Criminals and Clergy
As we continue to consider Jesus's words, spoken to both the religious leaders standing beneath him and his fellow revolutionary on the cross beside him, I want to underscore the fact that both were at Golgotha that day for the same reason—pursuing change by violent means.
As I pointed out in my post entitled “A Word of Life in a Place of Death,” Jesus was and is the leader of a peaceful, nonviolent revolution. He teaches us to love our enemies, carry our oppressors pack a second mile, and treat our neighbors, whose beliefs or skin color are different from ours, with a love and grace equal to that which we bestow on ourselves and those like us. This is the kind of revolution that turns enemies into friends, oppressors into protectors, and neighbors into partners working with us to build safe and stable communities.
In contrast to Jesus’s peaceful revolution is the way of the religious leaders and the two criminals.
I previously pointed out that the Greek word used for the men crucified next to Jesus describes lawbreakers with political motives. These two men could easily have been Zealots like Jesus’s disciple, Simon, who, in spite of his violent approach to the evils of his world, Jesus chose to be on his inner team. I think it is safe to say that Simon’s worldview dramatically changed as he learned from Jesus. The same is true today for those whose eyes and hearts are open to the teachings of our Lord.
There are many in our world today leading violent revolutions. Some employ physical violence as they seek to promote change that benefits them and those like them. Others resort to emotional and psychological violence to achieve their goals. This is where we find the connection between the two revolutionaries on the crosses beside Jesus and the religious revolutionaries responsible for Jesus’s death.
After examining Jesus, the Roman Governor, Pilate, recognized his innocence. He also clearly perceived that it was out of envy that the Jewish leaders sought to kill him. But these religious revolutionaries and lawbreakers were savvy. They pulled the levers of power available to them as they pressured Pilate to do their bidding “You are no friend of Caesar if you let this man go,” they insisted. “We, on the other hand, have no king but Caesar.” - A bold lie that Pilate, being no fool, saw right through. Nevertheless, the Governor backed down and gave these religious rebels what they wanted.
In short, these duplicitous leaders one-upped Pilate. Further, they used their influence to manipulate the people who they sought to lead into a passionate bloodlust so that they cried out, “Give us Barabbas.” Those they led astray followed after the way of violence, which finds its root in the heart and results in incalculable harm, first to others and ultimately to those who willingly (and often, thoughtlessly) follow in that way.
This is why Jesus could say what he did as he carried his cross to Calvary - “Don’t weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children.”
Peacemakers and violent revolutionaries both pay a high price for the lives they choose. But in the end, only one group will keep their souls in the world in which we live.
In Christ,
Dan
John 19:12-16.
Matthew 27:18.
Luke 23:28.