Crucify
Him!
Words to the Cross
Psalm
32:1-7, Mark 15:1-15
March
16, 2014
Grace
Presbyterian Church
Rev.
Dr. Richard E. Miller
A Stranger in Town The year was 1960. The story unfolds as
follows. A stranger named Ed Sawyer comes to Mayberry. To everyone’s surprise
and astonishment, Ed knows everyone’s names. He knows about Floyd the Barber’s
rheumatism, he knows the names of the twin babies, and is in love with Lucy
Matthews whom he’s never met. He asks for a specific room number at the hotel
because it had been freshly painted.
Scared
and suspicious paranoia sets in. “Can’t trust a fellow like that, he knows too
much.” Maybe he’s a spy. In a matter of a few hours, a mob gathers to run the
stranger out of town. Of course Andy Griffith calms them all down and the
stranger is welcomed.
Words
to the Cross
What has this got to do Lent and the sermon title, “Crucify Him!”?
Hopefully the connection will become clear in a few minutes. I’d like to start
by asking us to project ourselves back in time to eavesdrop on the many
conversations that were taking place from the moment Jesus was arrested in the
Garden of Gethsemane, throughout his trials, and during his crucifixion.
First
of all, we hear Jesus saying many things
to many people. For instance, he is talking to Judas, to Peter, to the crowds,
to the high priest and to to Pilate. And while hanging on the cross, he is
making seven separate statements, known today as the "Seven last words
from the cross."
Second,
present and offering him their emotional support are such loved ones as his
mother, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and his disciples. Filled with feelings of
helplessness and anguish, they are talking constantly with each other
throughout Jesus’ arrest, trial, scourging and crucifixion. Often they are
talking with Jesus himself.
Then,
representing the official religious establishment, an assortment of priests,
scribes and elders from the Jerusalem temple are conversing about what to do
with Jesus..
We
hear the soldiers and officers of the Roman army talking about their jobs and
families.
We
listen to the two thieves hanging on crosses on each side of Jesus who are
talking between themselves and to Jesus directly.
And
we listen to ordinary bystanders commenting about the crucifixion as they
gathered just to watch the spectacle.
This
morning let’s look a bit more closely at the crowd looking at Jesus and crying
out to Pilate, “Crucify Him!”
The
Sanhedrin A little background that led up to the cry “Crucify Him”
might prove helpful. It all started when the Great Sanhedrin, the supreme court
of the Jews, interrogated Jesus. This was a court of seventy-one men which
included representatives from the Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes and elders. The
Sanhedrin itself was presided over by the High Priest.
Jesus
was brought before this powerful, religious body and asked directly by the High
Priest “Are you the Christ, the Son of
the Blessed One?” Jesus replied, “I
am, and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,'
and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'"” This caused the the High
Priest to tear his clothes and say, "Why
do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your
decision?" All of them condemned him as deserving death.” [Mark
14:61-64] And so they began to spit on him. Then they blindfolded him and
struck him.
Only Romans Could Crucify However, there was just one problem. The Jews
could not execute anyone. (John 18:31b) Only the Roman government had “Jus
gladii,” the “right of the sword,” and the legal right to execute someone for a
capital offense. At the same time, the Jews knew that the Roman court would
never try Jesus on a religious charge. It had to be a political crime. So they
accused Jesus of perverting the people, saying that he forbid them to give
tribute to Caesar. They also said that Jesus had called himself a king and was
planning to overthrow the government. (Luke 23:1-2). And so Jesus, having been
charged with these political crimes, was brought to trial before the Roman
Governor, Pilate.
The
Trial At the trial, two men appeared before Pilate to be tried:
Jesus and a man called Barabbas. We know very little about Barabbas except that
he was a big time criminal. He was what was called a brigand, one who lives by
robbery and plunder, a bandit and murderer. He was a man of violence in every
way.
It
was the custom to release one prisoner at time of Passover. Pilate gave the
crowd the choice of releasing either Jesus, whom Pilate knew was innocent, or
Barabbas, a known murderer. Barclay states that the crowd was stacked with a
very vocal group of friends of Barabbas.
The
scriptures tell us what happened next. “When they saw the possibility that
Jesus might be released and not Barabbas they went mad.” And they went into a
mad frenzy shouting, “Crucify him!
Crucify him!”
Why
would a crowed release a murderer and demand the crucifixion of an innocent
man? Several reasons can be given.
First
of all, since the chief priests and elders were the religious and social
leaders of the day, it would have been very difficult for the crowd to go
against their wishes. The word of the priests and elders carried great power
and authority in their lives. Although Pilate felt that the things Jesus had
done or said didn’t warrant death by crucifixion, and although his wife had
said to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,” Pilate could sense
that he had a riot on his hand so said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood, see
to it yourselves.”
