Crucify Him, March 23, 2014

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.