Priests Wanted Peace
There were many motives involved in the wrongful conviction of Jesus. Throughout the whole process which leads to the execution of the only completely innocent man to ever be killed, we find that fear was driving everyone to kill him.
What is it the priests feared? Many claim they feared only to lose their own status and that is certainly reflected in their plotting. However, they also feared the loss of their nation to the Romans.
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”
John 11:48-50
The priests had negotiated an uneasy alliance with the Romans. They were a conquered nation, but were allowed to carry on in relative liberty as long as the Jewish leaders were able to keep the people from doing anything to rid themselves of Roman rule.
With Jesus becoming an important figure in Israel and many treating him as a king, the priests were concerned that Rome would see such support for a king other than Caesar as cause to crack down on Israel.
They believed they served the nation by ending the life of this rising star before he became another rebel that would draw the Roman military down on the nation.
The Pilate Follows the Masses
Once the priests delivered Jesus over to Pilate, it becomes his job to examine him according to the charges. At first, he starts with the accusation the priests appear to be raising against him, asking Jesus if he believes himself to be the King of the Jews.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
John 18:33-38a
It quickly becomes apparent that Jesus had no intention of leading a revolt against Rome. Pilate realizes that the charges are malicious and finds no fault. Initially, he attempts to make the decision Herod’s, because he found out Jesus was from his jurisdiction. However, the priests are not satisfied. Pilate than suggests Jesus be beaten and released. Not even that satisfies them.
In one last attempt to release him, he offers the people a choice which should really have been no choice at all.
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 18:38b-40
Barabbas was not simply a man with sticky fingers, however. In Mark 15 and Luke 23 we see that he had participated in a rebellion in which people were killed. This was effectively a looting rioter who had actually rebelled against Rome in a way that had left people dead.
He was certainly closer to guilty of trying to cast off Rome that Jesus ever was! Clearly, if the people were concerned with the harm a person in rebellion to Rome could cause, they’d rather see Barabbas found guilty right? Yet the masses cry out to release the murdering rebel rather than Jesus.
The People Followed the Leaders
The priests feared that if Jesus was allowed to continue, the people would follow him even into crowning him king. How did we get from there to this point, where the people are calling for the release of Barabbas and the death of Jesus?!
In Mark’s gospel, he gives this key detail.
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.
Mark 15:11
When it was popular to throw palm branches before Jesus and give him the royal treatment, this is what people show up for. However, their leaders seemingly found no difficulty turning the masses against him either. After all, they have a lot of power in the culture. There’s serious social pressure in agreeing with the priests. More, even, than getting caught up in a celebration, perhaps. Apparently, enough to convince many to call for innocent blood.
Circle of Fear
The people, the priests, and Pilate were all trapped in a downward spiral of fear. The priests feared what Rome would do if Jesus was left alive and so accused him, the people feared the authority of the priests and so went along with it even to demanding blood, and Pilate (who represented the Rome so feared by the priests) feared the people enough to execute him anyway.
There was nobody bold enough to break through the fear and so each of them did things contrary to what they knew to be just or even rational to appease the social pressures exerted on them by others. They all had their excuses for why they had to do it anyway. It was the “pragmatic” thing.
This is why Christians must live a life of boldness. By his death and resurrection, Christ freed us from the fear of men. We have been called to a life of following his commands no matter how the world may judge us. In fact, he promises the world will judge us harshly for doing good. The most unjust act ever committed (and most horrible actions taken in all of history) were justified on the grounds that the masses, the leaders, or the “greater good” demands it.
Only by fearing God can we rise above the fears that drive these actions and do what is just and right.
