26. Mark 15:6-10
Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.
There are two ways to approach Pontius Pilate’s role in Jesus’ Passion. The first is fairly traditional. Ah, how much Pilate would like to get out of this one, we imagine. Because Pilate’s in a corner. He can do what is right, or he can do what is expedient. He suspects Jesus has done nothing wrong, that he is the target of his adversaries. By all measures of morality, he should therefore release Jesus.
But that would have consequences. He must live with Jesus’ opponents. For how long, he doesn’t know, but he will see them again, and again, and again. And so there is great motive to go through with their wish and execute this would-be king and Messiah. Pilate, from this point of view, is stuck, when all of a sudden it comes to him. There is a custom, that at these high holy days – for the masses, at least, if not for him – he can release one prisoner for the crowd. As death passed over the Israelites once before, so now he, rather than their God, can force death to pass over one of their own.
Surely this is the answer, Pilate may have thought, and then immediately calls for Barabbas. A murderer, a zealot, a leader of treasonous rebels, Barabbas is the one Pilate would like to see dead, and he’s pretty confident he will. Surely the crowd would not prefer this one to Jesus, their miracle-working rabbi.
Just how much Pilate would like to get out of this one, of course, is a matter of debate. Another way to read this scene is to view Pilate not as torn between what is right and what is easy at all, but rather to recognize that Pilate has been here before and knows he will be again. Perhaps he is even bored. Yes, he knows there is more afoot here than meets the eye, that the religious authorities are jealous of Jesus. But what is that to him? His job is to enforce Roman rule, and that he will do, even if it means the execution of this rabbi. What is one more life to him?
And then the crowds interfere, reminding him of their custom to release one prisoner. Fine. He’ll make a contest of it. Barabbas, the murdering zealot, or Jesus, the one causing so much trouble in the Temple. Both deserve to die, as far as he’s concerned. Let’s see which one does.
How do we decide among these interpretations? One of the keys to reading Scripture is to recognize that there are details – things the author tells us and therefore must guide our interpreation – and gaps – things the author leaves out and we are free to fill in as we imagine. Both readings hug the details and fill in the gaps. Which one is right?
I love questions like this – they’re endlessly intriguing. And I hope you do, too. But sometimes I wonder how much they matter. Because, finally, wherever we come down on the character of Pontius Pilate, yet Jesus is still about to die. And we confess it is for us…and Pilate…and the religious authorities…and Barabbas. Maybe that’s what really matters.
Prayer: Dear God, keep our eyes fastened on Jesus. Draw us into this story, invite us to wonder and worry about its characters. But, ultimately, keep our eyes fastened on Jesus, that we may see your love for the world poured out in and through him. In Jesus name, Amen.
Post Image from The Brick Testament.
I love how you end this piece with questions about your questions.