What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?

 

 Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you way."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 

 

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.   And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  

 

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  

 

- Matthew 27:11-23 

 

Yesterday we read that, when morning came, following Christ's trial by night, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.  And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.  Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."  And they said, "What is that to us?  You see to it!"  Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.  But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood."  And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.  Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me."

 

  Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you way."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.  My study Bible remarks that the chief priests hide their real charge against Jesus -- the claim of equality with God -- because this would not be persuasive to the governor, Pontius Pilate, to sentence Jesus to death.  So instead they present a charge of treason:  they claim that Jesus called Himself the King of the Jews.  such a crime would carry the death penalty, as it was a challenge to Roman rule.  

 

 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.   And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  My study Bible comments that Jesus is the true Son of the Father, and yet the name Barabbas means "son of the father."  Ironically, the crowds must choose between one Son of the Father and the other.  By influencing the crowds to choose Barabbas (see verse 20), the chief priests will indicate to which father they belong -- the devil, as Jesus has indicated (John 8:44).

 

 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  My study Bible comments that three times Pilate attempts to release Jesus but the religious leaders incite the people to demand that Jesus be put to death (this is made more explicit in St. Luke's Gospel, see Luke 23:13-25).  In the end, my study Bible says, they incite the crowd to release a rebel like themselves.  (Again, see John 8:44.)  

 

My study Bible explicitly notes for us the choices at stake here, and the ways the religious leaders, in seeking the death of Christ in any way they can, repeatedly choose for the cosmic rebel, the devil who rebelled against God.  It repeatedly cites John 8:44, in which Jesus stated this in particular about those leaders.   The Gospels present these choices to us in stark contrast, and reminding us of the spiritual battle that is continuing within our world and integrated into our choices.  It is something that is most frequently hidden from us, many people dismissing it out of hand as significant -- or even real -- and most, one imagines, not considering it at all.  But again, we're reminded that the Gospels don't tell that story at all.  The reality of spiritual life is not presented as separate from our worldly lives, but in actuality a part and parcel of it, seen or unseen as it most often is.  So we are invited to consider whether or not the people in the crowds understand this, understand what they are doing and choosing. Do they understand the significance of their persuasion and following of the religious leaders to kill Jesus, to put Him to death on the Cross?  He is clearly already famous by this time, well-known as a Teacher.  Even Pilate's wife, who is neither Jewish nor a follower of Christ, has a sense that this Man is innocent, that it is unwise to rule against Him.  In the telling of her dream, we also get a sense of the truth of the spiritual reality that exists concurrently with us in what we perceive as a material world.  This story, told so explicitly this way, invites us to consider what may be happening in our own lives at any given time, the choices we are asked to make.  Noticeably, the people inciting the crowd to call for the crucifixion of Jesus are supposed to be religious leaders, leading the people in the appropriate worship of their God.  So, on the surface, appearances defy the truth and present the world with a lie.  We don't know what the perspective of everyone in the crowd was, but, as my study Bible has remarked in another note, "the crowd follows the crowd."  This is another aspect of our own spiritual battles, where there are times when we will have to take issue with the crowd and turn to our prayers and worship for guidance.  Perhaps, indeed, there is nothing more misleading then "the crowd" at significant times in life, and in observable history.  For, as in today's scene described in the Gospel, crowds are easily manipulated, perhaps especially to zealous persecutions.  We live in an age when this can happen more easily in the past through the use of modern media of all kinds.  This tells us that our vigilance is all the more important, our steadfastness in watchfulness and prayer (Matthew 26:41).  At this time in the story of Christ, the disciples are scattered and in hiding.  Let us remember His commands, even at times of great temptation and fear.

 

 

 

 

Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him

 

 Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 

 

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.  And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  

 

Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you  want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?"  But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" 

 

 - Matthew 27:11-23 

 

 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.  And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.  Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."  And they said, "What is that to us?  You see to it!"  Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.  But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood."  And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.  Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who as priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me."

