Mark 15.1-15

PILATE

(Mark 15.1-15)

I often wonder who did really suffer. Jesus under Pontius Pilate, as we say in the Creed, or Pilate under Jesus?

Once the Sanhedrin, under the guidance of Caiaphas the High Priest, had managed to frame the religious charge of blasphemy against Jesus, they took Jesus to Pilate to be sentenced, since only he had the authority to pronounce the death penalty.

However, it was quickly realised that this religious charge would not impress Pilate since he was a secular governor. So they dropped it, and replaced it with the political charge of insurrection. They supported that charge by saying that Jesus had encouraged the Jews not to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor and that he was setting himself up as a king.

There can be no doubt, from a reading of the Passion narrative, that Pilate did not personally support the charge of insurrection and did not wish to pursue it. As St Mark comments, "He knew very well that the chief priests had handed Jesus over because they were jealous".

Several times, Pilate admits that he can find no charge to bring against him. Pilate was no fool. He knew deep down that Jesus was innocent. So he tried to keep his yard arm clear by passing the responsibility to Herod. However, when that failed he tried to take advantage of the Passover custom and release Jesus in exchange for Barabbas. When that did not work, he literally washed his hands of the whole matter and handed Jesus over to the crowd to deal with him.

Why then did Pilate, the Roman Procurator, or Sub Governor to the Governor of Syria, condemn an innocent man?

According to St Matthew, it was in order to avoid a riot. There is undoubtedly some truth in this. After all, the Roman forces formed a very small part of the population of Jerusalem at the best of times. At Passover time, this was made even worse with the addition of some two and a half million pilgrims. In fact, this was the reason why Pilate had left his summer residence in Caesarea in order to be on hand in case there was any trouble.

St Mark on the other hand, suggests that Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd. And there is no doubt that this fickle crowd were delighted with his decision.

St John suggests that Pilate was seeking to avoid political blackmail. After all, the Jews had said that, ‘lf you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. In other words, there was the very real possibility that the Jewish leaders would report him to Rome for disloyalty. This was a political risk he could not afford to take.

However, in order to fully understand the reason for Pilate's action, or inaction, it is necessary to dig a little bit more into his past.

Judea was a seed bed of violent anti Roman feeling. The only way that the small occupying force of the Roman Empire could survive, was by exercising delicate diplomacy. Hence they permitted the Jews to practice their religion, provided it did not disturb the peace.

However, Pilate was insensitive to this delicate political situation. This may reflect his comparative youthfulness for such a responsible appointment, since he was only 31 years old.

There is no doubt he moved from one political blunder to another.

For instance, when he had first arrived in Jerusalem to take up his appointment, he failed to remove the Emperor's image from his standard. This obviously caused offence to the resident Jewish population since it smacked of idolatry.

Pilate then decorated the walls of his palace in Jerusalem with golden shields bearing the name of Caesar. This smacked of Caesar worship. This so incensed the local Jewish community, that they wrote to Tiberius, Governor of Syria, to complain. He ordered their instant removal.

Perhaps his greatest blunder was his use of the Temple fund to pay for the building of an aqueduct for Jerusalem. There is no doubt that there was a need for additional water, especially at the times of the big religious festivals. And there is no doubt that the Jews would have supported him, if only he had asked before taking the money.

Even after the death of Jesus, he continued to blunder his way along until he was recalled to Rome.

The irony of the whole situation is this: the one time he tried to do the right thing, and avoid upsetting the political apple cart, is the one thing for which he is universally remembered, namely the crucifixion of Jesus.

ooOOOoo

Some have accused Pilate of being anti-Semitic. Some have accused him of being political naive. We would all, I suggest, accuse him of lacking the courage of his conviction by seeking to pass the buck, rather than accepting responsibility for his own actions.

However, in this he is not alone. For we too are often as guilty in refusing to accept full responsibility for our own actions. We too much prefer to "pass the buck" and blame other people for our own mistakes and failures, and thereby wash our own hands of any sense of responsibility.

But part of Christian maturity is about learning to accept responsibility for ourselves, and not to behave in an infantile way by blaming others.

I am reminded of some words of Sister Joan Chittister to her Benedictine community. She says: 'If you are not committed to your adulthood, if you are just coming in and going out, letting others take care of the ragged edges of our life together, then you will forever see the problem in someone else. If you want to know if you are committed to your adulthood, ask yourself, “In the last three things that bothered me in this community, whom did I blame?"’

So, who do you blame for your mistakes? Your parents? Your school? Your boss at work? Your husband? Your wife? Your children? Your work colleagues? Or your friends?

As we look at the Cross upon which Our Lord was so unjustly crucified, ask yourself that same question: ‘ln the last three things that bothered me, whom did I blame?'

Stop washing your hands of your own personal responsibility. The buck stops here, with you!

Soul of Christ, sanctify me,

Body of Christ, save me,

Blood of Christ refresh me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within your wounds hide me.

Let me never be separated from you.

From the power of darkness defend me.

In the hour of death, call me

and bid me come to you,

that with your saints I may praise you

for ever and ever. Amen