In the 1970s I read a book by Ernst Käsemann about the crucifixion with the title, “The Crucified God.” The title caught my attention because it depicted human arrogance seeking to overthrow the rule of God.
The words of Psalm 2 come to mind as I think about human beings in their attempt to be free from God’s direction.
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast their cords from us.” (Psalm 2.1-3)
Pilate was a governor who served the Roman Empire in Jerusalem. He, along with the religious leaders, took counsel together against the Lord’s Messiah.
They rebelled against God’s control under the guise of religious propriety and governmental authority.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.”
But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.
Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed (Matthew 27.11-13).
As we meditate on this portion of Jesus’s trial, let’s ask ourselves how we resemble the bad guys in this picture.
How often do we place our confidence in either governmental or religious authority? How often do we try to control our lives and live separate from God’s guidance and direction?
The next events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion may be best captured by a series of bullet points like a news story on TV.
- Custom of Prisoner Release: During the festival, the governor would release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.
- Notorious Prisoner: A notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas was present at the time.
- Pilate’s Offer: Pilate asked the crowd whom they wanted released: Jesus Barabbas or Jesus called the Messiah.
- Motivation of Jealousy: Pilate understood that Jesus was handed over out of jealousy.
- Pilate’s Wife’s Warning: Pilate’s wife sent a message urging him not to harm Jesus, citing a troubling dream.
- Crowd Persuaded: The chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and demand Jesus’ execution.
- Crowd’s Choice: The crowd chose to release Barabbas.
- Call for Crucifixion: Pilate asked what to do with Jesus called the Messiah, and the crowd shouted, “Crucify him!”
- Pilate’s Question: Pilate questioned what evil Jesus had done, but the crowd insisted on crucifixion.
- Pilate’s Washes Hands: Pilate saw a riot forming, washed his hands before the crowd, claiming innocence of Jesus’ blood.
- Crowd’s Acceptance: The crowd accepted responsibility, saying, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
- Release and Flogging: Pilate released Barabbas and had Jesus flogged before handing him over for crucifixion.
- Mocking by Soldiers: Soldiers took Jesus to the governor’s headquarters, stripped him, put a scarlet robe on him, and crowned him with thorns.
- Mockery: They mocked Jesus, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”, spat on him, struck him with a reed, and knelt in mock worship.
- Preparation for Crucifixion: After mocking, they removed the robe, dressed Jesus in his own clothes, and led him away to crucify him.
The Will of the Father
As we observe these events, let’s remind ourselves that Jesus was not the victim of governmental and religious authority, nor was he subject to the cruel acts of a mob of rabble and soldiers.
Jesus went to his death to fulfill the will of the Father to save a lost world.
“Whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20.27-28).
It is ironic that the people who put Jesus on trial wanted to get free from his rule. Jesus knew that he would give his life as a ransom, a sacrifice to set people free.
He set them free, not from God’s rule, but from sin and selfish desires.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 