LENT 2016 – GOING TO JERUSALEM

Holy Week, Monday

Jesus Brought Before Pilate: Matthew 27: 1-2, 11-14, 24 - 25

            Those in power don’t like anyone who upsets the status quo, who rocks the boat, who disturbs the peace and quiet of a passive citizenry.

Pilate probably didn’t regard Jesus as much more than an annoying irritant, but if not dealt with in a way to satisfy the whiny, religious leaders, he perhaps feared more serious trouble among the populace.  He didn’t need the news of restless rebellions and riots reaching the ears of Rome and ruining his reputation further.  It was bad enough to be out-posted to this irksome, troublesome backwater.  

Pilate needed to prove to Rome that he could handle it. It was much easier to let the poor, misguided man be crucified and wash his hands of it all. Jesus was nothing to him personally. Just another zealot or fanatic –  get rid of him and the next one will pop up anyway. The province around Jerusalem was full of such men looking to overthrow Rome or change the world. To keep the Pax Romana, Roman Peace – that was his primary job; how he achieved that was his business.

Crucifixion sets a mean, cruel example of what happens when someone disturbs Rome’s sense of balance and steadiness.

There is always tension between the purposes of Jesus and the secular powers and political authorities which try to dominate their people, using terrible force if necessary.  The incarnational Church stands before those powers and instead of armed rebellion and revolution, we let our deeds, good works, love, compassion, spirit of justice and truth speak for Jesus and his Kingdom to come.

The Governor was “greatly amazed” by Jesus. There were no explanations, no pleading, no begging for understanding or mercy, no arguments, no counter accusations, no boasts or threats.  Jesus stood tall before Pilate in silence. Everything that could be said or done had taken place prior to this.

It amazes me sometimes how much the Church wants to be accepted by the world. We want to be liked. We want to be chummy with those who have power, influence, and prestige, to be a part of the in-crowd. We want the world to include us in its games and parties. We want to be recognized by having a good seat at all the head tables, with our own place-tags and our names in gold, embossed letters.

We should feel very uncomfortable if that is what we think the Church should be. Caiaphas and the priests and elders had that, for all the good it did them. Our place is to stand in a world that sorely needs the compassionate grace, mercy and love of Jesus Christ.  “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong,” (1 Corinthians 16:13).  

Let the world be greatly amazed by the lives we live in Jesus’ name, because they have unlikely never seen anything like this before. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand,” (Ephesians 6:13)