It was customary during the festival for the governor to release to the crowd one prisoner, whomever they might choose. At that time there was a well-known prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. When the crowd had come together, Pilate asked them, “Whom would you like me to release to you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” He knew that the leaders of the people had handed him over because of jealousy.
While he was serving as judge, his wife sent this message to him, “Leave that righteous man alone. I’ve suffered much today in a dream because of him.”
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and kill Jesus. The governor said, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
“Barabbas,” they replied.
Pilate said, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said, “Crucify him!”
But he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?”
They shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I’m innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It’s your problem.”
All the people replied, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus whipped, then handed him over to be crucified.
The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s house, and they gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a red military coat on him. They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then they bowed down in front of him and mocked him, saying, “Hey! King of the Jews!” After they spit on him, they took the stick and struck his head again and again. When they finished mocking him, they stripped him of the military coat and put his own clothes back on him. They led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 27:15-31 CEB
The crowds that praised Jesus at the beginning of this Holy Week with exclamations of “Hosanna!” ended their week with shouts of “Crucify him!”
I often think of the rulers during Jesus trials. Not a single one could make the decision himself. They each passed Jesus off to someone else. And eventually Pilate released him to the will of the crowds and the guards took him away to be crucified.
The rulers could have changed the story. Had they been followers of Jesus, they could have spared an innocent man’s life. But everything happened in accordance to God’s will.
I think in our lives, we sometimes find ourselves in the same situation as the rulers. Making decisions that drastically impact the lives of others, with other’s giving us their input, influencing our decision. Sometimes we are just like Pontius Pilate, allowing bad things to happen to innocent people at the will of those around us. We worry about ourselves and try to wash our hands of the wrong.
Matthew is the only gospel to include Pilate’s wife in the trial of Jesus, which I find fascinating. During the trials, she sends a message to Pilate, saying, “Leave that righteous man alone.”
She stood up for Jesus. She acknowledged his innocence.
And while she does nothing more than simply send a message, I think this detail is so important. When we see unjust things happen to good people, when we witness hate, or abuse, or terrible things that are never deserved, we should start by at least being Pilate’s wife.
We should start by standing up for those who are being persecuted and hurt by the world. We should speak out for them, stand alongside them, support them. Encourage them. Use our power to change the circumstances. To do good for God’s people.
I think Matthew included this small detail as a way to show us, that we should listen even to the outnumbered voices, the voice who encourages us to do what is right and just, even when the world around us roars differently. We can change the story. We can make the world a better place.
For the crowds around Jesus on this early morning, the story wasn’t going to change. Jesus was taken away to be crucified as Barabbas, a prisoner, was released.
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 