He was tried and executed - Matthew 27:11-66

[Mendalla]

So, this is the day. Jesus' trial and execution. For this BPoTW, we will use Matthew's account of the trial and Crucifixion.

The events are:

• Pilate questions Jesus, who remains silent
• Pilate offers the people a choice between Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Barabbas
• Egged on by the leadership, the people choose Barabbas
• Pilate washes his hands and tries to pass responsibility to "the people" but still passes sentence
• The Roman soldiers mock Jesus
• The Crucifixion

Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 27:11-66 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Pilate Questions Jesus - Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make...

www.biblegateway.com

So much to parse here, but some thoughts.

Pilate's washing his hands of the matter doesn't convince. He may be acting under pressure, but he is the one with the authority and he is exercising it.

"The people" seems to me to be more of an urban mob than "the people". And the way they are manipulated and used to put pressure on Pilate by the leadership is more than a little reminiscent of a January 6 event.

What was Pilate's wife's dream? Clearly, it alarmed her given her words to her husband, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”

And what a dramatic death scene.

1 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Whereas in the other Synoptics, there is just the darkness and the curtain being torn in two. Matthew seems to be setting up Jesus' death as a kind of apocalyptic scene compared with the others.

So, while I am taking Matthew as the "Bible passage of the week" here, feel free to compare and contrast with the trial and death in other Gospels, though this one on its own has plenty to talk about.

And we will continue on Sunday with Matthew 28, his account of the Resurrection. But for now, let's look at the Crucifixion.

 

[paradox3]

The Good Friday scriptures are disturbing on many levels. A few years ago I hosted chapter by chapter discussions here about the synoptic gospels.

It was difficult emotionally to encounter.& consider these narratives at other times of the year.

 

[Luce NDs]

Brutality of the nature in humanity!

White hot destructive urges ...

 

[paradox3]

Brutality of the nature in humanity!

White hot destructive urges ...

Yes. Crucifixion is an atrocity.

 

[Luce NDs]

Yes. Crucifixion is an atrocity.

Many Christians declare it was necessary to get rid of anything that remined them of their corruption ... recall was denied!

Generally it constructed stumpage ... or even stun age! There we rest ... even the motifs need a break ... iconic rites as a blow in the humility ranges?

Often we are told to no go far when it comes to eternal examinations ... our circles don't wish us to get ahead; thus putdowns are innate as Putin is not ... just hollow type ... generating shrapnel ...

In humanity the death urge? That's elf destruction of the little ones ... go dahw full ...

 

[paradox3]

Many Christians declare it was necessary

They sure do.

I am starting to hold the view that Jesus was a bit of a hothead. What was he doing getting into the face of the religious authorities? You know, cleansing the Temple after arriving in Jerusalem?

First time in my life I have ever been angry with Jesus.

Interesting to note that John's Gospel places this event at the beginning of Jesus s ministry.

 

[Mendalla]

This really bring us back to the question of whether this was all inevitable. Crucifixion is a horrible way to die. Could Jesus have died another way? For the prophecy of his Resurrection to happen, he certainly had to die, but would a less cruel execution or an assassination by an irate supporter of the temple chiefs have done the job as well.

And if it was all inevitable, does that absolve everyone involved (Pilate, the leadership, the crowd) of blame? They were just playing their parts in a kind of vicious stageplay? In which case, was the stage manager (i.e. God) the real villain of the piece?

Of course, there is also the possible view that Jesus was executed because of the opposition of the temple elites and their ability to convince/pressure Pilate to be their murder weapon. It was not foreordained, but Jesus ability to overcome that horrible death was.

 

[paradox3]

Good post @Mendalla.

I have just looked at the order of service for Good Friday. Oh boy. I expect I will be back on this thread by noon.

 

[Luce NDs]

They sure do.

I am starting to hold the view that Jesus was a bit of a hothead. What was he doing getting into the face of the religious authorities? You know, cleansing the Temple after arriving in Jerusalem?

First time in my life I have ever been angry with Jesus.

Interesting to note that John's Gospel places this event at the beginning of Jesus s ministry.

Did Jesus have an alter ego? Now that can take one down a devilish source ... a deep hole like the Jacobean item ...

 

[Luce NDs]

This really bring us back to the question of whether this was all inevitable. Crucifixion is a horrible way to die. Could Jesus have died another way? For the prophecy of his Resurrection to happen, he certainly had to die, but would a less cruel execution or an assassination by an irate supporter of the temple chiefs have done the job as well.

And if it was all inevitable, does that absolve everyone involved (Pilate, the leadership, the crowd) of blame? They were just playing their parts in a kind of vicious stageplay? In which case, was the stage manager (i.e. God) the real villain of the piece?

Of course, there is also the possible view that Jesus was executed because of the opposition of the temple elites and their ability to convince/pressure Pilate to be their murder weapon. It was not foreordained, but Jesus ability to overcome that horrible death was.

Ah the essence of power of contamination in the purest of spots ... where initially there was not a clue ... because such mentality was discouraged in a legitimate sense ... making Jesus as a light spot ... well! Illegitimate ... in the eye of dull and dense tyranny ... it is overwhelming in many domains!

Abstract: mental dis ease ... superficial intense? When humanity is overly strained ... the protocol I was bought up in tell me I am insane ... thus fitting into whatever we find ourselves to be ... somewhat paranormal?

Beyond me they say ...

