Whose Will?
Read Luke 22:66-23:25.
Pilate is one of many governors and leaders who would have been lost to history if he had not encountered Jesus on this fateful day. No one would have remembered Pilate; his leadership was brutal and his relationship with the people was rocky at best. By all accounts he hated the Jews and he hated being in Judea. At first he tried subjugating them by violence. When that didn't work, he tried to keep them placated. When that didn't work, he was called back to Rome and disappeared along the way (many think he committed suicide rather than face the wrath of Caesar). No one would have remembered Pilate had it not been for this day.
Undoubtedly, he rose early to get the business of the day done with in order to move ahead with his usual day of organized leisure. He hated Passover time; the city was full to overflowing and there was always the danger of someone getting a crazy idea about rebellion against Rome. After all, Passover was a celebration of when God freed the Jews from slavery in Egypt, and now even as they celebrated freedom they were little more than slaves to Rome. The idea of rebellion had happened before. It was always in the air. If Pilate wasn't vigilant, it might happen again. So when Pilate hears Jesus might be a revolutionary, he agrees to see him, to investigate the possibility of rebellion.
The problem is this: he can find no evidence that Jesus has a revolution planned.
There is no question that there's a battle of wills going on here. The Jewish leaders want one thing. Pilate wants something else. Herod wants yet another thing. Actually, Herod just wants to be entertained (Jesus doesn't cooperate). The Jewish leaders get the people stirred up so they cry out for Jesus' death. And somehow, just his death would not be enough. They are oddly specific: crucifixion. Not a quick death. Death by torture. There is a battle of wills going on, especially between Pilate and the people, which is why it's interesting how Luke ends this passage: Pilate "surrendered Jesus to their will" (23:25).
Whose will?
Whose will ultimately prevails? Pilate doesn't seem to care; he just wants history to know it's not his. In Matthew's Gospel, we see Pilate washing his hands and claiming to be innocent of Jesus' blood. He gave up his will for the will of the people. Or the will of the Jewish leaders. Or whomever. Pilate's will does not prevail this day.
But, honestly, does the people's will prevail? Or are they part of a larger drama that is playing out? We've known from the beginning the God the Father sent God the Son, Jesus, to do his will. From the beginning, Jesus said he was about his Father's business. Though from a purely earth-bound point of view, the people's will seems to prevail (at least some of the people), from a higher view, we know it's the Father's will that is working its way through this story. Pilate, in giving up his will, is even being used by the Father to accomplish the salvation of the world.
We remember Pilate most often as a villain. But even he can be used by God to accomplish the Father's will.
Undoubtedly, he rose early to get the business of the day done with in order to move ahead with his usual day of organized leisure. He hated Passover time; the city was full to overflowing and there was always the danger of someone getting a crazy idea about rebellion against Rome. After all, Passover was a celebration of when God freed the Jews from slavery in Egypt, and now even as they celebrated freedom they were little more than slaves to Rome. The idea of rebellion had happened before. It was always in the air. If Pilate wasn't vigilant, it might happen again. So when Pilate hears Jesus might be a revolutionary, he agrees to see him, to investigate the possibility of rebellion.
The problem is this: he can find no evidence that Jesus has a revolution planned.
There is no question that there's a battle of wills going on here. The Jewish leaders want one thing. Pilate wants something else. Herod wants yet another thing. Actually, Herod just wants to be entertained (Jesus doesn't cooperate). The Jewish leaders get the people stirred up so they cry out for Jesus' death. And somehow, just his death would not be enough. They are oddly specific: crucifixion. Not a quick death. Death by torture. There is a battle of wills going on, especially between Pilate and the people, which is why it's interesting how Luke ends this passage: Pilate "surrendered Jesus to their will" (23:25).
Whose will?
Whose will ultimately prevails? Pilate doesn't seem to care; he just wants history to know it's not his. In Matthew's Gospel, we see Pilate washing his hands and claiming to be innocent of Jesus' blood. He gave up his will for the will of the people. Or the will of the Jewish leaders. Or whomever. Pilate's will does not prevail this day.
But, honestly, does the people's will prevail? Or are they part of a larger drama that is playing out? We've known from the beginning the God the Father sent God the Son, Jesus, to do his will. From the beginning, Jesus said he was about his Father's business. Though from a purely earth-bound point of view, the people's will seems to prevail (at least some of the people), from a higher view, we know it's the Father's will that is working its way through this story. Pilate, in giving up his will, is even being used by the Father to accomplish the salvation of the world.
We remember Pilate most often as a villain. But even he can be used by God to accomplish the Father's will.
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