And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will

 

 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and release Him (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).  And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" -- who has been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.  Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.  But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."  But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.  So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.  And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

 

- Luke 23:13–25 

 

Yesterday we read that the whole multitude of the religious leaders who seized at night and held Him for questioning the next morning arose and led Him to Pilate.  And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."  Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  He answered him and said, "It is as you say."  So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."  But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."  When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.  And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at this time.  Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.  Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.  Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.  That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

 

  Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and release Him (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).  And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" -- who has been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.  Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.  But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."  But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.  So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.  And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.  My study Bible notes of today's passage that three times Pilate attempts to release Jesus (verses 16, 20, 22), and three times the chief priest the rulers incite the people to demand He be put to death.  In the end, these men demand the release of a rebel like themselves.  Barabbas, my study Bible continues, means "son of the father" and indicates to which father these rulers belong -- the devil (John 8:44).  

 

Over the course of the past several readings, we have spoken of the darkness that is present, to which Jesus referred at His arrest, when He said, "But this is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Monday's reading).  In today's reading, the darkness is still present.  There are those who vehemently hurl false accusations against Jesus: the chief priests, rulers, and the people they've stirred up to shout against Him.  But into this darkness we start to get hints of exposure, of light shining through to expose the lies.  Three times Pilate tries to let Him go, saying he's found no fault in Jesus worthy of death.  Even Herod found no fault in the man, said Pilate.  Pilate -- a shrewd and, in a sense, disinterested administrator -- has as his top priority one thing:  to keep the peace, so that he keeps his head, so to speak, and his position as governor.  This was the difficult job of the Roman governor of Judea.  But the darkness has another evil plan in mind, and the leaders and the people demand instead the release of Barabbas.  Barabbas, as my study Bible points out, means "son of the father."  And so, for those who read the Scriptures and know them, Jesus has already pronounced who the father of the darkness is, for he is the same as the father of lies.  In an earlier encounter with these men, the religious leaders who seek to kill Him, as reported in St. John's Gospel, Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.  Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God" (John 8:42-47).  The darkness is present, of that there is no doubt.  It's present in the murderer, Barabbas, whom they prefer.  It's present in the lies they tell.  And it's present spiritually in the reality of the one who is the father of lies.  But here, the light shines also, because the darkness is exposed in Barabbas' name and in what he's done, in the truth obvious even to Pilate and Herod about Jesus, in the open preference for a murderer and rebel to Jesus the Christ.  If we look around us in life, with our eyes opened, we may also find hints of exposure like this when we're caught in evil circumstances, for the light can't stay hidden, and evil is exposed through its own arrogance and ignorance.  The hints are all here to what is really going on.  They're there for those who are willing to see them, named and identified:  murder, lies, deceit, false accusation.  They are all there in the open for those who will see.  For again, in St. John's Gospel, Jesus says to Nicodemus, "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:20).  But in St. Luke's Gospel, He also affirms, "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.  Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him" Luke 8:17-18).  Even in the midst of deception, the truth of these men is exposed, the lies understood, the murder in their hearts revealed.  And even what they seem to have will be taken from them.  Let us, even today, keep our full trust in the light, and remember what we're to be about as His followers.  Will we be the ones who go along with the lies, or those who remain in the truth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy

 

 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.  Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."  And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.  Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  See how many things they testify against You!"  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.  

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.  And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.  Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.  But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"  For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

 

- Mark 15:1–11 

 

Yesterday we read that as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came.  And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."  But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying."  And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.  And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them."  But he denied it again.  And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it."  Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"  A second time the rooster crowed.  Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  And when he thought about it, he wept.

 

  Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.  My study Bible comments that while the Jewish religious law dictated the death penalty for blasphemers (Leviticus 24:16), under Roman occupation the Jews were prohibited from carrying out an execution.  So, therefore, they had to get a sentence issued by Pilate, the Roman governor.  

Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."  My study Bible notes that Pilate's question, "Are You the King of the Jews?" comes from the political charges made against Jesus. Since Pilate would not execute a man over religious matters, the chief priests had to find a political crime of which to accuse Jesus which would guarantee the death penalty.  Therefore they accuse Jesus of making Himself an earthly king, which would be considered treason against Caesar.

