The U.S. wields substantial economic and military power, and U.S. presidents are authorized to use this power to defend our nation and its constitution.
Since taking office on January 20, the current president has signed over 100 Executive Orders, several of which have been contested in the courts as unconstitutional. Many seem to be bellwether signals that are creating fear and uncertainty about our future.
Ignoring the advice of experts, we’re now in the midst of a global trade war with every country except Russia. The markets have plummeted after dismantling centuries of investment in goodwill and trust of the U.S. by the rest of the world.
Anyone who is in the U.S. legally but not a citizen is understandably fearful to speak out in opposition to the administration and risk arrest and transfer to a foreign prison without due process. Many fear that free speech is at risk for all Americans.
Numerous clergy and religious leaders defend and support the current administration’s decisions and policies. Their support implies that our country is on a biblically defensible course. But is it?
Are our country’s policies consistent with the teachings of Jesus, or are we more in harmony with the numerous characters who conspired to put Jesus to death?
There were plenty of people who conspired to kill Jesus. The list of suspects is large, including Herod, the people of Nazareth, the clergy, and the disciple Judas. They all had motives to kill Jesus, but none of them is the guilty party in the gospel story. Only one person had the means. Ultimately, it was Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who decided Jesus would die on the cross.
The reality is that none of the Jewish enemies of Jesus had the power to put Jesus to death on the cross. Even though John’s gospel refers to persons who opposed Jesus as “the Jews,” John mostly uses this term to refer to religious leaders specifically. We sometimes forget Jesus is Jewish, and in the beginning of the Christian faith, nearly all of the followers of Jesus were Jewish.
As the gospel spread, the church moved further away from its Jewish roots. Several aspiring leaders appealed to Roman citizens and authorities by blaming Jews for Jesus’ death. As a result, Christians often blamed all Jews for the death of Jesus. The effect was to virtually erase the Jewishness of Jesus.
But even worse, blaming Jews for the death of Jesus led to widespread persecution of people of Jewish descent. The holocaust of the 20th century was a continuation of Christian authorities committing genocide against Jews.
As we confront and confess our violent history, it’s important to remember the Jews who wanted Jesus dead were mostly members of a wealthy, powerful elite who felt threatened by Jesus but did not have the power to put Jesus on the cross.
Pontius Pilate is a mysterious figure. We don’t know where Pilate came from or what he was doing before he became governor of Judea. However, there are lots of made-up stories about Pilate’s early years, invented hundreds of years after the gospels were written.
Historians don’t agree whether Pilate was an effective governor or ineffective. But there is consensus on one thing. Pilate was brutal and had a habit of provoking the Jews.
For example, Pilate once brought flags bearing Caesar’s image into Jerusalem. But even more provocative, he later had golden shields proclaiming the emperor’s divinity mounted on the walls of the royal palace. Pilate’s insensitivity often led to protests that were met with violence.
The gospels portray Pilate as reluctant to put Jesus to death. He gives the people an opportunity to vote for His freedom. On the other hand, Pilate rarely hesitated to order the execution of Jewish prisoners. It’s possible that the gospel emphasis on Pilate’s reluctance may be more theological than historical. Nevertheless, it’s likely Pilate preferred not to upset the crowds who cheered Jesus when He entered the city and gathered in large numbers to hear Him speak in the temple.
So why did Pilate choose to have Jesus executed?
Perhaps the sign Pilate had placed over Jesus’ head offers a clue. The sign read, “King of the Jews.” The chief priests tried to convince Pilate to change the wording to, “This man claimed to be the king of the Jews,” but Pilate refused.
Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
John 19:16-22
It seems that Pilate didn’t really care about truth, falsehood, guilt, or innocence. What Pilate understood was terror and intimidation. Pilate was fond of reminding the Jews that he held the power of life or death. Should he be sufficiently provoked, Pilate could order the death of everyone in Jerusalem.
Jesus’ execution was another reminder that Pilate represented the Roman Empire. What if the real villain is the empire?
If you recall, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem because of an Executive Order signed by Caesar Augustus. This led to Herod trying to kill Jesus.
Is it possible that the primary enemy Jesus came to face was any power where people dominate one another? In other words, Jesus came to bring another Way. Jesus came to show us that healing comes from love. And love is more powerful than empire because love would rather die than kill. Jesus shows us a power that would rather serve than command, a power that would rather inspire than dictate.
Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, revealed that while the empires of this world may wield the power of death, without love, we can never know the power that leads to Life.
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Pastor Tommy
Our series was inspired by The Reverend Jeremy Peters of Court Street United Methodist Church, Flint, Michigan, in collaboration with several United Methodist Pastors serving the Flint area. Pastor Jeremy wrote some of the content.