RSS Feed |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Gospel Truth
Pilate passes the buck Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea from AD 26 to AD 36. This was a key government position in which he answered directly to the emperor of Rome. As these plum political appointments go, however, Pilate had the poorest. With the exception of the plush palace at Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, no one in Rome liked governing Israel. The Jews were very difficult to rule. So Pilate, in his climb up the corporate ladder, had his hands full. His main job was to keep the taxes flowing to Rome while keeping the peace in Israel. That's why you would always find Pilate in Jerusalem during the religious festivals like the Passover. It was a good time for tax booths and an opportune time for a riot. True to the history of the Middle East, these riots were usually caused by religious debates. In the days of Jesus, Pilate got caught right in the middle of a dispute of biblical proportions. In the epic battle between Pharisaical Judaism and fledgling Christianity, Pilate was no Harry Truman. His first response when Jesus was brought to him was to pass the buck. When Pilate was forced to deal with the situation, he asked Jesus questions which were superficial and sarcastic. When Pilate was faced with issues of ultimate spiritual truth, this premodern person gave a very post-modern reply, "What is truth?" After trying desperately to ignore Jesus Christ, Pilate had to make a decision. Pilate's peculiar decision Concerning Jesus, Pilate proudly pronounced, "I find no guilt in him." Yet he took this not guilty man and had him "scourged," platted with "a crown of thorns," and ultimately "crucified." Politically, Pilate made a good decision. Had he set Jesus free a riot would have certainly ensued. More than three people would have been killed. Pilate's political skills probably saved some lives and kept the peace. It was an expedient, convenient decision. Personally, Pilate made a good decision. He was walking a fine line between Jerusalem and Rome and needed to be popular with both. Killing Jesus wouldn't matter much to Rome. Apparently it would be a big hit in Jerusalem. All Pilate had to do was quell his conscience, acquiesce to the murder of the messiah and he might just get that promotion after all. It was an expedient, convenient decision. Spiritually, it was a good decision. But Pilate cannot take the credit for this part. Like the Jewish High Priest Caiaphas, Pilate wanted Jesus dead for all the wrong reasons. The good decision to sacrifice God the son was actually made by God the father before the foundation of the world. Even the worst human mistakes can factor into the perfect plan of the one who works all things together for good. This part of the plan was in accordance with God's amazing grace, and grace was something foreign to Pontius Pilate. For Pilate this was simply a politically expedient, personally convenient decision. Because of it Jesus died on a cross with a sign above his head. I suppose we have Pilate to thank for the sign. Pilate's passing respect Pilate caved to their demands for crucifixion but he would not take down the sign. Big fat deal. Pilate took an innocent man and condemned him as a criminal, yet consented to give him a free man's burial. Big fat deal. Pilate paid Jesus some respect, but never repented and believed in him as the savior of the world. Now that is a big fat deal. Here's were Pontius Pilate looks like Johnny American. It's like the Tom Petty song about a typical American girl who likes horses, Elvis and Jesus. We all like horses, but how many of us ever ride one? We all like Elvis, but how many of us actually own a pair of blue suede shoes? We all like Jesus, and that's the problem. We like him. We don't love him. We aren't totally committed to him. We just pay our passing respects by sleeping through church and buying each other Christmas presents. That's the way it was with Pilate and Jesus. He really didn't care that much one way or the other. He didn't want to kill him, but he didn't want to know him, love him or follow him, either. Pilate plunked his conscience down in the middle of the road, and like the proverbial possum, got run right over. He was never popular in Israel. He never got that promotion from Rome. As a matter of fact, he eventually lost his job. Then, much like Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate wound up a failed, guiltstricken man who in the end took his own life. Pilate's legacy Dead men talk, especially those who play on the fields of religion, politics, and biblical history. They speak from heaven and they speak from hell and there is no end to the tales they tell. Pilate's life and death tells at least a few short stories that are well worth reading. First of all, you cannot simply ignore Jesus Christ. He said you are either with him or against him and there is no middle of the road. Secondly, decisions of convenience are often not worth the cost. Thirdly, respect is no substitute for repentance.
And finally, as long as there is a heartbeat there is hope. Pilate's ran out. Yours is still beating. What will you do with Jesus Christ?
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
