St. John's Lutheran Church



IVAn interview with the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, who sat in judgment of Jesus the Christ.Interviewer: “Retired Governor Pontius Pilate; welcome again for interview. We consider the circumstances of the trials and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.Pilate: “I am back and this will be my testimony of the events that took place the day I judged Jesus of Nazareth guilty.Interviewer: “At 6 o’clock in the morning of Friday, April 3, A.D. 33 – – to the Jews, Nissan fourteen in the year 3793. What happened that day?”Pilate: After a quick breakfast I mounted the tribunal and called for the unfinished business from the previous day. Two highwaymen I had postponed sentencing of were brought before me. “I judged you both guilty of murder. You are sentenced to death death.” It was then that the servant of Caiaphas, Malchus, interrupted my court with the words, Malchus: “Forgive this intrusion, Excellency. My Lord Caiaphas and the entire Sanhedrin are outside in the courtyard asking for your confirmation of their verdict against Yeshu Hannosri.”Pilate: “Do you mean they’ve already tried him?”Malchus: “Yes.”Pilate: “But there hasn’t been enough time. . .”Malchus: “Hardly enough, though two sessions of the Sanhedrin have been held since the arrest.”Pilate: “What was their verdict?”Malchus: “Guilty.”Pilate: “The punishment?”Malchus: “They seek the death penalty.”Pilate: “Death?”Malchus: “Yes. Otherwise they would not have brought the prisoner here.”Centurion: (braking into our conversation) “Pardon, Prefect, but you should know that a huge crowd is gathering in front of the palace. Shall I send to the Antonia for reinforcements?”Pilate: “Yes, but keep them out of sight.”(Then to Marcus) “This is extraordinary. The high priest should not have dared to interrupt my tribunal in this manner.”I thought seriously of making the Sanhedrin and him wait their turn for a hearing, perhaps until after the Bar Abbas trial the following week. But the past confutations with the Jews, I thought better of doing that.Malchus: “My Lord, Caiaphas told me to express his profound regret for this interruption, but he said that you would understand the danger of serious rioting if this matter were not adjudicated promptly. He also stated that the Sanhedrin is not expecting you to interrupt your schedule with a trial at this time – the trial has already taken place – this is merely a request for you to simply confirm their sentence.”Pilate: (angrily) “Let them come in then.”Malchus: “Unfortunately, sir, they must remain outside the praetorium to avoid defilement, so that they can eat the Passover Sabbath Seder tonight.”Pilate: I sat down on in my chair, grasping the arms of it with a grip which whitened my knuckles. For some moments, I pondered the issue . . . How the Sanhedrin could have given the complex case of Jesus a fair hearing in the brief interval since, I received notice from Caiaphas yesterday evening, I could not fathom . . . and the death penalty? While not surprising, given the hatred between the Jewish authorities and Jesus, it was at the least, too hasty. I knew Caiaphas was concerned about a riot erupting. Kill a prophet and disorder would break out. And finally the implication: “Don’t bother judging him, Pilate. You wouldn’t be qualified. This is a religious case. Just sign the order for execution like a good Prefect.”Pilate: (out loud to himself) “But I will, I will judge this case, and thoroughly.”I saw that Jesus was stationed directly in front of the tribunal; the members of the Sanhedrin were flanking him on both sides. To my right were the familiar faces of Annas, Caiaphas, Ananias, Zadok, Helcias, Eleazar, and Jonathan. They would constitute the chief accusers if, as they thought unlikely, it came to a formal trial; for without accusers, there could be no trial in Roman law. Behind Jesus are the leading Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, elders, and the temple guard. Behind on the semicircle of these principals, gathered -- a vast and growing mass of spectators, about 200 in number at this point.Interviewer: What did Jesus look like standing in front of you?Pilate: “His dark hair, parted roughly in the middle, fell shoulder length. This, along with his mustache and beard marked him as a typical Palestinian Jew. Still, standing erect he seemed to speak eloquently