because of jealousy of his popularity that led the chief priests and leaders to arrest Jesus. But the establishment has left nothing to chance:
Reader: They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
Now we start to see the weaknesses in Pilate. He is afraid of the mob. He has said, repeatedly, that he doesn't think Jesus has done anything wrong. A just judge would now acquit Jesus regardless of the consequences. Pilate had a Roman garrison at his disposal, but he was vulnerable. If the people rose or if there was a riot it would not look good for him. Pilate is not just, he is not able to judge "without fear or favour, affection or ill-will" but is swayed by the mob.
Reader: Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." They insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Weak leaders always have to emphasise their power. They never realise that once you start to remind people that you are the leader you have demeaned yourself.
Reader: Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the crowd kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."
The clever thing the crowd and those who led them did was to invoke the name of the Emperor. Clearly Palestine was not the best appointment in the Imperial service but there may have been worse places to be appointed. The last thing Pilate wanted was to have to deal with these people writing to the Emperor to complain about him.
Reader: When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
The weak corrupt judge who is a skilled politician with no strong views of right and wrong, nor of truth and falsehood, caves in to the baying of the mob. Its easily done, we have all given way in the face of opposition to positions or views we have held. But it's ugly when it happens and always has consequences for our integrity.
Reader: Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others-one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many people read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
Even at the
end the religious leaders are still worrying about the wrong things.
The encounter between Jesus and Pilate is tragic. Tragic because it leads
to Jesus death for no just reason, but tragic also because it shows us how
evil can flourish when good people do nothing. Pilate claimed not to know
what truth was, he was a weak leader, a corrupt judge and a man without any
moral compass.
It is easy to judge him, but what would we have done. Are we able to stand out against the crowd? Are we able to know what is true and right? Or are we, like Pilate, blown around by the pressure of others?
Amen.
This
sermon was first preached in the Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester.
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