Links:
Crucify Him!
The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus
Texts:
John 18;12-42,ch.19; Matthew 26:47–27:53; Mark 14:43-15:42; Luke 22:47-23:55.
The Setting:
All four Gospels record the arrest of Jesus, his trial, the verdict, the crucifixion and his burial. Caiaphas, the High Priest of the Temple and Jewish leaders felt justified in arresting Jesus. It was their belief that as the so-called Messiah he was preparing a rebellion. Caiaphas and the Council had agreed to put Jesus to death. Jesus was silent against his accusors questions. Finally Caiaphas said “You must tell us the truth. Are you the Messiah, the Son of God”. Jesus replied “Yes I am”. Tearing his robes, Caiaphas shouted “You heard him claim to be God! What is your decision?” They all agreed that he should be put to death. The next morning the Council, the Chief Priest and teachers of Jewish Law had Jesus tied up and led to Pilate, the Governor of the Province, to pass judgement.
Retelling the story:
What follows is a retelling based on the Biblical narrative. It is a composite rendering based on the accounts in all four Gospels and is an imagined creative reflection.
Rachel reflects:
As I opened my door Esther rushed in shouting breathlessly “Hurry! They have arrested the Teacher Jesus. Caiaphas has sent him to Pilate to be tried. We’ve got to go. Hurry!”. I picked up my shawl, took one look to make sure that Jacob was with our sleeping son, and ran to keep up with Esther. The sounds in the distance were ominous. “What happened?” I shouted.
Esther filled me in. When Caiaphas’ soldiers arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples and the group of women who had been with him, had fled. Esther and a few women had decided to find the disciples. They had found Peter sitting dejectedly in the court yard of the Palace. He looked as if he had been crying. He said that a servant girl had recognised him as one of the men who had been with Jesus. Peter had denied knowing Jesus just as dawn broke.
We had reached the outskirts of Pilate’s Palace by then. Jesus was being questioned while some of the Priests were encouraging the crowd outside to shout and accuse Jesus. We saw Pilate appear. He had Jesus and the terrorist Barabbas on either side of him. I watched as Pilate asked “Which of these two men should be released?” A cry went up. “ Barabbas! Barabbas!” I couldn’t believe it. The angry crowd shouted “Nail him to a cross!” I was shaking. An innocent man was being condemned to death in the cruellest possible way.
I would have turned back then. But the frenzied crowd kept pushing us forward in the direction of Golgotha where crucifixions were held. Jesus was being whipped. A thorny circle of twigs was pressed into his head. Jesus could barely drag the wooden cross that was laid on his shoulders.
Esther was the first to spot Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary and a few other disciples watching the terrible events taking place. Jesus was then nailed to the cross and hoisted up. Two unnamed thieves were also on crosses. We heard Jesus calling on God his Father to forgive the crowd and the criminals. Jesus’ mother Mary was being supported by two disciples. Jesus looked at her and gave her into the protection of a disciple. By now the sky was darkening. The crowd was beginning to grow quiet. Something unusual was happening. We heard Jesus call out to God again. It was a desolate cry. He wanted water to drink. A soldier gave him a sponge dipped in wine. His battered and bleeding body collapsed. It looked as if his life had ended. With a final cry Jesus committed his spirit to his Father and died. We heard a Roman Officer who was standing in front of the cross say “This man really was the Son of God!”
It was all over. Supporting each other Esther and I walked back home. The events I had witnessed will stay with me forever. An innocent man had been crucified.
Ponder:
How would you justify or explain the violence that surrounds the crucifixion, to a person who has been a victim of violence today?