 

 Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.  My study Bible comments that the chief priests hide their real charge against Jesus -- the claim of equality with God -- because this would not persuade the governor to sentence Him to death.  Instead they devise to present a charge of treason, that Jesus called Himself the King of the Jews.  Such a crime would carry the death penalty, as it constitutes a challenge to Roman rule.

 

 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.  And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  My study Bible comments that Jesus is the true Son of the Father, yet the name Barabbas means "son of the father."  Ironically, these crowds have to choose between one Son of the Father and the other.   My study Bible says that as they influence the crowds to choose Barabbas, these chief priests indicate to which father they belong -- the devil (John 8:44).  

Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you  want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?"  But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"   Here Pilate tries three times to release Jesus, but the chief priests and elders persuade the people that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus, thus refuting Pilate's three attempts.  In the end, my study Bible says, they are demanding the release of a rebel like themselves.

 

 Pilate tries three times to save Jesus, because it's the time of the Passover Feast, and so the occasion when the Romans would give amnesty to one of the prisoners of the Empire, giving them back to the community, so to speak.  Pilate, being an outsider to the politics of the temple, hasn't really any problem with Jesus.  Jesus is not like Barabbas, who was likely what may be called a brigand, one involved in insurrection against the Romans.  Barabbas is a kind of known quantity to Pilate, the type of man seen as a criminal because he was involved in some sort of violence against the state.  State power and order were the greatest priorities for the Romans, and so certainly for this Roman governor keeping those like Barabbas under control would have been an obvious concern.  But Jesus is another matter altogether.  Well-spoken, and meek (or gentle), Jesus is someone that a Roman official could possibly regard as possessing some kind of virtue.  Barabbas, by contrast, is here called a notorious prisoner.  Moreover, Pilate's own wife confesses to him that he'd best beware of how he treats Jesus, even sending Pilate a message:  "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."   Among the peoples and cultures of the Mediterranean still today, and certainly then, portents and omens such as dreams have some mysterious significance.  One could possibly ignore them and regret it.  In a world such as Pilate lived, confidence and trust would be in short supply; perhaps only a wife could be trusted to confide such a message honestly (her fate, after all, rested with him as well).  But the Gospels tell us that Pilate honestly has found nothing wrong or criminal in Jesus ("Why, what evil has He done?").  Moreover, he knows that these religious leaders who want Jesus executed seem, apparently to Pilate, to want to do so out of envy.  Perhaps Jesus is a type of leader in the society that might be easier to deal with than those who favor brigands like Barabbas.  At any rate, whatever Pilate is thinking, it's his job to maintain the peace and order such as it was, or his own career would certainly be on the line.  So for all these various reasons, Pilate tries to free Jesus.  But the religious leaders are experts in coercion and manipulation, and they have determined that they are to be rid of Jesus, who seems to challenge their authority and has favor with the people.   He wants to change things, and especially He challenges the ways that they do things.  He's a threat to them in this sense.  Pilate fails to persuade the crowds, and perhaps he sees there is no sense arguing with the religious leaders; he's not going to change their minds.  But instead of asserting his authority -- which he could do as the power rests with him in these circumstances -- he won't challenge them anymore.  Perhaps he thinks he's got enough trouble on his hands with insurrections as it is; perhaps he thinks it's canny to do some horse trading and give in to the religious leadership here to stay on good terms as their cooperation is necessary to Rome.   At any rate, it is here where our reading cuts off for today, and so we must wait until Monday's reading to see the decision we know will happen, and Pilate's manner of delivering it.  But let us consider Pilate's judicial decision here as one that weighs on a scale of balance:  on one side is the Jewish nation as represented by the religious leaders and the crowd's demand for Barabbas, and on the other side is Jesus in whom Pilate can find no evil.  How would we see the balance on this scale if we were Pilate?  We know it's heavily tipped in favor of Christ, for we know His substance and who He is.  But Pilate has things he knows about these leaders such as their envy, he knows of his wife's troubling dream, he knows that rationally he has found no evil that Christ has done.  We each might find ourselves at some time in Pilate's seat, needing to make a decision between forces that are highly coercive -- people whose cooperation we might need, and the truth that seems to present itself before us.  Think about Pilate the next time such a circumstance presents itself; for we don't know who might be standing before us.  It might be one of "the least of these," a brother of Jesus.

