Lesson 30
Trial by Sanhedrin
How
many times this week did you want to advise a friend or loved one, to direct
them away from destructive behavior?
Were you diplomatic and gentle, or did you just have to let them know
how really dumb they are? Now, did your friend or loved one accept your advice
when offered? Did you need to offer your advice repeatedly? And did you get
just a little huffy when your really super advise was refused?
Well,
let’s head back to the first century and take a look at the developing pattern
of interactions Jesus had with the priests and elders, and notice the
inevitable and tragic results.
The
Old Testament offers this advice in dealing with a wayward acting Jew. First
take the errant brother aside and privately redirect him. If that doesn’t work,
a group of two or three should then confront the wrong-doer. Now, if that
doesn’t work, the desperado should be dragged in front of the Temple elders for
something stronger and more persuasive. And if that doesn’t work either, send
him away and treat him like a leper.
Take
some quick snapshots as this same pattern plays out with Jesus and the elders.
First a priest would approach Jesus and begin a debate. These debates and
Jesus’ answers are documented in the New Testament. Later, two or three would
confront him and debate with him again.
When all the confrontations and debate shifted Jesus not one iota from
his continued radical perspectives and his sermons at the local synagogues and on
the hillsides, the next step is taken - sending the Temple guards into the
Garden to bring him before the Sanhedrin, the Temple priests and elders, for a
really nasty rebuke.
What
happens at this emotionally charged trial is supposition, since nothing was
ever recorded and no followers of Jesus attended. We do know that Jesus must
have exasperated them completely since they sent him ignominiously off to the
next level of authority. . .the only option available to them under the Law.
. . .and so, we will return to take snapshots at the next trial,
presided over by Pontius Pilate.
Questions to Contemplate and Discuss
1. Does this process of incrementally trying
to redirect someone from a ‘dangerous’ direction remind you of your own
experiences of either the advisor or the advisee? And how well did it work?
2. What does your imagination suggest
happened at the confrontation of Jesus and the Temple elders?
3. Do you think there could have been any
other outcome? Could the elders have acted differently? Could have Jesus?
Lesson 31
Pontius Pilate – A Day at the Office
Think back to the worst job you ever had. Remember how each day was
enormously depressing. Thank goodness you have moved onto something better.
(Oops! Sorry if you are still in it.) Now, this is the state of mind for
Pontius Pilate in the first century. He didn’t ask to be a Roman procurator in this
hot and volatile section of Israel, but here he is slowly dragging his feet
from responsibility to responsibility. And one of the more onerous was
overseeing the high Jewish holiday of Passover in the city of Jerusalem.
Now,
let’s snap a quick photo of Pilate’s residence, the place he tries hard not to
leave. He lives on the pleasant coast of Israel in the voluptuous city of Ceasarea.
His villa has all the comforts of the modern first century – running water,
baths, gardens and lots of servants. Yet, once every year he must trudge over
to Jerusalem and amass his troops to do crowd control for the Passover
holiday. And to a Roman this ain’t a
pleasant assignment.
During the last years, violent revolutionaries, screeching prophets,
oppressed lower classes, and roving bandits have reached a crescendo and plagued
his tour of duty. Pilate’s form of policing and peacekeeping is swift and final
– just grab ‘em and crucify ‘em! The bodies hanging on crosses outside the city
are constantly being replenished. Take photos only if you want them in your own
album.
Pilate and the High Priest of the Temple meet when necessary, which is
often during this holiday week. Together they share the burden for keeping a
semblance of peace in the city.
a ripple of revolt or tsunami of insurrection occurs, the Sanhedrin
is required to turn over any Jewish troublemaker to Pilate for quick trial and
immediate penalty on the old rugged cross. Jesus was a radical and yes, seen as
interfering in Temple politics, as well as a possible threat to Roman
authority. The rules were the rules so inevitably Jesus had to be found guilty
by the priests and given over to the Romans.
Many movies, books and myths have tried to capture the emotional
climate of Pilate on the day when the priests of the Temple of Jerusalem turned
Jesus over to the Romans.
What did Pilate think?
What guilt and remorse, if any, did Pilate experience?
What we do know from history, is that Pilate was simply trying to keep
the peace, giving short shrift to just one more dissident, one more
troublemaker. Pilate kept Jesus’ trial short, the penalty just another tedious
necessity in a long line of similar incidents. This was such a daily ‘ho hum’
activity that first century historians barely recorded this particular prisoner’s
trial, verdict, and inevitable penalty.
Over
the next two thousand years, Jesus followers have layered more and more meaning
and glory onto an event that, at the time, was seen as an almost unimportant
blip on the screen - though it was crushingly sad and confusing to Jesus’
family and followers. . .
. . .But, we will return, bringing our cameras to record as much depth and
insight as possible about this amazingly short event that has none the less impacted
the world for millennium.
Questions to Contemplate and Discuss
1. How has Pontius Pilate been remembered by
Christians over the years?
2. How has Christian history commonly seen
the relationship between the Temple elders and Pontius Pilate and their
culpability in Jesus’ death?
3. What differences, if any, do you see now
from the commonly held view of Jesus’ trial under Pontius Pilate and what we
have now learned?
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