When it comes to Jesus – there is no fence sitting.
During the 10 years (26-36 CE) that Pontius Pilate served as “Royal Governor” – there were 32 riots. Three of them were “major riots” and major “sizeable events…”
The Jews hated the Romans. The Jews hated Pontius Pilate. They hated the insensitivity to their religion. They hated the taxes. They were constantly on the edge of rioting, especially the Galileans.
Jesus, you may remember was a Galilean…as were his disciples…
The Jews were fanatics about God. Jewish fanaticism was well documented. The Jews were absolutely committed to the Decalogue or the 10 Commandments. Especially the second commandment: idolatry was considered the worst of all sins. Carved or crafted graven images of God were absolutely and totally forbidden. In the year 26 CE shortly after becoming Governor, Pilate came riding into the city of Jerusalem with his troops bearing standards or flag poles. On the top of every flagpole was a carved image of Caesar. Busts of Caesar were placed everywhere in plain sight. Caesar was believed to be a God. The Jews were insulted and so a riot ensued.
The Jews came out by the thousands and for five days they staged a sit-in. They passively offered their necks to be sliced open. Pilate had several of them rounded up and brought before him and killed. In the end, their protest was effective and the “new kid on the block” backed down. But lives had been lost and people would not forget the event.
The second major riot occurred when Pilate wanted money to be taken from the Temple Treasury in order to build a pipeline to bring water into the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem had problems with water…an aqueduct was necessary. More taxation was not the answer. So Pilate went to the Temple Treasury, to the sacred money, to the money of Caiaphas and Annas, the High Priests.
Historians are unclear whether he intended to borrow the money or whether he outright stole it. Immediately, rioting began, the whole of the city went crazy.
This time, Pilate had troops dress as civilians that were secretly armed. They mingled with the crowds of rioters. When a sign was given, they bludgeoned the Jews with their weapons, clubbing and stabbing the Jews to death. The troops managed to kill so many that the rioters disbanded, not knowing who could be trusted…including the person standing right next to you.
The last “major riot” occurred in 36 CE…but don’t forget there were 29 other riots sprinkled in between. The final outbreak took place in Samaria. There, a Samaritan had said that he knew of the existence of hidden-sacred-Mosaic-relics on a mountain. The Jews went in mass to search for the Mosaic objects, only this time, they armed themselves for the journey. When Pilate heard they were armed – he had his horsemen attack and kill the essentially defenseless Jews. It was a bloodbath and a slaughter of innocent people, again.
Pilate was sick of his assignment, sick of the land, the people, their religion, the crowds, their holy days, their constant bickering and complaining, their threats…and now it was Passover time again.
Pilate, his wife, and 600 well armed and well trained soldiers marched, with another 600 horses back into the city. It was estimated that two-to-three million people would be jammed and crammed into Jerusalem. Like sardines, they were.
First thing in the morning, Annas and Caiaphas, the High Priests and a large mob of shouting, yelling, shrieking Jews who were bent on rioting demanded an audience to be seen. With them, was one Jesus of Nazareth, to be handed over into Roman custody!
This Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be a king, forbid the people, to pay taxes to Rome and if you are a friend of Caesar “you had better take care” of this revolutionary, seditionist and anarchist. More threats and another angry crowd…
What was Pilate to do? The scripture says, in order to avoid a riot, Pilate condemned Jesus to death.
Pilate was caught in the middle. He was one of those people who wanted to remain neutral. He didn’t want to be involved. He was neither for Jesus nor against Jesus. He merely wanted to save his own skin and maintain his position…and the peace.
When it comes to Jesus there is no fence sitting. You are either for him or you are not. You cannot be neutral on this one. You cannot be wishy-washy. It is either all or it is nothing.
Sometimes there is no middle ground.
Amen.