through his eyes. They were tired, but they were not the eyes of a prisoner – neither imploring or fearful, nor ashamed; nor were they vindictive or threatening. I have seen all of these eyes in prisoners whom I have condemned. Jesus’ eyes registered only serenity, with a trace of disappointment and resignation.”Pilate: “What charges do you bring against this man?”The Jewish leaders looked thunderstruck. What they heard was the opening formula of a Roman trial, the interrogatio. I was not going to endorse the action of the Sanhedrin; instead, I was reopening the case and beginning my own hearing!Annas: “If he were not a criminal, we would not have brought him before you,”Pilate: “Very well, then, take him out of this court and judge him according to your own law.”Caiaphas: “That is not possible! According to your law we are not allowed to put anyone to death.”Pilate: “What charges do you bring against this man?”The chief priests appeared as the principal accusers or prosecutors. They presented a formal bill of indictments, which opened the case against Jesus: “We found this man subverting our nation, prohibiting the payment of tribute money to Tiberius Caesar, and claiming that he, himself, is Messiah, a king.”Of the religious grounds on which Jesus had been condemned by the Sanhedrin was not a word. They knew that I would not approve the death sentence for the theological offense of blasphemy.The charge that Jesus was an instigator of sedition, a resistance leader, was very serious. According to Roman law, those who cause sedition or incited riots or rebellion were to be crucified, thrown to the beasts, or deported to an island. The subversive charge would have to be proven, since for all reports, Jesus seemed to shy away from political involvement.The second accusation, that he opposed payment of the tribute, Pilate knew to be a lie, but he checked himself from slinging it back at the prosecutors. They might have used the charge in good faith from garbled reports, although their attitude seems hypocritical. Many of these players, especially the Pharisees, spent their days protesting payment of the Roman tribute, yet here they were today patriotically defending it.The third indictment, that Jesus was claiming himself to be Messiah, a king, was the greatest of the charges. Depending on the nature of that kingship, the claim could be construed as maiestas, high treason. That was the most heinous crime known in Roman law. After the Sejanian conspiracy all connected to him had been persecuted under this rubric. With Tiberius as Emperor, here was a local leader allegedly daring to call himself king. It could be harmless, perhaps a delusion of grandeur, but this could also be deadly treason.Since no one seemed ready to defend Jesus, I thought it fair to give him a brief, confidential hearing before proceeding with the trial in order to learn something more about the defendant away from the glare of his accusers. I stepped back into the palace, summoning Jesus inside into the reception hall.Pilate: “Are you the King of the Jews?” “How do you plead?”Jesus: “Do you ask this for yourself, or did others tell you about me?”Pilate: “What! Am I a Jew? Your own nation and chief priests have brought you before me. What have you done?”Jesus: “My kingship is not of this world. If it were, my followers would fight to defend me. But my authority as king comes from above.”Pilate: “So? You are at King, then?”Jesus: “It is as you say, that I am a king. For this I was born and for this I have come into the world: to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”Pilate: “A kingship of truth, you say? What is truth?”This private hearing convinced me that Jesus’s claims for kingship, his visionary “kingship of truth,” had no political implications, so it would hardly be possible to construct a case of maiestas against him. He might do well to avoid using this dangerous term king in the future.Pilate led Jesus back to the outdoor tribunal and announce, Pilate: “I find no guilt in him.” “I find no case against Jesus thus far.” “What evidence do you have to substantiate your charges?”Caiaphas spoke to Ananias. They now summon witnesses by name some of them Sanhedrists to give credibility to the testimony. In ranks of two or three at a time, they supplied their evidence to Pilate. Roman law required multiple witnesses. One scribe told of seeing Jesus attacked