NOTES for Mar 15:1-15

Pilate’s trial is one of the most horrifying moments in the Gospel narrative. The fate of Jesus of Nazareth no longer depends at all on His teaching or on the Jewish authorities’ attitude toward Him. What He did and what He said no longer matters. Here the Lord confronts an impersonal machine created by people, built from the balance of their momentary interests and career calculations. Even the question of Pilate’s responsibility looks pale and not especially meaningful... And, of course, the incompatibility between God and this impersonal machine is striking. The behavior of everyone involved in the proceedings, except the Lord Jesus Himself, gives us a vivid example of what lack of freedom means. Even Pilate, who pretends that everything depends on his decision, is not free. His actions are determined by circumstances. The Son of God stands directly before him, yet he functions rather than lives. In a certain sense this is a highly instructive moment, because most of us participate, in one way or another, in the grim work of this social machine.