Crucify Him! John 18-19

Crucify Him!

Yucky.  Obese.  Lascivious.  Drunken.  Vulgar.  Certainly not winning adjectives from a personal ad …  nope, a description of Herod.  Jesus has been drug through Herod’s door, to stand before him—his fifth trial.  The night had been so long:  walking from town into the Kidron Valley, praying an agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, beseeching the Father that this ‘cup might pass from him’, but surrendering his will to do what he has come to do . . . die; then abruptly seized by a large detachment of soldiers and Jewish officials, Jesus is arrested, shackled and put through three religious trials—all illegal.  First, Jesus is tried before Annas, then Caiaphas, and finally, the Sanhedrin.  The cry is ‘death’ for the blasphemer, but since it is not sufficient for the Romans to execute Jesus, the Jews drag him to Pilate, accusing him of treason.  Pilate finds no fault, and sends Jesus to Herod.

Ah, Herod.  Yes, the same one who had beheaded John the Baptist.  While he is irritated by the interruption of Caiaphas, Annas, and the rest, he is curious about Jesus.   He has long wanted to see this "king of the Jews", and hopes he may even get Jesus to work some magic for his entertainment.  It is all so tragic, really--Jesus, standing before this ruler known for his debauchery—this ruler who could find Jesus guilty and have him executed . . . ‘all so tragic IF God hadn't already accounted for it.  However, Jesus will not serve as entertainment for Herod--in fact, he remains silent, as he stands before him.  And like Pilate before him, Herod finds no fault in Jesus.  So after mocking him and having fun at his expense, he has his men take him back to Pilate.  

Jesus is brought before Pilate again (his sixth trial).  Again, Pilate cannot find Jesus guilty of the charges against him; so thinking he will appease the people, tells them he will punish Jesus and release him.  Wait, punish Jesus??  Yes, a flogging … Pilate is hoping it will placate the Jews, and there will be no further talk of execution.  

So Jesus is stripped and stretched against a pillar, or bent over a low post, his hands tied, so that he has no means of defending himself. The instrument of torture is a sort of cat-o'-nine-tails, with bits of iron and bone attached to the ends of the thongs.  The blows cut the skin and draw a lot of blood.  (Actually, in these sort of floggings, the victim frequently dies in the midst of the operation because of exposed organs and blood loss.)  

The flogging does not mollify the crowd.  They cry out in unison, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"--a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection and murder. Pilate addresses them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"  A third time he says to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death.  I will therefore punish and release him."  But they are urgent, demanding that he be crucified. And their voices prevail.  Pilate releases the man who  was in prison for insurrection and murder, but for whom the people asked—and 'he delivers Jesus over to their will.’  Luke 23

Christine