 

[Mendalla]

Good Friday

So I had a look at the etymology section of the Wiki article on Good Friday. Apparently, it originates from an old sense of "good" meaning "pious" so really it is "Holy Friday". The range of names in other languages is interesting. "Good", "Great", "Sad", "Mourning" and then some longer more complex ones like "Friday of the Crucifixion" in Irish Gaelic. Of course, the wonderfully accurate and somewhat bureaucratic Feria sexta in Passione Domini ("Friday of the Passion of the Lord") from the RCs takes the cake. And that's the shortened version. From 1955-1970 it was Feria sexta in Passione et Morte Domini ("Friday of the Passion and Death of the Lord").

Good Friday - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Mendalla]

Back to Matthew. What do people think about Pilate's strategy of giving the people a choice? Was it a real choice or was he pretty sure of the outcome and just further passing the buck to "I had to do it to avoid a riot"?

 

[Mendalla]

Stealing a bit from another thread since my response fits here:

For the Jewish people,tl the destruction of Jerusslem and the temple a bitbpver 20 years later would have felt like an apocalyptic event. Judaism was permanently changed by the loss of the temple.

And to run with that a bit, is that why Matthew has such an apocalyptic vision of Jesus' death? Is he equating Jesus death with the fall of Jerusalem, thereby setting the stage for a Resurrection when Jesus returns?

 

[unsafe]

Some Christians see This Friday in different lights some say it is ----Good Friday ----some call it Holy Friday --Some call it Great and Holy Friday and Some call it Black Friday -------


For Christians it is a time of reflection ----giving Himself Freely over to be brutally beaten and flogged to beyond recognition out of His Agape for His Creation -----so they may escape what they rightly deserve ----for all who Believe and Trust in Him and His word -------

For Christians it is seen as a celebration ----and a Time of Change for the Future for all of God's Creation ------The Blood Shed brings Forgiveness of past --present and future sins for all who want to Believe in and trust in Him and His word ------

For Christians it is seen as a celebration for bringing an end to the Curse of the law and bringing back the Blessings for all who want to believe in and trust in Him and His word -------

For Christians it is seen as a celebration for bringing Healing to dry bones -------for all those who Believe in and Trust in Him and His word ----

The beating alone Jesus endured no man could have survived ---

For Christians it is seen as a celebration for knowing that no matter what the Physical Body is subjected to in this World ----the Spiritual body will remain in perfect condition for eternity ------

For Christians it is seen as a celebration for with His Death He defeats the Adversary -----Satan and His tribe have no longer ant power over anyone who Believes in and Trusts in Him and His word -------

There is so much for the True Followers of Jesus Christ to celebrate on this the Day that Jesus was Crucified ------

 

[paradox3]

Back from the Good Friday service and I didn't like it one bit. The Minister used the metaphor of us continuing to hammer the nails into the body of Christ.

It was like a lecture based on the Nails of pride, envy, indecision, cruelty and hate. There was a scripture lesson and mini sermon/ prayer for each. Very confessional in nature and too much of it IMHO.

I am a fan of metaphor which many here will know. But being told we are hammering nails into Jesus is an atrocious example of metaphor.

 

[Mendalla]

Back from the Good Friday service and I didn't like it one bit. The Minister used the metaphor of us continuing to hammer the nails into the body of Christ.

It was like a lecture based on the Nails of pride, envy, indecision, cruelty and hate. There was a scripture lesson and mini sermon/ prayer for each. Very confessional in nature and too much of it IMHO.

I am a fan of metaphor which many here will know. But being told we are hammering nails into Jesus is an atrocious example of metaphor.

I have heard of this metaphor and kind of get it, but that just sounds terrible. Presented badly and, I am guessing, heavy on guilt-tripping.

 

[Waterfall]

Back to Matthew. What do people think about Pilate's strategy of giving the people a choice? Was it a real choice or was he pretty sure of the outcome and just further passing the buck to "I had to do it to avoid a riot"?

I always thought it was interesting that Barabas means son of the father in Hebrew.
I personally think that Pilate was impressed with Jesus and perhaps he thought he would be seen as biased after having known him....so he turns the decision over to the "jury" people.
Or perhaps Jesus could have even asked Pilate to ask the people to choose(speculation, I know)..aren't we even asked today to choose Jesus?

 

[Mendalla]

I always thought it was interesting that Barabas means son of the father in Hebrew.
I personally think that Pilate was impressed with Jesus and perhaps he thought he would be seen as biased after having known him....so he turns the decision over to the "jury" people.
Or perhaps Jesus could have even asked Pilate to ask the people to choose(speculation, I know)..aren't we even asked today to choose Jesus?

But, of course, Matthew tells us, "Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed" so really, it's not the people choosing. Did Pilate realize that, I wonder? I am guessing that "the people" here is more a raucous crowd, possibly infiltrated or gathered by actors working for the leaders, than a representative group of people of Jerusalem. An ancient form of modern social media influencing and disinformation likely went on.

 

[paradox3]

Jesus was probably more threat to the Jewish religious authorities than he was to the Romans.

 

[GordW]

Jesus was probably more threat to the Jewish religious authorities than he was to the Romans.

I am not sure we can say that with great certainty. The Jewish authorities of the day were likely in place to help keep the Roman Peace (Pax Romana) so any threat to that peace would threaten both equally. Certainly the Jewish puppets would be in the really difficult place of "getting it from both sides" in such a case.