Are You the King of the Jews?

 Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered Him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.  And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?"  But they cried out the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" 

- Matthew 27:11-23

It is Holy Week in our current reading, and Jesus is in Jerusalem.  He has been betrayed by Judas, arrested, and convicted by the council in a night trial.  Peter has denied Christ three times in the courtyard of the high priest.  In yesterday's reading, we were told that when morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.  And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.  Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."  And they said, "What is that to us?  You see to it!"  Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.  But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood."  And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.  Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me."

 Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered Him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.   The chief priests and elders can't bring a blasphemy charge to Pilate, although that's the charge by which they've convicted Christ in the Council (that Christ called Himself equal to God).  Instead, they must bring a charge to Pilate which would carry the death penalty, and it is of calling Himself the King of the Jews.  For the Romans, that could bring a charge of treason.  That is, it's a challenge to Roman rule, and the penalty is execution.  Jesus doesn't respond to defend Himself; perhaps there is no point here for preaching or teaching, and His acceptance of the way forward is already complete. 

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.  And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?"  But they cried out the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"   What is the irony here that we are witness to, that is playing out in Jesus' life?   This is a day of mercy:  a feast day upon which one prisoner may be released.  Jesus' innocence and dignity as a person is so obvious that Pilate understands something is wrong.  He's perceptive enough to see that the religious leadership has handed Him over because of envy.  The first thing Pilate does is ask the crowd if they'd like Jesus who is called Christ to be freed to them.   He is the stand-out, the One who is different among the prisoners.  Another irony comes in the glimmer of  wisdom given in a dream.  It reminds us of the dreams given early in the Gospel which influence the events of Jesus' life, such as when Joseph is told in a dream not to fear but to take pregnant Mary as his wife, or when both Joseph and the Wise Men are warned by dreams.   Here the wife of Pilate has also been warned about mistreatment of that just Man by a dream, and this message is conveyed to Pilate.  Pilate sits on the judgment seat -- as man who knows the truth but is caught between the crowds and the leadership.  He judges the One who is true Judge of all.  And there's another huge central irony here as well:  the name Barabbas means "son of the father."  The crowds, says my study bible, must choose between one Son of the Father and the other.  But the chief priests and elders have already swayed the crowd to follow the son of the  "father" they choose (see John 8:44).  

The ironies here are many.  They're "lost chances" for mercy, for grace.  Who is the Son of the Father?  What's true, and what's a lie?  Warnings come by dreams even to the wife of Pilate -- a pagan woman who's touched in some way by grace.  Pilate knows Jesus is a just man; it's clear to him, one experienced in the politics of power and ambition in this greatest of empires, that Jesus is handed over simply because of envy.  Those who wish to take Him down don't wish for anything but his death.  Ultimately, despite the many opportunities for mercy, the decision comes down to the crowd.  This is the same Jerusalem whose crowds a week before welcome Jesus as King, as Messiah.  But this particular crowd has been stirred by the leadership.  And here one must really consider the word "leadership" and what it means.  Is Christ a leader?  Are these men leaders?  If our leadership isn't based in truth then where is it going, and what does it serve?  This story makes that pretty clear.  It doesn't matter how great the institution and its founding ideas, doesn't seem to make any difference who our ancestors were.  Here and now, where do we stand, and how are we led?  The truth seeks  a way to get through; there are glimmers of light in this story.  The dignity of Christ tells a story in and of itself, the dream given in warning, the clear understanding of Pilate of Jesus' innocence, and the crowds who still have this choice for the One who's given them the truth.  Everything seems to come down to what we choose and what is in our heart.  Who sits in the Judgment Seat for all?  Does the Truth get a word in here?  Maybe what makes a true leader is simply staying in that place above all else, even standing in silence when there is no one who can hear.