Pilate's Dilemma (part 3 of 3)

We must disabuse ourselves of the idea that Jesus was crucified between two common criminals or “thieves.”  Crucifixion would not be employed for something so relatively benign as thievery.  Crucifixion was designed and employed to remind subject people of their place in the world.  Barabbas too was more than a thief.  Barabbas had been arrested and was being held for insurrection.  It is quite likely that Jesus, who is now being accused of an insurrection of His own, is taking the cross that had been intended for Barabbas, and is crucified along with Barabbas’ cohorts.  Ironically, as an insurrectionist, Barabbas was actively agitating against Rome, most likely doing so by inciting the people of Israel to a violent revolution in which he himself had already taken up arms.  Given the tide of a popular opinion in that day then, there is little wonder that the people are reported to have requested the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 

So Barabbas was imprisoned and was most likely awaiting death, having been charged with the type of things that a great many of the people would have preferred to see Jesus doing, which was attempting to effect the overthrow of Roman rule through violent rebellion.  As had been made clear, Jesus was not doing that, so yes, though He had healed the sick and restored people to life, He had also stirred up hopes that He was apparently not going to take steps to fulfill, so “away with Him!  If He is going to fail to do what we expect our messiah to do, He is a failure and must suffer the fate of all failed messiahs.” “Crucify Him!” (27:22b)  “Crucify Him!”  (27:23b)

Pilate, obviously conflicted with the knowledge that Jesus had truly done nothing that would provide sufficient and legitimate grounds for the infliction of such a punishment, had said, “Why?  What has He done?” (27:23a); but again, the tide of popular opinion had turned.  The court of public opinion was speaking.  Ironically, there was always the under-current that Roman action against popular, potential messiah figures would induce rioting by the populace, as riot and revolution was the goal of those that rose to prominence under the messianic banner.  In this case, however, Pilate was seeing that the people were going to riot if he failed to crucify this particular, potential messiah (27:24) that was unwilling to induce rioting or the usual type of revolution.  This was a strange turn of events.  This group of people, in all of their expectations and fervor, were now demanding what can only be understood as an unjust execution by crucifixion, especially in the absence of evidence of violence and attempted overthrow that would normally render the judgment as obvious and necessary.

As we move forward in the story and conclude our study we find Barabbas released, with Jesus flogged and handed over to be crucified (27:26).  Having been handed over, “They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe around Him, and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on His head.  They put a staff in His right hand, and kneeling down before Him, they mocked Him: ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’” (27:28-29).  Such activities are fairly standard in accompaniment of crucifixions.  If someone was deluded enough to envision themselves as a king, then they would receive their coronation.  While we see rightfully see this as the mocking for which it was clearly intended, we can also understand the pragmatism on display here in this case. 

Pilate, like most politicians, was concerned for his position and his future, and imperial actions such as crucifixions were most likely accompanied by reports to his superiors in Rome.  So just to be on the safe side, seeing as how he had condemned this man to crucifixion for His claim to be a king in spite of his reservations because there was appeared to be no evidence ready at hand that suggested any harm to Rome or to Caesar in this statement, a rather standard coronation ceremony was conducted, with all the necessary mock royal emblems and honors.  Now, having been presented as a king, by and to Roman soldiers no less, this Jesus fellow could safely be sent to the cross; and Pilate, having “washed his hands before the crowd” (27:24b), could be done with the whole messy ordeal.