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When we seek to take away the choice of what to believe, by
the power of the State, it only ever ends in the death of the opposition. John records the most poignant of examples in
his gospel, chapter 18, and beginning in verse 28 … “Then led they Jesus from
Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went
not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might
eat the passover.” The religious
leadership of God’s church delivered Christ to Rome in order to be put to
death. The governor Pilate had not asked
for this, he had not sought it. Christ
was brought to him, in order to be condemned to death. Note that even while conducting a conspiracy
to commit murder, the religious leaders are careful to “follow the rules” of
their traditions, attempting not to “defile” themselves in order that they may
eat the Passover. As such they do not go
all the way into the judgment hall of Pilate where they intend Christ to be
condemned. Observance of the Passover
has become a highly regimented event of purported great significance throughout
the nation. It offers the religious
elite an opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the nation why they are
holier than them. It affirms their
control over the people.
The words of Christ to the Samaritan woman that foretold the
loss of significance about where people worshipped God, would completely undo
the influence of the Pharisees over the people.
Without a specific temple, in a specific city, at a specific time – the
individualized worship of God – would supplement all the traditions the
Pharisees had established over the people to keep them under control. Take for example the refusal to enter
Pilate’s judgment hall. Since when is entry
into any building forbidden by the laws, intentions, and values of God? The purpose for which we enter a building may
run counter to the love of God, but the building itself has no moral
significance. It is merely a structure
made of wood or stone. Examine also the
hypocrisy that allows money changers to literally take over the temple,
cheating the worshippers and providing kick-backs to the priests during the
holiest of feasts. This practice was not
prohibited it was encouraged. Examine
also the hypocrisy of a conspiracy to commit murder that is the purpose of
their visit to Pilate, and yet they still believe themselves “pure” enough to
partake of the Passover so long as they do not enter a particular structure
while accomplishing the goal of murder of the innocent. This is the extent to which the mind will
rationalize its own evil when religion is used to kill others.
The religious leaders have convinced themselves, that as
long as they do not personally kill Him, the blood of Christ will be on the
hands of the Romans. They take no
personal accountability for the capture and arrest in the garden, for the
mocking, insults, and beating during their examination of Him, nor for their
complete inability to find one real fault in Him. They act as if they accidently discovered
Christ in the hands of Pilate about to be condemned to death, and they simply
had no response to this eventuality; instead of seeing how this entire series
of events could not have occurred without them.
They forget the blood money they paid to Judas to betray Him into their
hands. They forget the council meetings
they have held where His death was agreed to, planned, financed, and now in the
process of being carried out. Evil does
not ever recognize itself. Evil hides,
rationalizes, blames others, pretends to be righteous, and when based on
religious fervor – convinces itself it is the will of God.
Pilate, who I imagine was perfectly happy with his own
evening’s itinerary is disturbed by this interruption, and is forced to see
what the commotion is about. John
continues in verse 29 … “Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What
accusation bring ye against this man? [verse 30] They answered and said unto
him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.” Pilate now wants to know why Christ has been
brought to him. The answer they offer
suggests that the crimes of Christ are actually against the government of Rome
(otherwise why would they have brought Christ to Pilate). Pilate, thinking that Christ must have simply
been a thorn to the Pharisees, suggests the next logical course of action in
verse 31 … “Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to
your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any
man to death: [verse 32] That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he
spake, signifying what death he should die.”
Pilate is offering the Jewish leaders autonomy to judge a trouble maker
and punish Him however they like. But
the Jews are not interested in punishing Christ, they want Him dead. And they still want to partake of Passover,
so they need the Romans to do it. The typical
Roman method of execution was crucifixion and the words of Christ about being
“lifted up” foretold this fate.
Thus begins the examination of Christ by Pilate. The fame of this miracle worker could hardly
be ignored, there were political implications to what Pilate would do with
Him. The chief job of the Roman governor
was to insure the smooth flow of Roman taxes back to Rome. Insurrection posed a threat to the flow of
money, and thus it would be considered a failure by Rome to have it occur, or
last for any length of time. Pilate knew
the crowds of common people sought this man out. He knew that if the followers of Christ were
to become enraged, it could disrupt the flow of taxes back to Rome. So he begins his inquiry with the most
pressing political question of the day.
