DAY #50: February 19, 2009 - Matthew 27:11-32

Today's passage begins with Jesus standing before Pilate. Jesus had been charged with treason, so Pilate asked Jesus directly if he claimed to be the King of the Jews. Jesus’ answer was basically “yes” but with a qualification attached. Jesus did claim to be a king—to remain silent would be like denying it. But he wasn’t claiming kingship in any way that would threaten Pilate, Caesar, or the Empire. Jesus’ kingship was spiritual. Pilate could sense that the Council’s case was embarrassingly weak and that the solemn rabbi standing before him was unlikely to lead a revolt against Rome.

The Jewish leaders had to fabricate new accusations against Jesus when they brought him before Pilate (Luke 23:1-5). The charge of blasphemy would mean nothing to the Roman governor, so they accused Jesus of three other crimes: tax evasion, treason, and terrorism. Pilate knew that the charges were preposterous, and he expected Jesus to defend himself, but Jesus remained silent. Jesus’ silence had been prophesied in Scripture (Isaiah 53:7). It would have been futile to answer, and the time had come to give his life to save the world. Jesus had no reason to try to prolong the trial or save himself. If Jesus did not answer, Pilate would have to judge him guilty. Recognizing the obvious plot against Jesus, Pilate wanted to let him go. John recorded, in detail, Jesus’ final answer to Pilate regarding the nature of his messiahship (John 18:33-38). These words made Pilate realize that Jesus was innocent of any crime against Roman law.

In the custom of pardoning a criminal during Passover, Pilate saw an opportunity to avoid responsibility for the death of a man whom he perceived to be innocent. Each year, during the Jews’ Passover celebration, Pilate had made it a custom to release one prisoner they requested. Pilate may have instituted this custom to be on better terms with the people. The notorious criminal currently held was Barabbas, who had taken part in a rebellion against the Roman government. Ironically, Barabbas was guilty of the crime of which Jesus was accused. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of political sedition, so he sought a way to be free of the guilt of killing an innocent man. His custom of releasing one prisoner at Passover seemed like an obvious way out.

Pilate knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy, so he suggested that Jesus, who is called the Messiah, be set free. Pilate thought the crowd would favor Jesus, a popular teacher, over a murderer. The religious leaders went among the crowd, persuading the people to call for Barabbas to be released. Faced with a clear choice, the people chose Barabbas, a revolutionary and murderer, over the Son of God. Faced with the same choice today, people are still choosing “Barabbas.”

Pilate asked what to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah. Perhaps Pilate hoped to let Jesus go as well, in an extra special offer at this Passover. Luke records that Pilate said he would punish and then release him (Luke 23:15-16). But the crowd shouted, “Crucify him!” This was a remarkable request—crucifixion was the Roman penalty for rebellion and abhorrent to the Jews. In their eyes, crucifixion would demonstrate that he was under God’s curse (Deuteronomy 21:23).

In trying to excuse himself and place the responsibility for an innocent man’s death on them, Pilate exclaimed, “The responsibility is yours!” In making no decision, Pilate made the decision to let the crowds crucify Jesus. Although he washed his hands, the guilt remained.
The Jewish leaders willingly took responsibility for Jesus’ death. Pilate desired only to satisfy the crowd, so he rationalized in order to salve his conscience. For a leader who was supposed to administer justice, Pilate proved to be more concerned about political expediency than about doing what was right. So he released Barabbas and then ordered Jesus flogged.

The flogging that Jesus received was part of the Roman legal code, which demanded that flogging precede capital punishment. The Romans did it to weaken the prisoner so that he would die more quickly on the cross. The usual procedure was to bare the upper half of the victim’s body and tie the hands to a pillar before whipping the victim with a lead-tipped whip. The continued lashing with these sharp instruments tore at the victim’s skin, even baring the bones. After the flogging, Pilate handed Jesus over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him (Isaiah 53:6-12).

Only the Romans were allowed to carry out execution, so the Roman soldiers took him from the post where he had been flogged and led him, beaten and bleeding, back inside their headquarters. Someone found a scarlet robe, probably one of the scarlet cloaks worn by the soldiers, and threw it around the shoulders of this supposed “king,” pretending that it was a royal color. Someone else, with a brutal sense of humor, twisted some long, sharp thorns into a crown that was then jammed onto Jesus’ head. They spit on him and beat him. Such mockery of condemned prisoners was common. This event, however, was fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 50:6; 52:14–53:6).

In being led out to be crucified, condemned prisoners (who had already been flogged) would carry the crossbeam of their own cross. This crossbeam weighed about one hundred pounds and was carried across the shoulders. The heavy crossbeam was placed on Jesus’ already bleeding shoulders, and he began the long walk out of Jerusalem. Usually execution sites were outside of the city. Jesus started to carry his cross, but, weakened from the beatings he had received, he was physically unable to carry it. Roman soldiers had the power to enforce people to do tasks for them, so Simon, on his way into the city, was picked out of the crowd by the soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I am so very humbled by the reading today. Humbled that Jesus went to the cross and endured the shame and pain of the cross for MY sin. Humbled by the loneliness of the blatantly rigged trials and the inhumane beatings that went along with the cross. I am humbled by the disgrace and humiliation attached to the cross. Lord, may I never forget the cross. I am so very proud that we serve a God who went the distance for all of us.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 (NIV)

PRAYER

Lord, you hate pride. But, You love a humble heart. May you develop a humble heart in me and my family. I want to serve You Lord. And if that means to serve in anonymity, I will serve. If that means to serve with no recognition, I will serve. If that means to serve with no human success, I will serve. May you develop this same heart for service in the people of COV. Lord, thank you moving in our peoples hearts to give towards the nursery and the scholarships for camps. Similarly Lord, move in all of our hearts when it comes to our giving and service.