Antonio Ciseri’s depiction of Pontius Pilate (Wikimedia Commons)
What did the Romans have to do to kill Jesus on Good Friday?
Nothing.
They were pawns in God’s hand.
That’s not exactly true. They had to play along with Pontius Pilate, who was manipulated by the High Priest Caiaphas and his minions–men who decided it was better that one man should die (Jesus) than they lose power.
At least they thought they had decided that.
In actuality, the events of Jesus’ last week on earth were orchestrated according to prophecies made long before. Jesus told his disciples what would happen.
They didn’t like hearing Jesus had no plans to be an earthly king and so while they heard what Jesus said (they will take and kill me and three days later I will be raised from the dead), they didn’t want to believe it.
It’s all there in the Bible–prophecies in the Old Testament, Jesus fulfilling them in the New Testament.
For Christians, Good Friday is the major stop in the holy week between Jesus Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and his glorious resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday.
Many of us spend “passion week” reviewing Jesus’ last days on earth in human form.
There’s an interesting story that happened prior to that week that often gets overlooked but which is pertinent.
I shake my head every time I read it.
You remember–Lazarus of Bethany raised from the dead?
Jesus resurrects Lazarus by Karl Isakson (Wikimedia Commons; omkonst.com)
It’s such a dramatic moment, and Jesus himself reminds Lazarus’ sister Mary that Jesus’ delay in getting to Lazarus’ sickbed had everything to do with God being glorified.
Jews from Jerusalem had come the seven miles to see what Jesus would do. A large crowd gathered around the tomb–where Lazarus had laid for three days, and decay would have set in.
Jesus ordered the large stone blocking the tomb to be rolled away. People worried about the possible smell, but they moved the stone.
“Lazarus, come forth!” Jesus called.
Lazarus stumbled out. Alive. Raised from the dead.
The Scriptures record a variety of responses to that resurrection. His sisters Mary and Martha were joyful. So was Jesus.
The ruling Jews, however, had a different response. From the text John 11:45:
Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
The High Priest Caiaphas, a crafty politician, had the last word:
“You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
From that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
Giotto’s depiction of Jesus before Caiaphas from Luke 22 (Wikimedia Commons)
I always wonder what they were thinking. They just saw Jesus call a man back to life who had died.
How did they think they would kill Jesus himself if he had such power?
Obviously, the Pharisees weren’t thinking.
God sent Jesus to earth to “give himself up to death,” for the sins of the world. Christian theology teaches us that he was the “Lamb of God,” as John the Baptist pointed out, “come to take away the sins of the world.”
I can’t explain why God put the world into this order, but this is what he required.
Old Testament prophets foretold Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. Some Bible scholars believe there are more than 300. You can review a list of forty-four of them here.
Jesus came to die. If the Romans hadn’t done it, someone else would have. The point is, Jesus chose to go through the crucifixion. He could have called those legions of angels down at any moment to save him–but to do so would have negated the reason he was born.
God sent him as savior of the world–Jesus had to die to do that.
Sometimes I feel sorry for the Romans and the Pharisees and High Priest Caiaphas. Even Judas. God used them to accomplish his will.
(Some traditions believe Pontius Pilate and his wife had a happier ending).
Regardless, no one really killed Jesus. Jesus willingly gave himself up to die.
Could anyone really kill Jesus? Click to Tweet
Kill Jesus? With Lazarus still walking around? Impossible! Click to Tweet
How did they think they would kill Jesus himself if he had such power? Click to Tweet
What were the Pharisees thinking, indeed?
One possibility is that they felt He was harnessing another form of supernatural power, which would have made Him very dangerous in their eyes. The tribes that inhabited what is now Saudi Arabia believed in Djinn, and it’s quite likely that the Jewish hierarchy was well acquainted with the practice and the supposed powers that could be thereby derived.
A mortal who could call on the supernatural could indeed build a following, and it may be that their fears would be more understandable in that light.
The tragedy – or glory – is that they couldn’t make the leap that would have allowed them to recognize Jesus as part of the truine Godhead.
I do feel sorry for the Romans, the Pharisees, and for Judas. I think it’s a must for a Christian, to feel an empathy for these people who had the Answer before them – and missed it in the most dreadful way.
We are not above them, after all. Each of crucifies Christ in our own way, when we turn away from His teaching in pride, cruelty, or lust. He place our sin on His head, another crown of thorns.
Good post, Michelle. Thank you for writing it!
I’m glad I’m not the only one to feel some sympathy for the well-meaning, when they weren’t being ridiculous, authorities. Their job really was to protect the faith. Though it also was to understand the Scriptures–a good warning/reminder for the rest of us.
Thanks, chum! 🙂
Oh, darn,
Triune, not truine!
🙂
Apple spelling, I’m sure . . .