Jesus' Trial Before Pilate

Trial before Pilate:
Bonaventure mentions Isaiah 53 “like a sheep is silent before his shearers” in this context. Of course, in John, Jesus was not silent at all, but had an interesting spiritual conversation with Pilate. It is this conversation, in John, that convinces Pilate that Jesus is innocent.

Bonaventure mentions the fault of “the Jews” of handing him over to Pilate, using John’s language. Of course, in the Middle Ages, “the Jews” meant all of the Jewish people, which John clearly did not mean. In all the gospels it is clear that the blame of Jesus’ death goes squarely on the priests and the Sanhedrin, and, in Matthew, the staunch supporters of the priests who would get up early in the morning for a trial at the priests’ word. But the Jewish people in general cannot be implicated in Jesus’ death. First of all, all the early church was Jewish. Secondly, the NT makes it clear that many Jewish people were faithful to Jesus—even on the council, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Aramathea. And many others do good to the church, even though they are rejected by the priests and council. This is one of the middle ages sorriest prejudices, and one glad to have the church leave behind.

However, the priests and council are certainly condemned for sending Jesus to Pilate. They wanted to see Jesus crucified—not just dead. They wanted Jesus hung in shame, outside the city, as a non-citizen. And they forced Pilate to condemn him to this, even though Pilate had declared him innocent. Pilate saw the political situation clearly, so he felt like he had to act as he did. But the priests knew exactly what they were doing. They knew how to get rid of enemies, no matter how righteous or just they are.

And it is this shameful death that Jesus needed himself. The crucifixion of Jesus wasn’t originally the priest’s idea—it was Jesus’. And this, exactly because it is the most shameful death, the one that put one outside the city, and that actually denied one’s citizenship in Israel. That is true, for the member of Israel is blessed, but the one hung is cursed by the law. Jesus had to be cursed to be put outside of Israel, no longer a part of the kingdom of God. In that way, when God blessed him, Jesus was free to begin a new kingdom of God, free from the law, free from the curse, free to follow the new law of love and repentance.

“And you, lost man, the cause of all this confusion and sorrow, how is it that you do not break down and weep?” –Bonaventure