Road Trippin With Rachael

But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. – Isaiah 53:5 (CSB)

It Is Finished

There was no dignity with crucifixion – and for Jesus it was no different. He was flogged, mocked, slapped, and his position as a descendent of David is dragged through the mud with a crown of thorns placed on his head. Furthermore, the very people who were physically doing this to him seem to sickly enjoy it.

Rome (via Pilate) recognized that Jesus had no reason to be charged, and the beating was to try and appease the Jewish leaders. It’s sickening to say the least, but I think Pilate knew both the Jewish leaders and Rome would expect him to do something, and Pilate was trying to walk the line. He was a true politician.

It wasn’t good enough. Those that were temple servants called for him to be crucified – the most horrific way that a person would be killed. Pilate didn’t want to do this, and the fear only increased when the Jews claimed that he had to die because he claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate was afraid and tried to release him.

To understand Pilate’s fear, we also need to understand the culture that he came from. Pilate was a Roman government official. As such, he was steeped in Roman culture – which was religiously pluralistic. As a culture, Rome had the unique ability to adopt and sychrintize the cultures it overpowered and absorbed – then renamed them.  Some examples of the absorption of religious deities would have include:

• Zeus – Jupiter
• Aphrodite – Venus
• Ares – Mars
• Apollo – Sun
• Hermes – Mercury

This also extended into their art, their government make up, food, and writing.

Any Roman living in Judea would have been very aware of Jewish religious practice, and to have someone claiming to be the Son of God would have been taken seriously by the Romans, who fully believed that the gods copulated with humans anyway.  Even while he is bleeding and in horrific pain, Jesus still speaks with this man and tells him that the authority that Pilate has was given to him by someone greater, and that is the only reason Jesus is submitting to what is happening. 

Pilate wanted to release Jesus. But he was caught between  a rock and a hard place. Words have power, and there is even more power when they are spoken publicly. If a statement is made and it is sitting there, the next actions taken will have a greater impact – whether bad or good. Verse 12 – “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!” That was said by the Jewish mob. The king they have been praying for is handed over in the interest of being under another ruler. Verse 15b – “We have no king but Caesar.” 

In I Samuel 8 the Hebrew elders tell Samuel that they want a king since he is getting old and they want to be like the nations around them. This was truly the beginning of the end, as it led to a dividing of the nation, a stream of terrible kings that led the people to sin, invasions, war, captivity, and a loss of their independence. They were designed as a theocracy, and they choose to embrace a foreign king when their One True King is before them. 

Ultimately, Jesus is crucified. Pilate declares him to be the King of the Jews – which was both political protection for him, and a way of thumbing his nose at the Jewish people who handed over someone who clearly was more than just a man. Jesus fulfilled the scriptures that were prophesied that day. Then he gave up his spirit – this was a sacrifice that was freely given. His death was verified by piercing his side with a spear. The soldier that does this was still around at the writing of the Gospel and was able to testify that Jesus was indeed dead (John 19:36). 

In an unlikely turn of events, the people who take care of the body of Christ were two members of the Sanhedrin. They were both disciples of Jesus – Joseph and Nicodemus. They took the responsibility of preparing the body for burial and making sure that there was a tomb for the body to be placed.

As so, the Lord of Lord, King of King, Mighty God, Immanuel, I Am, Redeemer, and Messiah is laid to rest in a tomb that is not his own. The Church calls this day, Good Friday because Sunday is coming.

Discussion Questions

1. What are your thoughts on the exchange between Pilate and Jesus?
2. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the decisions that had to be made were dictated because of other people’s statements?