the Jerusalem authorities on three different occasions and inciting the masses thereby.A gray-bearded priest spoke eloquently of his violence in the temple courts. An elder member of the Sanhedrin, his story well collaborated by colleagues, reported Jesus’ claim to be Messiah – king in front of the entire Sanhedrin.Clearly, the prosecution was better organized than at the Sanhedrin hearing.Caiaphas had chosen his witnesses well. But there was a certain seemingly contrived sameness in the evidence. Pilate found this less than convincing, while such other items as Jesus’ supposed opposition to the tribute he knew to be false.After providing accusations, the plaintiffs now introduced additional subsidiary accusations against the defendant, accusing him of using magic and sorcery.What had worried Caiaphas, if it came to a trial, was how to neutralize a testimony of witnesses for the defense, if any, dared show themselves, since their evidence would largely concern good deeds, feelings, and other apparent miracles wrought by the accused. Caiaphas attempted to forestall such testimony by producing his own witnesses to these spectacular deeds, who explain them as products of the black arts. Sorcery was also punishable under Roman law by death.Pilate: (turning to Jesus, who had remained silent the whole time) “Have you nothing to say in your defense? Do you hear all this evidence against you?” Jesus remained silent. He supplied no defense, not even to a single charge.I was astonished at this conduct. In seven years on the provincial bench, this had never happened. Innocent defendants could hardly wait to launch their counterattacks on the prosecution, and even the obviously guilty at least pleaded some mitigating circumstance and sought leniency. But Jesus was making no defense, and no advocate was pleading in his behalf.Pilate: (addressing the crowd) “Can anyone offer evidence favoring the defendant, Jesus?”A Voice from the crowd: “Louder, Prefect!” Pilate: “I said, can anyone offer testimony in the defense of Jesus of Nazareth?”Some hands seemed to show at the edge of the crowd, but so many in the multitude supported the prosecution that the few who seem to venture forward were being jostled or blocked. Whenever a lone voice protested, “He is innocent!” A great chorus responded with the antiphon, “He is guilty!”My sympathy towards the defenseless accused was being eroded by my growing impatience with Jesus for refusing to say a word. Once more I called out, Pilate: “Will anyone testify in behalf of Jesus?”The reply was more growling from the mass assembled and several violent fistfights at the periphery. The mobs mood was getting ugly.Rabbi Jonathan: “The man is a born troublemaker. You know of the riot he caused in the temple just this past Monday. Illegally, without any authority whatsoever, interrupting people at their worship by driving away their sacrifices! And in overturning the money exchange tables causing great financial losses to the temple, Yeshu is, in effect, a temple robber. . . Now, you may not feel concerned over what takes place inside our sanctuary, but this firebrand may one day upset your provincial finances in the same way. We’ve already cited his attitude towards the Roman tribute, but did you know that he lured a tax collector away from his profession? He’s now one of his disciples, a man named Matthew. This financial harm is as nothing compared to Yeshu’s role as a political agitator. His teachings are inflaming the people throughout all Judea. Starting from Galilee he is spreading them even as far as this city.”Pilate: “Wait, Rabbi, did you say that Jesus began teaching in Galilee?”Rabbi Jonathan: “Yes. . . “Pilate: “What’s his hometown?”Rabbi Jonathan: “He came from Nazareth, of course, but lately, I understand he was lodging in Capernaum.”Pilate: “Where?”Rabbi Jonathan: “A town on the North Western end of the sea of Tiberius.”Pilate: “Both places are in Galilee. Are they not?”Rabbi Jonathan: “Yes. . .”Pilate: “The defendant, thus, is clearly a Galilean, and as such, under the authority of the tetrarch Herod Antipas.”