Matthew 27: 11-23
Every time I
read the accounts of the
trial of Jesus, I am struck with how similar society is today. While
approximately 2000 years have passed since Jesus was convicted, humans
react now just as they did back then.
According to
the gospel writers, especially
John, what happened on Good Friday was a collusion between religion and
politics. The religious leaders led by Caiaphus wanted to get rid
of
Jesus. To put it bluntly, he was bad for their business, coming
in with
all this stuff about love and living by the spirit, as opposed to the
legalism of the authorities. The authorities were in a bind;
their
faith persuasion would not allow them to kill, so they turned to Pilate.
Pilate was stuck on the horns of a
dilemma. He was impressed by Jesus, and unable to find where
Jesus had
done anything worthy of such a penalty. On the other hand, as the
political leader of the nation and beholden to Rome for his job,
maintaining the peace was essential. In order to do that, Pilate
needed
to satisfy the religious leaders. A squabble between the
authorities
and their followers and the government was something that Pilate needed
to escape at any possible cost. Jesus was the lightening rod that
held
together the religious leaders and the government- Pilate and Caiaphus,
who disliked each other severely. In him, they saw who they were,
as if
they were looking into a mirror. Clearly, something had to be done if
they were to remain in power. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb who
satisfied their needs.
Today,
Christians like us look at
this story and say "It's about the Romans and the Jews" and so saying
we feel we are off the hook. In reality, this is not a story
about a time
long ago. Almost every month we hear of people who are being
killed
because of their religious convictions. People are being
killed in
Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Israel, India, Sri Lanka and a host of
countries in Africa.
In North
America, people who stand
against the government because of religious
convictions are ridiculed by the press, sequestered by authorities and
shunned by ordinary people.
Heralded by
some as the Messiah when he rode into the city, just a few days after
Jesus was was
convicted and sentenced to death by crucifixion. A few brave
souls
welcomed him into the city with palm branches and their cloaks.
Later
in the week, many more jeered him out of the city as a traitor, and
even
more simply watched.
Jesus was not
cut down by atheism or
anarchy; he was defeated by law and order, which had aligned itself
with religion: that is always a very dangerous wedding.
This is a story
of what can happen anytime, anywhere and we need to ask ourselves,
would we be the victims or the perpetrators? We need to ask
ourselves, would we
stand in that city and welcome Jesus as a hero, or would stand by and
placidly watch as a case was built against him? Would we be a
friend who supported him or, like his disciples, flee away or deny we
were part of his movement? His enemies convicted him on trumped
up charges, but he died in spirit when he was betrayed by Judas and
denied by Peter.
If Jesus were
here today, in
Vancouver; on trial for obstructing justice and the function of the
government, would we cry out in his defence, or would we quietly allow
the
authorities to carry out their plan? What evil has he done?"
asked Pilate.
"Let him be crucified" they cried out?
What would a crowd cry out
today? Whose side would you be on?
Dr. Doug Lobb.