John records in verse 33 … “Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall
again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?” If Christ intends to accept the coronation of
the people, or perhaps if He already has, this is something Pilate must weigh
when deciding His fate. Is He a threat
already? Jesus responds in verse 34 … “Jesus
answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of
me?” In effect, Jesus asks, did my
accusers tell you this, or have you obtained this idea from the witness of the
people or perhaps a personal encounter?
The subtlety here in the answer of Christ, is that He has made no such
declaration, and His predicament would suggest no earthly kingship.
Pilate responds with a sarcastic comment in verse 35 … “Pilate
answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered
thee unto me: what hast thou done?”
Pilate is NO Jew, He is a Roman governor. Pilate will have had no personal encounter
with Christ up to now. But in any case,
the Jewish people have brought one of their own to a Roman for execution. This is not a common event. Further the High Priest and leadership of the
religion have brought Christ here. So
Pilate wonders what Jesus has done to merit such disfavor among His own
people. Jesus responds in verse 36 … “Jesus
answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world,
then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but
now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Notice first, that Jesus does not see the need for a fight against Rome even
if He had been the king of this people, rather His servants would have fought
to keep Him from being delivered to “the Jews”.
Interesting that even if He were the King of these people He intended no
threat to Rome. So even if guilty of
what His accusers said, Pilate would have no interest in the accusation as
Christ posed no threat to Rome. But what
Jesus was actually saying was something a bit deeper. He was a King, but not a King over the world
of evil in which we live. His Kingship
was over our hearts in order to break our chains to evil, and restore our
freedom to love. That was the perfection
He was here to accomplish. Jesus sees
Himself as a King over all people, in that as many as choose to follow Him, and
choose to acknowledge Him as their King, He accepts.
Pilate continues the exchange in verse 37 … “Pilate
therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that
I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,
that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth
heareth my voice. [verse 38] Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he
had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in
him no fault at all.” Pilate upon
hearing the answer of Christ believes perhaps He is a King, but just not from
around there. Jesus changes the direction
of the conversation and reaches out to Pilate in a way his quest for Roman
justice would understand. Jesus says He
is here for this cause, that He bears witness unto the truth. Those who seek truth, listen to His
voice. Pilate, who has sat in the judgment
hall many times, and heard the voice of lawyers and witnesses, knows full well
that people bend the truth to suit their own purposes. Witnesses contradict each other without
intent to lie, but offer testimony that could not possibly all be true, as they
disagree about the facts. Christian
religious denominations study the same Bible, read the same texts, and come to
completely different conclusions about what the “truth” is. Each believing only its version of truth is
truth. So Pilate responds with his most
perplexed evaluation of this asking “what is truth?” The answer was literally standing in front of
him. Christ had said it before; He was
the embodiment of truth. What Pilate was
sure of by now, is that there was literally no threat to Rome, nor guilt in the
person brought before him. In short,
Christ was not worthy of death at all.
John records that Pilate believed he had a way out from
being involved with the condemnation of an innocent man. The Romans offered the Jews a traditional
prisoner release on the occasion of the Passover. So Pilate attempts to make the choice a
simple one. He will offer the people the
most notorious criminal they know.
Pilate will offer them a known murderer, robber, and general criminal
that would threaten their very lives if he escaped. Or, they can have Christ, who from what
Pilate can tell, is completely harmless.
So in verse 39 it continues … “But ye have a custom, that I should
release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you
the King of the Jews? [verse 40] Then cried they all again, saying, Not this
man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.”
The people would prefer a criminal who intended them harm, than the
freedom that Christ would offer. The
choice is no different today for us. So
often we choose the tempter who means us harm, than the freedom from pain
Christ longs to bring us. We like our
addictions. We like our misery. We revel in it. And thus we add our voices to those who
prefer Barabbas to Christ. It looks as
though Religion is determined to make the State bend to it’s will.
But the trial and the blending of Church and State was not
over yet …
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