Sermon: ROUND THREE: HEROD AND PILATE
First Preached: April 2, 1995
This is my third in the 1995 Lenten series I preached in Grand Forks. Before we get into that I had an insight this morning that I wanted to share. It might be nothing profound, and I’m sure I’m not the first person to think of it, but here goes:
For the last several months I have been doing the Liturgy of the Hours for my morning devotions. “Word of Fire,” a Roman Catholic resource site, sends me printed material every month containing the daily readings. If you are unfamiliar with Liturgy of the Hours, it is heavily imbedded with readings from the Psalms as well as other prayers. Today a phrase that stood out to me in a prayer were these words, “You [Jesus] were lifted high on the cross and pierced by the soldier’s lance … heal our wounds.” It was this phrase that struck me - “you made the cross the tree of life.”
In Genesis 2:9 (NRSVue) we read, “Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” I’m making a big (probably non-biblical) stretch here but what if that “tree of life” wasn’t nearly as pleasant to the sight as the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil? And to really stretch it, what if the “tree of life” was somehow “cross-shaped?” Not a cross like we hang around our necks, with fruit hanging from the horizontal beams, but some sort of cruciform shape that was not quite so attractive. Maybe that was part of the reason Adam and Eve took the fruit from the forbidden tree … it just looked nicer and more delectable. This fits well with a major theme that runs throughout the Bible. As Moses lays a choice between what brings life and what brings curse he describes a path that would take much effort (bringing life) and a more attractive path that would be much more self-satisfying and easy (bringing curse). In Isaiah we read of a suffering servant, who was not so attractive to look at, but would bring healing and salvation to the world. Jesus talks about choosing between the narrow path that brings challenge and the laying down of one’s life (bringing life) and the much more attractive, wide, easy path (bringing curse). And of course there was the ultimate distinction between a bruised and bloody dying man on a cross (bringing life) and the imagined strong, attractive, military leader bringing about the fulfillment of selfish, comfortable wishes (bringing curse).
So, I prayed this morning - “[Jesus] you made the cross the tree of life.” This is what Lent is all about. It is a reset. We look inward and evaluate the path on which we are walking. May we continue on the path or get back on the path that might not look as attractive in the eyes of the world but in reality will bring abundant, resurrection, eternal life.
I make reference in this substack to the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” I’m actually listening to it as I finish this up. In spite of some mixed reviews, it actually was instrumental in bringing me to a deeper relationship with Jesus in the early 70’s. One of the scenes that stands out to me is the encounter between Jesus and Herod. Herod’s song ends with these words:
Hey! Aren’t you scared of me Christ? Mr. Wonderful Christ!
You’re a joke, you’re not the Lord — you are nothing but a fraud
Take him away — he’s got nothing to say!
Get out you King of the Jews! Get out of my life!
Pilate … Herod … bad choices.
Scripture Reading: Luke 23:1-25 (NRSVue)
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”, Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
The enemies of Jesus are approaching victory. They manage to inconspicuously arrest Jesus thanks to the help of Judas. They secure the Sanhedrin's sentence of death. Now all they need to do is talk the Roman government into doing their dirty work for them. It hinges on the cooperation of the Roman authorities at the time, Pontius Pilate or Herod.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that a common enemy can make strange alliances. Here are two more cases in point. The Jews hated Pilate. Pilate hated the Jews. Pilate could have cared less about these Jews who came to him with Jesus but these Jewish leaders desperately needed to get on the good side of Pilate. In the scripture reading a comment inserted by Luke after Jesus' appearance before Herod -- "That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies."
It is apparent that Pilate does not want anything to do with the Jews' request. He tries to push the responsibility off on Herod who happens to be in town at the time. Since Jesus had spent most of his time in Galilee and since Herod was the ruler of the Galilean region it was only natural that he try Jesus. Herod thinks Jesus is nothing but a joke. According to Luke, Herod has been curious about Jesus for quite some time. Herod is excited about seeing Jesus, hoping Jesus will perform some kind of miracle for him.
[In my original sermon I played the song representing the exchange between Jesus and Herod. [“King Herod’s Song” from the Jesus Christ Superstar musical]
Jesus performs no miracles. Luke says that even though Herod questions Jesus at some length Jesus won't even give him an answer. Herod has no time for this foolishness. He sends Jesus back to Pilate.
