JESUS BEFORE PILATE
Wednesday of Holy
Week
Read Matthew 27:1-31.
Both Peter and Judas are remorseful for their sins. Judas repents of betraying Jesus but then
hangs himself. Peter weeps over his
denial of Jesus. How does meditating on
the passion call you to repentance?
Notes on the text:
Jesus was led before Pilate because the Jews were a
conquered people subject to Roman rule.
As such, they had no authority to execute anyone. A death sentence could only be imposed by a
Roman official. Crucifixion was a
distinctly Roman form of execution.
Pilate’s concern was whether Jesus had made a claim to
earthly kingship and would, therefore, stir up another revolt against
Rome. Pilate was unconcerned with
whether Jesus had broken any Jewish laws.
Pilate protects his own self-interest throughout his
encounter with Jesus. Judea was
considered the “Siberia” of the Roman government. Pilate had been transferred there because he
had already proven himself an ineffective leader elsewhere in the Roman
Empire. It was his last post before he
would be executed for his mistakes.
Therefore, Pilate comes to the situation ready to do whatever is
necessary to prevent another in a series of revolts against Roman rule.
Pilate’s handwashing is actually a mocking gesture directed
against Jewish purity rituals.
Verse 25 must not be taken as an indictment of the whole
Jewish people of that era or of any succeeding generations. Rather, this verse should serve to remind us
of the “crowd mentality” which incites people in a group to act in ways
contrary to the ways they would act as individuals.
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