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.  Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  See how many things they testify against You!"  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.   According to my study Bible, that the Savior answered nothing fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7, which portrays the Messiah being silent as He is led "as a sheep to the slaughter."

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.  And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.  Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.  But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"  For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.  Pilate seeks to release Jesus, for he knows He is innocent (Mark 15:10, 14; John 18:38, 19:4-6).  So, he turns to the crowd for support, hoping they will ask for Jesus in spite of the chief priests.  My study Bible notes also that Barabbas means "son of the father."  So, ironically, the crowds must choose between one Son of the Father and the other.  It says that by influencing the crowds to choose Barabbas, the chief priests indicate to which father they belong (see John 8:44). 

 

 It is quite interesting that Barabbas means "son of the father," and therefore -- as my study Bible points out -- the crowds must choose between one Son of the Father and the other.  It gives a type of poetic expression to something much more common than one might suspect, that the true and false are often not such glaringly obvious choices, but rather that one is a counterfeit of the other.  It is as if one poses as the other in order to mislead, and for the devil's own ends, who is himself the father of the false (see again John 8:44).  This is also illustrated quite clearly by Jesus' parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30).  This parable is frequently called the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, but it's important to understand that these particular "weeds" (or tares) are a plant that closely resembles wheat, a kind of false wheat that is inedible for human beings.  It's especially noteworthy that these weeds resemble closely the wheat, the crop beneficial for human beings, because this is the way we're taught that evil operates, that the devil operates.  So human beings frequently find that they have a choice not just between what's true and what's false, but rather between what is true and authentic versus what is a sham, a false presentation designed to resemble what is true but in effect presenting to us shabby and misleading goods that are not good for us at all.  This is the case with Barabbas and Christ.  One indeed is the Son of the Father, and the other is a false liberator, one in whom the people should not place their hopes.  Throughout the history of Israel, there is this basic struggle between reliance upon God, and placing faith in being like the Gentiles.  That is, faith in weaponry, wealth, and material power.  It is not that these things should not exist, but they must not come first.  When finally David is chosen as God relents and allows the people the kings they seek, it is of primary importance that David is a follower of God, one who will keep all of God's commandments.  Strict material power and prosperity does not come first.  Should David fail to do this, the kingdom will be lost.  The same lesson is given to David's successor, his son Solomon, and while Solomon begins well, other false gods -- for all kinds of reasons -- begin to creep in.  The eventual outcome is loss of the kingdom, and exile for the people.  In Matthew's Gospel, when Peter took up a sword to defend Christ at His arrest, Jesus says, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52).  But this works as a kind of warning stretching over this period in which Jesus prophesies the destruction to come in Israel, specifically at the Siege of Jerusalem in AD 70.  For faith in those like Barabbas will not ultimately save Israel nor will it save the temple.  The counterfeit always resembles the authentic and true, in order to deceive.  It is a similar analogy to heresies in the Church; they sound like the truths we know, but ultimately they deceive and lead to the wrong place.  In a world dominated by the garish and fantastic in our entertainments, and seduced by violence and manipulation, it's important to remember the nature of deceit:   that so often it takes on the costume of a phony resemblance to truths we know, a false front.  Good and evil frequently take on the characteristics of the wheat and the weeds that look so much alike, and it's only in the consumption and aftermath that we realize we've been had.  Here the chief priests stirred up the crowd for their own ends, while the true Son of God stands meekly without speaking in His own defense.  Barabbas, the "son of the father" comes as brigand and revolutionary, perhaps akin to the popular idea of a Robin Hood, but who will he save?  How will he save?  For there is one Savior here, and He is easily overlooked by those who trust in mammon before God.  How will we know true from false?  Let us put our trust first in God, and seek God's kingdom, and let all things fall in line behind that priority.  In our passions we will be misled, in our astonishment and awe for power and all the products of material achievement we can be deceived, in all the means of manipulation available to empire we may find ourselves with false information and misleading news.  Those who seek to deceive do so for their own gain and motivations, even acccusing others of things they've done themselves.  Ultimately it all depends upon where our trust is first, so that we may know the counterfeit.  Jesus warns us of false saviors, false christs, teaching us that "by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:15-20).  Bad fruit and "wheat" that fails to nurture are warnings to us about the paths we choose, and in whom we will put our trust.  Let us follow Him.

