"Pilate"

 

Matthew 27:11-26

April 3, 2026

Good Friday

Grace Crossing Church, Phoenixville

 

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” ¹² But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. ¹³ Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” ¹⁴ But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

¹⁵ Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷ So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” ¹⁸ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. ¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” ²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. ²¹ The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²² Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” ²⁵ Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.

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            I know that the theme of this service is “Approaching the Cross” but that was something Pilate did not do.  We’re going to hear about all sorts of people whose lives were changed that day, but Pilate was not one of them.  We’re going to hear about people for whom Jesus’ crucifixion was a turning point, for whom it brought despair or sorrow, for whom it was the disappointment of their hopes, for whom it meant the failure of the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven.  We’re going to hear about people who watched the slow death of a son, a friend, a beloved teacher, a prophet and tried to make sense out of Jesus’ pain and their own.

            What Pilate saw in the crucifixion of Jesus, however, was totally different.  He saw an opportunity.  There were all kinds of factions playing for power and influence in Jerusalem.  When Jesus was brought to him, Pilate saw things through that lens.  He may or may not have understood the Council’s religious motivation for wanting Jesus out of the way, but he did  understand the darker side of things.

^“For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.” [Matthew 27:18]

He couldn’t satisfy everybody, but here he had this relatively unimportant and non-threatening Jesus – one that his own people’s leaders wanted to get rid of – and another prisoner with a similar name who was probably more of a threat, that the crowd wanted him to free.  He could pacify both groups by killing the innocent man. It would prevent an inconvenient riot and if there was any pushback on his decision later on, he could claim that it was the locals’ choice and that his hands were tied.  The only person who would be upset would be his wife.

“It is better that one man should die for the people.” [John 11:50]

Wasn’t that Caiaphas’s assessment of the situation?  If Pilate had to answer for it later, he could throw the high priest himself under the chariot.  Just to be sure, though, it wouldn’t hurt to go on record in a public way.  That’s why

“he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’” [Matthew 27:24]

            Sometimes it’s not about right or wrong, innocence or guilt.  Sometimes it’s about what keeps you in place or, even better, moves you forward. 

“So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.” [Matthew 27:26]

It was all political theater, right?  All it would cost was one, insignificant execution. What was one death to someone who, like any Roman in his position, might have to wipe out a village here or there, burn a few crops, take a few slaves, let the troops have their fun with the surviving locals?   It wasn’t his first crucifixion; it wouldn’t be his last.  Pilate didn’t need to see for himself.  He just needed to guarantee that it was done, and done right.

            That is what a governor does.  He doesn’t micromanage the details.  He orders a strike; he sits at a desk and signs pardons or death warrants; he doesn’t explain himself or his decisions.  Approach the cross?  No way.  That would show weakness – and he knew better than to show weakness to anyone.  In Pilate’s world, his enemies would crucify him.  Show – or even feel – compassion?  What world are you living in?