Passion Week: Daylight day 4.

 

For Wednesday Challenge, I'm posting on Passion Week today,

Day four of passion week started at nighttime with the arrest and trial of Jesus by the Sanhedrin. Daylight on day four is the high priest asking for the execution of Jesus, and his crucifixion.

As mentioned on last post Pontius Pilate as governor was the only one that could allow capital punishment. Pilate was in a delicate situation, but at the same time refused to order the death of Jesus.

1. He questions Jesus and finds the charges against him as not punishable under Roman law. He's charged with sedition or inciting a revolt against Rome by proclaiming himself as king. Under questioning Jesus tell him that his kingdom is not physical, but spiritual.

 2. Pilate learning Jesus if from Galilee sends him to Herod, who rules that area, but after Jesus refuses to perform a miracle sends him back.

3. Pilate tries to appease the mob by giving them a choice between a man charged with murder, Barabbas or Jesus. The crowd demands Jesus. 

4. Pilate has Jesus beaten, humiliated and scourged, then brought out for the mob to see. It's not enough they demand he be crucified. They threaten Pilate by saying if he doesn't kill Jesus "he is no friend of Caesar." Remember Pilate has been chastened twice by the Jews and he took this threat seriously. If they sent a delegation to the emperor, he would be removed from power and most likely killed himself.

Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

I've heard preachers scoff at this display and still blame the Romans for the death of Jesus. Pilate was absolving himself and Rome by this display. It was a legal matter, if anyone complained to Rome about the death of Jesus Pilate had witnesses that he was not responsible. He was in other words covering his ass and Rome on the matter.

Jesus is then taken out and crucified. I won't go into great detail about this. The good description of what happens to a Jesus crucifixion is told well by Steve Long. It is very insightful. 

A thought on the men crucified with Jesus. It say's something about the number of criminals crucified by Rome. There were only three men scheduled for execution. When death was used widely for punishment that seems a very small number. Rome didn't believe in permanent incarceration. They had a jail for holding before trial, but after conviction punishment was meted out right away, a fine, flogging or execution. No prisons, that costs money. Crucifixion was reserved for attacks on Rome's authority. Rebellion mostly.

The scourging of Jesus was Pilate giving him mercy. A person could linger for days on the cross. Jesus was dead within hours. The two crucified with him had their legs broken so they would suffocate as it was the day before the Sabbath. The reason was stated in Matthew that it was the day before Passover. Passover was considered a Sabbath. Day five was a Sabbath. There were two Sabboths that week.