 

 

Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go

 

 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).  And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" -- who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.  Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.  But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."  But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.  So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.  And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

 

- Luke 23:13–25 

 

Yesterday we read that the whole multitude of them arose and Jesus Him to Pilate.  And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."  Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  He answered him and said, "It is as you say."  So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."  But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."  When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.  And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.  Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.  Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.  Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.  That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

 

  Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).  And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" -- who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.  Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.  But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."  But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.  So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.  And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.  On today's passage, my study Bible remarks that three times Pilate attempts to release Jesus ("I will therefore chastise Him and release Him"; Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them; Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go" -- verses 16, 20, 22).   Three times the chief priest and the rulers incite the people to demand that Jesus be put to death.  In the end, my study Bible says, they demand the release of a rebel like themselves.  Barabbas means "son of the father" and indicates to which father these rulers belong -- the devil (John 8:44).  

In the perspective of my study Bible, we observe the juxtaposition between the Man of God, Jesus, and the man of warfare and rebellion, Barabbas.  The religious leaders and the crowd they've stirred up want a "rebel like themselves" in the words of my study Bible.  Even though Pilate, whose main concern is simply quelling rebellion and strife and keeping the Roman peace, sees that Jesus is innocent, and seeks to have Him given a lesser punishment and released, the crowd prefers Jesus to be crucified.  Let us note that throughout these verses we're given today Jesus does not say a word.  He is silent, in the hands of the crowd and the Roman state and against the machinations of the religious leaders who seek to put Him to death, even through lies and false accusations.  Pilate can see what is happening.  Matthew's Gospel tells us that he knew they had handed Him over because of envy (Matthew 27:18).  Pilate no doubt would have been a rather shrewd political man, a part of the elite bureaucracy of the Roman Empire.  His time in this position lasted rather longer than most of his counterparts.  According to the Gospels, he was married to a woman of enough insight also to have a sense of Christ's innocence.  Matthew's Gospel tells us that "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'" (Matthew 27:19).  Even among the pagan Romans, there is a sense of innocence wronged, and what kind of moral implications -- and perhaps spiritual results -- would be involved in harming a "just Man."  In some Orthodox traditions, it is held that Pilate's wife, Claudia, later became a Christian, and possibly even Pilate himself.  What we do know of Pilate through direct historical sources is that he was eager to quell rebellions, and acted harshly upon the Samaritans in connection with an event at Mt. Gerizim, for which he was reported to Rome and summoned to answer charges.  But the emperor who appointed him died before he reached Rome.  He seems also to have on various occasions offended the religious sensibilities of the Jews, such as by hanging banners to the emperor which caused yet a different uprising.  At another time he was ordered by the emperor to take down gilt shields he had publicly displayed in Jerusalem, for he had done so despite the fact that they were considered extremely offensive among the Jews.   So when we look at this history, we see violence of all kinds surrounding the Person of Jesus.  There is the empire of Rome seeking to quell those whom it rules, we see the religious leaders seeking to protect their own positions and manipulate the emperor, rebellious and outraged Jewish subjects seeking a political deliverer, and a governor whose job it is to secure what is called peace by any means necessary.  Perhaps "expedience" is the word that defines Pilate's position, for despite his efforts to save Jesus, he gives in to the unruly crowd, possibly to avoid yet another upheaval and thus another stain on his record.  Pilate is also surrounded by forces of violence and power, while his own power seems at times ineffective.  Ironically he lived at Caesarea, but had also come to Jerusalem at the time of the feast, along with thousands of  Roman troops due to the increased danger of disturbances as so many strangers filled the city.  But Christ's silence speaks more loudly than all of these.  Pilate apparently wielded more power than most in his position, as he also had supreme judicial power in addition to the ordinary duty of financial administration.  Perhaps Pilate is a type of worldly man even for us today, as we live in a world in which the expediency of the state and its bureaucracies is sometimes posited over and against religion.  In a modern perspective, religion and its demands may be viewed by administrators as one more competing interest among those of others.  Pilate's highest duty in his appointed position was unquestionably to the emperor, and the emperor was also the object of worship.  We might even say that today for many in positions of power, the highest duty is to position, to institution and party or employer, and to one's own status.  In a modern world, we may easily view Pilate as image of authority or rank in a secular world, but with all kinds of technology and material power to use, and faced with the challenge of Christ midst a sea of competing interests, ideologies, and values.  In an environment of competing demands, noisy competition, great bureaucracies, and ever-growing networks within which we must engage with the world, where does our loyalty come down?  Our small sense of family or friends?  Our group of colleagues?  Our employer or state?  Our fear of frightening and disturbing violence?  Or maybe some new ideology clamoring for our allegiance?  All the loud voices around us seem to be filled with demands for our time, energy, and attention.  Which will prevail?  We might consider the idea that the great call of Christ requires us to stand up to crowds, expediency, and everything else.  After all, it is Jesus who asked, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).  It's all too easy for Christ's voice to be drowned and silent, or possibly even not to enter into consideration at all.  This remains most poignantly true where there is none who will listen.  And yet He is there, a part of design by God, for even His silence tells us something about ourselves and our world we should know.