Second,
it is likely that the crowd was disappointed that Jesus hadn’t met their expectations
as the Messiah. When he had entered Jerusalem the Sunday before, they were so
excited. They cried out “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord.” They then thought that Jesus would rise up, form an army, and overthrow
the Roman government. But he didn’t do that. Thus he must be a fraud.
Third,
the reaction of the crowd was a great example of how powerful crowd psychology
can be. As just noted, It can cause people to go into a mad frenzy and thereby
do and say things they never would do alone.
Over the years we can find many examples
of crowd behavior, such as lynchings of slaves, the salem witch trials, and
peer pressure in school to break the rules. A great example was the episode of
Andy Griffith that I mentioned earlier.
On October 30, 1938,
Orson Welles caused over a million listeners to believe that an actual invasion
from Mars was taking place and were so frightened, they panicked. They ran
around telling people they could smell poison gas and see lightning flashes in
the distance.
Hysteria
These are a few examples of crowd hysteria. During the trial of Jesus, the
emotional outbursts of a few fueled many others and all of them began acting in
a totally irrational way. As a result, the innocent Jesus was chosen to be
crucified.
Lawlessness
instead of Law
When
the crowd chose to release Barabbas, it chose lawlessness instead of law, the
law-breaker instead of the law-maker.
When
the crowd chose Barabbas, it chose to release a man of violence instead of the
Prince of Peace.
When
the crowd chose Barabbas, it chose to free a man of hatred instead of a man of
love. And Barabbas was one of the people Jesus died to save.
If We had been in that Crowd
It is so easy to read about the crucifixion and think of it almost like a fairy
tale that took place many years ago. We are separated from it by space and time
to the point that it has little impact on us personally. However, what if we
had been alive back then? How would we have responded to Pilate’s offer to
release Barabbas or Jesus?
Most
of us would say that if we’d been in that crowd, we’d have come to Jesus’
defense and never cried out “Crucify him!” Hopefully that is true. However, if
we’re honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that sometimes we are
guilty of responding to Jesus in the same ways. I say this because every single
day of our lives, there are many times when Jesus is on trial.
If
Jesus doesn’t meet our expectations and answer our prayers as we wish, we sometimes
turn our backs on him and ignore him.
Sometimes
we’re like the lady who said, “I’ve prayed to Jesus every day for seven days
and got no answer. Now I’m going to try swearing for seven days and see if that
works.”
By
the words we speak to one another, and by our actions throughout the day, we
cast our personal vote as to what to do with Jesus. We will either proclaim him
as Lord of our lives and bow down and worship him, or we will cry out by our
disobedience, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
That
is to say, because Christ died for our sins, whenever we hold resentments and refuse
to forgive, we are saying, “Crucify Jesus!”
Because
Christ died for our sins, whenever we seek revenge, we are saying “Crucify
him!”
Because
Christ died for our sins, whenever we cheat on exams or sacred covenants, we
are shouting, “Crucify him!”
And
because Christ died for our sins, whenever we exceed the moral, spiritual and
physical boundaries of behavior, our actions are shouting, “Crucify him!”
Thus,
in all of life, emotions of greed, lust, pride, revenge, and resentment will try
to control our emotions and make us shout “Crucify him, crucify him!”
However,
the good news is that with God’s strength, we can do what is honorable and just
and right. By every word we speak, and by every action we carry out, we can proclaim
Jesus as Lord of our lives.
A
fitting scripture to guide us in the remaining years of our life on this earth
is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans in which he said, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good
and acceptable and perfect.” [Romans 12:2 NRSV]
As
we leave here this morning, remember that Jesus is on trial in your life and by
everything you do and say. And each day you must decide what to do with him.
Will you be swayed by the crowd and destructive emotions and end up crucifying
him? Or will you remain steadfast and faithful, no matter what? The choice is
up to you. Amen.
Psalm
32:1-7 NRSV
Happy
are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose
sin is covered.
Happy
are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and
in whose spirit there is no deceit. While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For
day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my
strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Then
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and
I did not hide my iniquity;
I
said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
and
you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore
let all who are faithful
offer
prayer to you;
at
a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall
not reach them.
You
are a hiding-place for me;
you
preserve me from trouble;
you
surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
Mark 15:1-15 NRSV
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests
held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They
bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him,
"Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You say
so." Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him
again, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against
you." But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. 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.
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas
for them instead. Pilate spoke to them
again, "Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of
the Jews?" They shouted back,
"Crucify him!" Pilate asked
them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more,
"Crucify him!" So Pilate,
wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging
Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
