22. in the shadow of the cross, part 2

8/12/2019 22. in the Shadow of the Cross, Part 2

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Lesson #22In the Shadow of the Cross,

Part 2: The Trial(Matthew 26: 57 27: 26)


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In Lesson #22 key members of the Sanhedrin find Jesus guilty of

blasphemy and sentence him to death. Although the Jews are free

under Roman rule to exercise their own religious laws and customs,

they are not free to carry out capital punishment: that is the exclusive

purview of the Roman government.

The Jewish leaders therefore bring Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the RomanPrefect who has taken up residence in the Antonia Fortress during

Passover, along with his troops, keeping a watchful eye on the crowds

and maintaining security.

As a Roman Prefect, Pilate has four primary responsibilities: 1)

governance; 2) collecting taxes; 3) maintaining law and order; and 4)exercising criminal and civil judicial functions.


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Wanting a death sentence, the Jewish leaders bring Jesus before Pilate

and accuse him not of blasphemy (for blasphemy is not a capitaloffense under Roman law), but of treason, claiming to be a king: that is

a capital offense.

Like Judas, Pontius Pilate is a far more complex person than often

thought. In this lesson we not only follow the trial itself, but we lay afoundation to explore Pilates motives and actions as a Roman Prefect.


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Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Antonia Fortress

Robinsons ArchSouthern Steps

Temple

Home of Caiaphus


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Robinsons Arch

Stones from the burnt Templelying on the 1stcentury western wall walkway


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Wohl Archaeological Museum, Jerusalem (Jewish Quarter).

Remains of the home of a wealthy Jewish family, burnt in A.D. 70.

Mikveh Mosaic flooring


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Wohl Archaeological Museum, Jerusalem (Jewish Quarter).

Model of the reconstructed home. The outer courtyard measures 27 x 27.


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Matthias Stom. Christ before the High Priest(oil on canvas), c. 1633.

Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin.


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Caravaggio. The Denial of St. Peter (oil on canvas), c. 1610.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.


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Antonia Fortress

Southern Steps

Temple


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Antonio Ciseri. Ecco Homo *Behold the Man+ (oil on canvas), 1871.

Gallery of Modern Art, Florence.


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Giotto. Pontius Pilate, detail from Mocking Christ (fresco), 1305.

Scrovegni Chapel (south wall), Padua, Italy.

Who Is Pontius Pilate?


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Pontius Pilate was the 5thPrefect of Judea, serving under the Emperor Tiberias

from A.D. 26-36.

The inscription on the Pilate Stone discovered at Caesarea Maritima in 1961

validates his historicity.

Pilate was an equestrian of the Pontii family and succeeded Valerius Gratus as

Prefect.

In all four Gospels Pilate defends Jesus, acquiescing to Jesus execution only

when a riot is imminent, washing his hands of any responsibility.

According to Josephus, Pilate was ordered back to Rome after using excessive

force in quelling a Samaritan uprising, arriving in Rome shortly after Tiberius

death on 16 March 37.

According to the Church historian Eusebius (c. 260-340), Pilate was exiled to

Gaul by Caligula (A.D. 37-41) where he committed suicide.In the Divine Comedy, Dante places Pilate in the vestibule of hell, not in hell

proper: I saw the shade of the one who must have been/the coward who had

made the great refusal (Inferno, III, 59-60).


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Pilate Stone discovered in 1961 during excavations of the theater at Caesarea

Maritima (Israel Museum, Jerusalem). The inscription reads: To the DivineAugusti

[this] Tiberieum . . . Pontius Pilate . . . prefect of Judea . . . has dedicated . . .



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Caiaphus Ossuary *bone box+, discovered in a burial cave in southern Jerusalem, 1990.

It held the bones of a 60-year old man. Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

InscriptionJoseph, son of Caiaphus


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And the whole people said in reply, His blood be

upon us and upon our children

(Matthew 27: 25).

DECLARATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS

NOSTRA AETATE *In Our Age+October 28, 1965

True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the

death of Christ; still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all

the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today.

Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be

presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy

Scriptures.

[Passed at the 2ndVatican Council by a vote of the bishops, 2281 to 88.]


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1. What did Jesus say before the Sanhedrin to ensure its

guilty verdict for blasphemy?

2. In the courtyard of the High Priest, Peter denies Jesus

three times. Why?

3. Blasphemy is a capital offense under Mosaic Law, but

the Jews are not permitted to carry out capital

punishment, so they take Jesus to the Roman Prefect,

Pontius Pilate, who can put Jesus to death. Of what

crime do they accuse Jesus?

4. Although Pontius Pilate knows that Jesus has done

nothing deserving of death, Pilate acquiesces to thedemands of the crowd. Why?

4. Ultimately, who is responsible for Jesus crucifixion and

death?


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Copyright 2014 by William C. Creasy

All rights reserved. No part of this courseaudio, video,

photography, maps, timelines or other mediamay be

reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic

or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any

information storage or retrieval devices without permission in

writing or a licensing agreement from the copyright holder.

22. in the shadow of the cross, part 2

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