Matthew 27:1-2
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
It’s been, to say the least, a very long night. What began with an intimate meal with his disciples led first to prayer and betrayal in Gethsemane and then to accusations and trial before the High Priest. And now Jesus is being handed over to Pilate, the brutal Roman governor – that is, oppressor – of the region of Judea. In this role, it was Pilate’s job to keep the Pax Romana, the “Roman peace,” which pretty much meant putting down any unrest or rebellion that threatened Rome’s rule.
We don’t know a lot about Pilate from sources beyond the four gospels. His rule in Judea spanned a decade and was marked by controversy as he harshly suppressed several groups he found objectionable. Information about where he came from, however, or what we did after his time in Judea is mostly speculation.
What we do know is that this transfer of venue doesn’t bode well for Jesus. Up to this point, the conflict Jesus has been having with the religious authorities about the Temple and its practices has been largely contained to matters of theology and justice. But now the point of contention has escalated from matters religious to matters political. Being brought before the Roman Prefect was no minor incident. Rome’s emissary probably cared not one whit about religious squabbles, but if Jesus was being accused of sedition or treason, then that was different.
As we will see, the scenes with Pilate, particularly in Matthew’s account, are some of the most difficult to deal with historically and have had serious consequences through the ages. But for now, it is perhaps enough to note that Matthew draws us into not just another scene of his story but another level of confliction, tension, and intrigue. He wants us, in other words, to pay attention, for what will transpire over the next few hours that he narrates will have grave implications not just for Israel and Rome but, indeed, for all the world.
Prayer: Dear God, let us receive the story of your Son and his passion with open hearts that we may recognize your great love for us and all the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Post image: Mihaly Munkacsy, “Christ Before Pilate” (1881).
Recent Comments