Hard Choices
Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:15-26
Pilate’s role in the crucifixion of Jesus is an interesting case study in moral choosing. The decision of whether or not to crucify Christ was solely his. Of course, I understand that Jesus pushed that back onto the sovereign will and plan of God. I am speaking here from an earthly perspective. I want to do so because I think we can gain wisdom and understand ourselves better and make better choices when it counts.
Pilate had every reason to release Jesus uncondemned. As he weighed his decision about what to do with Jesus, consider all the reasons he had to set Jesus free:
1. He knew Jesus was innocent. In this text that comes out when he asks the crowd, “Why? What evil has he done?”
2. Pilate knew the motive of Jesus’ accusers was envy, not morality (verse 18). He knew this was an injustice.
3. Pilate’s wife warned him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” What she dreamed or how that caused her to suffer we are left to wonder. What is important is she recognizes Jesus as righteous. When she says, “Have nothing to do with” him, I believe she means let him go and don’t get involved in putting him to death.
Pilate had the law, his conscience, and the witness of his wife all telling him to release Jesus. What kept him from doing so? After all, he was the one in charge. He had the power of Rome to back him up. Political power is a tenuous thing. It only works when the people cooperate with it. Yes, it can be and often is imposed by tyranny. But even then, it requires constant manipulation and force to keep control. Pilate was faced with a potential uprising. At least that is how he saw it at that moment. He saw a riot coming (verse 24), and that was a threat to his hold on power.
To resolve the situation Pilate tried political manipulation. He thought he could get cute and use a tradition to satisfy his conscience and the mob’s blood lust at the same time. Give them a choice between Jesus and Barabbas. Surely, Pilate believed they would choose to have Jesus released. This failed miserably. He not only ended up having Jesus executed, but he also had to release a notorious criminal like he was an innocent man.
Pilate was trapped. Either do what he knew was right or do what he knew was wrong. It was a binary choice. He chose to do what he knew was unjust and unrighteous. He did so to preserve his position and power and to calm the angry mob.
He still tried to relieve himself of responsibility for his actions. He washed his hands and tried to put it off on the gathered crowd. The truth is that didn’t absolve him of his guilt. The final decision rested in his hands and he chose the path of injustice.
We will likely come face to face with tough choices in life. They will be tough, not because the right and righteous things are unclear, but tough because doing the right thing could be personally costly. We might be tempted to figure a way to be cute with the truth. We might try to do the right thing by manipulating those who want us to do the wrong thing into letting us do what we know is right. A Barabbas or Jesus kind of thing. Don’t do it.
Just do what is right. And accept whatever consequences that might bring. If you try to save your life, you will lose it. If you go ahead and lose your life (do the right thing and accept the consequences for it) you will find it. You will find it in that you will have your integrity intact, you will be at peace within your own heart, and you will know that God is pleased with you even if the crowd isn’t.
