Crucifixion Reconsidered

Gospel: John 18: 1 - 19: 42

Today's election day focuses on the person of Pilate, the one who ultimately decides the fate of Jesus.  Imagine this large room - the praetorium.  On one end of this vast room are the religious leaders asking for the death of Jesus and clemency for Barabbas.  On the other end of the room is Jesus who speaks of truth and a kingdom not of this world.  In between, walking from one to the other time and again is Pilate whose vote hangs in the balance.  

The religious leaders appeal to Pilate's vanity and desire for power: you are not a friend of Caesar if you let Jesus go.  Pilate understands this; he is Roman - pragmatic, utilitarian.  He does not understand Jesus at all - truth, what does that mean?  In the end, he votes to put Jesus to death, but with a twist: he gets the religious leaders to swear fealty to the Roman Empire, thereby putting them in a trap.  Jesus is merely a pawn in a chess match of power between religious and political leaders.

How many people in our world suffer and die as mere pawns in the quest for power by religious and political leaders? How often are we persuaded to join a rabid crowd, further pawns in this game of the powerful? The crucifixion replays itself a thousand times a day, and in a very real sense our sins have put Jesus to death - Jesus in the person of our suffering, exploited neighbor - the one we neglect, ignore, betray, deny, hand over to death for expediency sake.