Pilate continues to evade the situation. He declared Jesus innocent and tried to talk the religious leaders into taking care of the matter themselves. That didn't work. Pilate handed off Jesus to Herod. That went nowhere. He keeps trying. Pilate has Jesus flogged thinking maybe this will appease the Jews. No such luck. He offers them a choice between Jesus and Barabbas (who happens to be a real criminal). They choose Barabbas. Finally, Pilate caves in but not until he washes his hands of the whole matter.
What was going on that made the Jews so insistent on Jesus' death? You would think it would have been enough to see Jesus humiliated and tortured. Surely that would take the starch out of Jesus' movement.
How were these Jews who Pilate detested so much able to convince the great Pilate - much more powerful than they - to do their bidding? Especially since Pilate was so convinced of Jesus' innocence and apparently afraid that Jesus was who he really said he was.
The answer to both questions is the same - self-interest. Both the Jewish leaders and Pilate wanted to maintain control over their own destinies. It wasn't that they didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. It's just that their own personal agendas were more important.
Pilate tried everything to release Jesus. But something was going on behind the scenes that eventually made him give into Jesus' accusers. A little history helps. It was Pilate's job to keep the peace in Palestine. His superiors liked law and order. Once before he had a major run in with the Jewish people. He had insisted on displaying Caesar's image in Jerusalem and placing the Roman eagle in the Jewish temple. The Jews were offended and protested. Pilate told the Jewish people that if they did not capitulate he would kill them. The threat was not enough. Some 5000 Jewish men threw themselves on the ground baring their necks, inviting Pilate to kill them - better to be dead than to have their city and temple paganized. The tables were turned. Pilate could not afford such a scene of martyrdom - he would have a major revolution on his hands.
Now Pilate comes face to face with these stubborn Jews again. The risk is the same. If he doesn't maintain the peace he is out of a prestigious and powerful job. The real clincher is recorded by John in his Gospel. As Pilate insists on Jesus' release the accusers cried out, "If you release Jesus then you are no friend of Caesar's. Jesus claims to be a king - he sets himself up against the emperor of Rome. If you side with Jesus you are siding against Caesar."
No way was Pilate going to let a rumor like that get around - not only might he be out of a job but he might find himself hanging on the cross.
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. Pilate might even had an inkling that Jesus was more than just an ordinary man. But it was time to set aside the truth to save his own skin.
The Jewish leaders had much to lose as well. They evaluated their spirituality by laws and regulations. They controlled the people with these same laws. They knew how to play the game, how to do enough to get by. They were comfortable. They were only interested in acquiescing to a Messiah if the Messiah supported them and legitimized their lives and opinions. Jesus did not do that. Is it possible that they knew Jesus to be right? Is it possible Jesus touched their conscience and souls? Is it possible that their ego would not allow them to accept Jesus? Is it possible that someone could be so afraid to admit they are wrong that they would rather succumb to treachery, lying, compromise, and murder? It sure wouldn't be the first time or the last time.
No matter how bad life might be or how good the alternatives might be we often find it easier to leave things the way they are than to change. It's hard to admit that there might be a better way of doing things than the way we have always done it before. Many a family who battles with abuse or chemical addiction would rather remain in the problem than to face it, deal with it and make the necessary changes. Many an individual chooses to remain all bound up in fear and misery rather than face the discipline and pain and risk of change. Many a church has closed its doors rather than change its ministry to meet new times. Many persons have chosen to do what they know to be wrong - dead wrong - because it will get them what they want.
Pilate and the Jewish leaders are not the only ones who have sacrificed Jesus in order to maintain their own agenda. We stand among the guilty. At least, I do. How many times have I shut Jesus out, ignored him, denied him, pushed him away so that I might have what I want to have and do what I want to do and avoid what I want to avoid?
In Luke 9:23-26 we read, "Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. {24} For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. {25} What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? {26} Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.'"
It is easy during this time of Lent - anytime, in fact - to feel bad about Jesus' mistreatment and injustice -- even to rise to his defense, "You heartless Jews, you spineless Pilate, you arrogant Herod, how could you do it? why did you do it?"
Jesus doesn't need defense witnesses. Jesus doesn't need apologists. Jesus calls for those who will set aside their own agenda for his agenda. Jesus needs disciples.