“And since Herod is in Jerusalem at this very moment, I think it’s eminently proper to refer this case to his jurisdiction.”Caiaphas: “But Prefect, surely this isn’t necessary. The crime committed by Yeshu Hannosri took place also in Judea. You would certainly have the legal right”Pilate: “Thank you, noble Pontiff, but I need not be school on the points of Roman law. Yes, I would have the legal prerogative to try this man in Judea as the forum delicti, the place of the offenses, of his alleged crimes. But yes, I also have the option of remanding this case to the jurisdiction of the accuses’ domicile, since Galilee is his forum domicialii, the place of residence. And I believe it most appropriate to bind the defendant over to his own tetrarch, particularly because your charges have religious implications within Jewish law, which Herod Antipas could adjudicate far better than I.”Caiaphas: “Very well, Prefect, we shall accept adjudication by Herod the tetrarch, if he is willing.”Pilate: “This court takes no action in the case of Jesus of Nazareth. This tribunal is adjourned.”I was pleased with myself and had a sense of victory. The change of venue ridded me of a sticky case involving a probably innocent man, whom it would be wrong to convict, and yet dangerous to acquit in view of the Sanhedrin’s attitude. It was also bit of diplomacy towards Herod Antipas, who could not fail to recognize this as an olive branch in our perennial feud.The Sanhedrin and Caiaphas would have their hands full. Conviction might be difficult, since the tetrarch’s hands were already stained with the baptizer’s blood. Herod might not wish to redden them again with that of another so-called prophet. Herod Antipas had not wanted John killed, and he might now choose to defend the Nazarene, a fellow Galilean. After all, he had not arrested Yeshu during his three years of teaching in Galilee, though he had threatened it.Caiaphas: (confidently) “Antipas has shown much more sensitivity to our laws than you, Pilate. Undoubtedly, he’ll convict Yeshu with the same fine corporation he showed us in the case of the Golden shields.”Herod Antipas was pleased with the turn of events, since he had wanted to meet Jesus for some time. The officialdom, the Sanhedrin and its prisoner, and a few representatives of the people were allowed into the atrium of Herod’s palace, but much of the throng had to wait outside because of the limited space.Antipas mounted his tetrarch’s throne in order for the hearing to begin.The priestly pontiffs produced political charges similar to those raised to Pilate, but this time they did not demur at introducing also the religious issues, which had led to Jesus’s conviction before the Sanhedrin.Antipas listened intently to the accusation, then startled everyone by his unorthodox procedure. Antipas: (Turning to the chief priest) “Thank you, honored rabbis, for your presentation of the case. Actually, I’m quite familiar with the charges against Yeshu Hannosri, but I’ve never yet had the occasion to meet him.” Antipas; (In a pleasant tone) “Yeshu, will you step forward?”“I’ve wanted to see you for some time. You’ve been given credit for certain. . . . rather magnificent exploits, especially in our Galilee. I wish I could have witnessed some of them. Several times I looked for you in Galilee. You probably thought I meant you harm, but I didn’t. I wanted to see the prophet for myself. If, indeed, that’s what you are. John the baptizer was supposed to be a prophet, but he didn’t perform any miracles. I understand you can. Well, I have never seen a miracle. Why not show us one now?”Jesus made no move whatever, other than shutting his eyes in inner concentration and then opening them.Antipas: “Come now, Yeshu, I know you once called me a Fox, with cunning shrewdness implied. Why, I thank you for the compliment. But my request has no further slyness than this: you’re either a true prophet or a false one. The latter achieves wonders by tricks; the former by the power of God. Now, I believe that I can see through tricks. So if you perform an actual sign for us, wouldn’t that demonstrate that you are a true prophet?”Jesus said nothing, did nothing.Antipas: (beginning to lose his temper) “Look, don’t just stand there, man!” “You haven’t much of a bargaining position, and no one is speaking in your defense. I’m showing you the way out. Do a miracle! Even a simple one. . . Say. . . Have these fetters break off your wrists.”Jesus just stood there.Antipas: “Well, if you can’t do anything, can you say something?”Herod glared and was starting to lose all sympathy for the prisoner. The tetrarch of Galilee was simply not disobeyed, especially not by one on trial. Yet here was a