Jesus' Choice: Matthew 27:11-26 - Sunday of the Passion

¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” ¹²But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. ¹³Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” ¹⁴But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

  ¹⁵Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. ¹⁶At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” ¹⁸For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. ¹⁹While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” ²⁰Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. ²¹The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

  ²⁴So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” ²⁵Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” ²⁶So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. (NRSV)

Dreaming under the palms….. by Bennilover.  Creative commons image on flickr

Which would you choose: Coke or Pepsi? Ford or Chevy? Windows or Apple? Cable or Satellite? Fox News or CNN? Should the toilet paper be hung over-hand or under-hand?

You have choices—but I bet you didn’t have to think very long about at least one of them—because the choice is clear.  You’re going to choose what you believe to be right, truthful, and best.  You may choose one because you despise the other.  I choose Apple because Windows always crashes.  I’m trying very hard to choose neither Coke nor Pepsi because they’re bad for your health.  And, everybody knows the toilet paper should always hand overhand!

So why would a crowd of people choose for Jesus Christ to die—a criminal named Jesus Barabbas to live?

It all begins when the religious authorities hand over Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the governor appointed by the Roman Emperor to rule over Judea.  Pilate questions Jesus regarding their accusations.  But Jesus gives to answer.  At this point, Pilate finds no fault with Jesus—and rightfully so, because Jesus is not a threat to him or the Emperor. 

At this point, he suspects that the religious authorities are trying to use him to get rid of Jesus.

So he tests his theory—because the time has come for him to release a political prisoner to the crowd, and he gives them a choice: the notorious Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus Christ. 

We know from the Gospels that Jesus Barabbas was jailed for leading an insurrection, and of murder.  This was likely a revolt of Jews against the Roman occupation, which were quite common in Pontius Pilate’s territory.  So to many, Barabbas would have been a kind of folk hero—a brave and valiant freedom fighter against the godless and brutal Roman regime.  

I should point out that it was definitely not in Pilate’s best interest to free this man.  Yet he is the man whom the religious leaders want set free.  And they stir up the crowds to the point that they are rioting to have Jesus Christ crucified.  So Pilate washes his hands, and gives the crowd permission to have their way with the man he knows (and his wife knows) is innocent.  Of course, we know how the story ends.

So why is it, then, that they choose for Jesus to die? 

Jesus was different.  He represented change.  Wealth, power, and privilege are meaningless.  Jesus befriended tax collectors, prostitutes, and misfits.  Jesus blessed the poor and meek.  Jesus taught people to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors.  And, most of all, Jesus establishes God’s Kingdom not through violence, force, and glorious battle (like Barabbas), but by bearing his cross.

Everybody here made choices (including Jesus).  Pilate needed to protect his administration and all the wealth and privilege that came with it.  The religious leaders had no problem killing Jesus to protect their enterprise that exploited God’s people for their own benefit. 

Jesus chooses suffering and death out of love for all people—including Pilate, the vicious religious leaders, the bloodthirsty soldiers; the hateful crowds, and us.  He will carry and die on his cross to show the world who he really is and what he is all about: a God who answers violence with peace; who answers hate with mercy; a God who participates in human suffering; a God who personally suffers the evil we do to each other; a God who takes our rejection upon himself and forgives; a God who can take the most vicious and horrific evils and create new life. 

This is what God wants you to see in Christ’s Passion.  Your challenge is to pay attention to the Gospel of Christ crucified because you and I live in a world where individual wealth, power, and privilege matter a great deal.  It is easy to get caught up in the chaos as we fight each other for what is right for ourselves and right by ourselves. It’s easy to listen only to voices that tell us what we want to hear—not thinking that what we’re hearing may not be truthful.    It’s easy to lose yourself in fights for what is meaningless in light of eternity.  At the end of the day, you are choosing Barabbas—and crucifying Jesus.

This week, you are invited to see the truth of God’s love for you revealed at the cross.  When you see the crucified Jesus, you will be changed.  You will see Christ’s self-giving and self-emptying love healing this world.  And, will be at the front lines to God’s kingdom as Christ’s self-giving and self-emptying love creates new life through you. 

Together with the crowds, the Centurions, and the lookers on you will say and believe: “This is truly God’s Son.”