 

 

Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?

 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.  Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."  And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.  Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  See how many things they testify against You!"  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. 

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.  And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.  Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.  But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"  For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

- Mark 15:1-11

Yesterday we read that as Peter was below in the courtyard of the high priest (while Jesus was on trial inside), one of the servant girls of the high priest came.  And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."  But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying."  And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.  And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them."  But he denied it again.  And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it."  Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"  A second time the rooster crowed.  Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  And when he thought about it, he wept.
 
 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.  Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."  And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.  Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  See how many things they testify against You!"  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.  Jesus is led to Pilate.  Notably, this is done in the morning, which indicates that His trial before the Sanhedrin took place through the night, another violation of the Jewish law.  But Pilate is the Roman governor, and under Roman occupation, it is not possible for the Sanhedrin to carry out the death penalty for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16).  Therefore, a sentence of death had to be issued by Pilate.  Blasphemy, however, is not a crime under Roman Law.  Therefore Pilate asks, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  It is possible to make political charges against Jesus, accusing Him of making Himself a worldly king, which is treasonous under the rule of Caesar.  My study bible tells us that the fact that Jesus answered nothing fulfills the prophesy of Isaiah 53:7 which portrays the Messiah being silent as He is led "as a sheep to the slaughter."

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.  And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.  Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.  But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"  For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.  Pilate knows that Jesus is innocent, and that He's being handed over because of envy.  (Whatever Pilate understands of the affairs of the Jews, he is a political man, and understands political manipulation and motivations.)  See also John 18:38, 19:4-6.  Pilate turns to the crowd for support, hoping they will ask for Jesus, my study bible says, in spite of the chief priests.  In another twist of the time, Barabbas means "son of the father."  So the crowds must choose between one Son of the Father and the other.  The chief priests, by pushing the crowd to choose Barabbas, indicate they have made a choice to which father they belong (see John 8:44). 