defendant mocking him by his silence.Jesus still held his peace.Antipas might have known he would stage no spectacle for a man who executed his close friend, forerunner, and cousin, John. He would not entertain the Fox.Chief Priests and scribes: “Don’t you know why he won’t perform any wonders, noble Tetrarch? Because he can’t! The sign described are merely tricks – hoaxes.”Ananias: “Yeshu, according to your own flawless logic Antipas, must therefore be a false prophet.”Antipas: (address Jesus a final time) “No defense, Nazarene?” (After the now expected silence, Antipas broke into a derisive laughter.) “Of course there is no defense for our charlatan – a fraud! I must marvel at the people of Judea and Galilee – to consider this one a prophet. Ridiculous! At least the baptizer had the courage to speak out, even in prison. But the Nazarene can’t even find his tongue. Guards, I think it’s time for you to show respect. Do proper reverence to our Messiah – king here.”Antipas’s troops converged on their prisoner for a round of mockery and ridicule. Playfully they dropped to their knees and bowed deeply. Several fall flat on their faces before him, and pounded the floor. Trumpeters blew a fanfare directly into his ear. Then they dressed him in a brilliant purple robe, one of Antipas’s discards, for the Messiah was expected to wear such.Antipas: “That’s enough, now, take this magnificent prophet – Messiah – monarch back to Pontius Pilate.”The Sanhedrists thought they had not heard correctly. Rabbi Zadok: “Did the tetrarch say back to Pilate?” Antipas: “I did. I here with wave my jurisdiction over this subject. Since most of your accusations focus on offenses in Judea, let the Prefect of Judea judge him.”Rabbi Zadok: “But Excellency, the Prefect remanded this case to your tribunal and--”Antipas: “And I’m referring it back to him. Do you suggest I don’t have this prerogative? My Galileans are judiciable in Judea, if they break the law here. Besides, all those charges of yours which involve Yeshu calling himself king are something for Rome to adjudicate, not I.”Caiaphas: “Noble tetrarch, you have protected our most holy faith in the past. You have defended our case admirably, as in the appeal to Tiberius regarding the Golden shields, and on other occasions. Why do you now fail to condemn this arch heretic, who blasphemes the name of our holy God by calling himself, His Son?”Antipas: “Most honorable pontiff Caiaphas, I think this tongue-tied wretch deserves our sympathy, not our stoning. Today we proved him a hoax. How could he possibly have a following after this? But if you think he deserves punishment, just remember this: I didn’t set him free. I might have acquitted him entirely, rather than return the case to Pilate. As it is, you can simply resume his trial before the Prefect at the point where you left off.”Antipas: (standing up) “This court is adjourned.”Slowly, the chief priest and the members of the Sanhedrin and the temple guards around Jesus and then all the rest were crowded into the atrium of the Hasmonean palace paraded out, headed back to the Roman praetorium. By now it was almost 9 A.M.Surrounded again by his wife and relatives, Antipas watched them leave. He had been less than candid with Caiaphas, posing as something of the forgiving humanitarian. This was only to mask his motive for failure to judge this case. Many of his Galilean subjects believed in Jesus, and some of them were in Jerusalem at the time, camped on the surrounding hills. Even if riots did not break out, were he to condemn the Nazarene, he could still look forward to reaping a fine harvest of hatred upon his return to Galilee. Then he would have killed his second prophet. Besides, of those who believed in the man, several were standing very close to his own tribunal during the hearing: Chuza, his chief steward; and Manaen, his close friend and advisor. Antipas was man enough to taunt Jesus before people who believed in him, but not to have him stoned. Why should he relieve Pilate of this thorny case? Let Rome and Rome’s Prefect bear the stink for prophet killing, if it came to that. It was decent for Pilate to make such a conciliatory gesture by deferring to his tribunal. Perhaps Pilate was basically a good man, after all, and he had misjudging him all these years.By Rev. Dr. Hank Malone 3/22/2020 ................
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