I have to say, I kind of like the character of Pilate in the Passion story, especially in John. He’s a state official who’s entrapped by the law and doesn’t have the courage to step out of his box. He does what he’s “supposed to do” and doesn’t feel like he has a choice – if he does otherwise, his career, his life, as he knows it, will be over. John shows better than the other gospels how pained and tormented he is at the thought of putting Jesus to death – this man who is quiet and humble and innocent and intriguing, who reveals the truth. “what is truth?” he asks… He likes Jesus and doesn’t want to have anything to do with his death. He tries to hand him back to the Jewish authorities, but they’re too concerned about Sabbath law to let themselves become unclean by killing him.
Pilate only gives in when they connect Jesus’ claim to be King to treason against Caesar, when they make it political. The poor guy, so trapped! in the system…like so many of us today… And I love how at the end he gets back at the Jewish authorities by writing “King of the Jews” in three languages on the sign and refuses to change it when they complain – so there!
So it’s Good Friday and Jesus has died. Been crucified for speaking a world-altering truth. Even if that’s where the story ended, it would be earth-shattering and transforming. That story could hold its own, with all the wisdom and teaching it contains. That’s how people who aren’t Christians read it, like Gandhi. So why do we need Easter? What does it add to the story that wouldn’t be there without it? I suppose Christianity might not exist if it did end there…hmm, have to think on that one…We don’t need Easter to tell us how to live – Jesus’ life and teachings do that. But we need it to give us hope and courage; to reassure us that we’re not alone, that it’s not a lost cause…
No comments:
Post a Comment