 One of the ways in which we understand lies (and lying characterizes the devil or evil) is that lies come in half-truths.  In fact, according to a book about the Holy Spirit called The Giver of Life, by Fr. John W. Oliver, is that one strategy of "the evil one" is to whisper to us half-truths about ourselves.  These come in forms of feelings with messages like "you're worthless," or "you can't be forgiven," "you're a fraud," "no one likes you."  There might be something sort of true about them:  perhaps you've done something that wasn't up to a standard you'd like, or there are people who don't like you, or compared to Christ Himself you may feel your worth or authenticity is deeply wanting.  But none of these statements are in fact true (and the Holy Spirit, as Spirit of truth, is there to tell you so -- see John 14:16-17, 15:26, 16:13).  Fr. Oliver writes of a man who suffered an extremely debilitating depression due to such thoughts, who finally realized what tone of voice seemed to be behind each one of them.  In today's reading, we have this tremendous example of half-truth.  That is, something that seems to be true, and seems to mirror truth, but is in fact delusion.  That is the name of Barabbas, meaning "son of the father," which misleads away from the true Son of the Father who stands before the crowd.  That same hatred that seems to work irrationally to stir stir the crowd gives a tone to this scene; it goes beyond whatever possible crime Jesus may or may not have committed.  It tells us something about the time and about what is going on here.  An irrational hatred and loathing is a sign of something amiss, a time gone awry, where our own emotions or those put on view can't necessarily be trusted.  It's a time of danger, in which people can be stirred to all kinds of conclusions and false persecutions, a time for withdrawal into prayer for wisdom to prevail.  This works on the deepest and most personal private levels within us, and we can also see it at work in scenes like this one.  That Barabbas is a political man, so to speak, also tells us about our preferences for expediency and manipulation over the sometimes subtle and quite difficult work of spiritual discernment, requiring patience and a kind of strength that prevails despite whatever is swaying us one way and another.  But that is the kind of strength one needs to fight depression, or the times when everybody else seems to losing their heads.  We're always going to be up against half-truths in one form or another.  Any form of addiction is going to give us persuasive feelings about what seems like a good idea, and there are myriad other ways in which we're tempted and snared to find something that sounds good and quick and expedient, but isn't going to work out so well for us.  Wisdom is a tough road, a long haul.  It needs patience and humility and forbearance.  But we've got to remember the half-truths, and that sticking with the long haul and the complexity and depth of wisdom -- and the time it takes for discernment, even living with uncertainty -- is the fastest and most efficient route after all.

Why, what evil has He done?

 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" -- who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.  Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.  But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."  But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.  So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.  And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

- Luke 23:13-25

Yesterday we read that the whole multitude of the elders, chief priests, and scribes of the council arose and led Jesus to Pilate.  And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."  Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  He answered and said, "It is as you say."  So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."  But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."  When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.  And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.  Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.  Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.  Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.  That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).   Pilate tries to release Jesus to the crowd.  In some early manuscripts, the text reads that Herod sent Him back to us, meaning, as the text indicates, that neither Pilate nor Herod found any wrongdoing in Jesus.  Clemency is possible on this day because of the Passover feast.

And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" -- who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.  Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.  But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.  I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."  But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.  So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.  And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.  Pilate tries to release Jesus three times in today's reading.  And three times the chief priests and the rulers incite the people to demand that Jesus be put to death.  My study bible notes that in the end, they demand the release of a rebel "like themselves."  Barabbas means "son of the father."  It indicates, my study bible says, to which father these particular rulers belong -- the devil (John 8:44).

The story of Jesus has everything in it to teach us about justice.  More particularly, it teaches us about injustice, and the things that are done to pervert any sense of justice (or righteousness, as Scripture might put it).  In this story is manipulation, false witness, false accusation, and political pressure.  We observe that the disinterested Roman governor, Pilate, finds nothing apparently wrong in Jesus to indicate He must be put to death.  Neither did Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee.  These men have no problem with injustice if it is to serve the purposes of their rule and the state (Rome) in whose name they rule.  But even Pilate suggests chastisement (in this case, having Jesus flogged in order to teach him a lesson, so to speak) as a sort of warning or form of discipline for disturbing the peace of the community in some way.  In today's reading, we learn also about the "law" of crowds, how they are easily stirred to injustice -- with common cause of hatred, enmity, frustration vented upon a manipulated victim who stands in for whatever perceived or real injustice people suffer.  And then there is Barabbas, "son of the father."  He is a rebel.  His form of liberation is material, based on political rebellion and all that goes with it.  He's also guilty of murder.  He's the perfect opposite of Christ in the story of the Gospels, because the liberation of Christ comes on the deepest level of spiritual understanding and truth.  Jesus is a deliverer and and a savior, but He saves us from slavery to sin -- and from the kind of slavery a mindless crowd exhibits when it is easily manipulated by material concerns and worldly power.  Into this scene we must pour ourselves in order to ask ourselves about righteousness and unrighteousness.  How are we easily manipulated?  Do easy answers come when we're angry or perhaps going along with the crowds?  Christ's story pulls us out of the crowd and into a place where we are asked all the time to know ourselves and our motivation, to seek justice as righteous choices for ourselves -- and to know our savior and deliverer, our liberator, as One who was treated with injustice in our world.  Let us remember how we are to see His face in those who suffer, regardless of their places, high or low, up or down.  He is everywhere.