The Trial of Jesus (Yeshua)

A cool wave of relief crossed through Caiaphas' mind. Finally! It looked like Yeshua bin Netzarim would soon be here, and he would have to face the questioning he should have long ago.

There was this upstart, up there in Galilee, preaching that worship of God didn't depend on the Temple - what was that he heard was said? - "The time is coming and now is, that true worshippers will not worship in Jerusalem." He'd said that several times. Typical Galilean way of thinking.

Yeshua took his office as Rabbi a bit too far as far as Caiaphas was concerned. For sure, those hicks in Galilee never were too friendly toward the priests and Zadokites. Many Jews in outlying districts had the same attitude, even the Essenes, who had an enclave right here in Jerusalem.

But they generally kept their crazy ideas to themselves - and, even though they gained a following, they were too far out - like, look at them!! - monasteries and living like that, vows of poverty and all that - they hadn't gained much of a following at all - and they didn't raise much of a ruckus when they came into Jerusalem for the holy days - they just kept to themselves mainly and didn't speak at all to us.

But this Yeshua! It's the fault of that crazy group up there in Galilee! They were Pharisees, or so they called themselves, but they were a very different brand of Pharisees. They were like the Pharisees here in Jerusalem, but radically different in many ways - and especially in virtually separating themselves from affairs here in Jerusalem. They had more contact with Damascus and that city's world-conscious view than they did with Jerusalem.

And they had virtually hand-picked this Yeshua! Found a woman who was pregnant at the right time where the child would be born near Yom Kippur and right around the great conjunction so the could tout him as Messiah - and of course named him Yeshua, as if he would lead people into a new "Promised Land". He was sharp - astute - learned the Torah well. The story was well-known about his questioning of the scribes when he was twelve years old. They taught him, sent him to school - had to have been in Damascus - brought him back, groomed him, made him a Rabbi.

And people flocked to him! They expected him to be Messiah. The tales abounded about his miracle working - making blind to see, the lame to walk, healing lepers! - that last was a bit much! - lepers! - touching the unclean! - and was there evidence that they were healed? - the usual stories, that's all Caiaphas knew - another so-called, "Messiah" working miracles. How many were there!

But he had gained quite a following - and part of it was what he said. He capitalized on those people's disaffection with "all things Jerusalem". His preaching was about salvation apart from the strictures laid down over the years to ensure that the Law, and particularly the Sabbath, was kept. Those people didn't care about Jerusalem - and he was encouraging them!

It was some of the most notorious news what other so-called, "messiahs" had done. This was the period of the Messiah. People were waiting for a deliverer. The Romans had disposed of more than one and were ready to subjugate the whole of Judea and Galilee on any pretense. As long as the messiahs were dealt with expediently, then Rome was satisfied. Any revolutionary talk was quickly smothered.

Except for Yeshua. That man had not spoken revolution; but rather he spoke of cooperating with the Roman authorities, submitting to soldiers' demands. There was nothing there to condemn Yeshua of.

Still, Caiaphas made sure people knew how dangerous he thought Yeshua to be, and that Judea was under threat because of him, and that for the sake of the nation, this man might have to die.

Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. He was looking for any opportunity to arrest him.

Then he came to Jerusalem last Fall, during Yom Kipper and Booths and stood up and preached - "rivers of living water" or some idiocy. Caiaphas would have had him taken right then if there hadn't been so much of a crowd. He was considering some action to stave off Yeshua's returning during Passover when Pilate brought the shields in. The Procurator had decided to take a stand after the standards fiasco some years back when he had to back down. It was only Herod appealing to Tiberius and the emperor ordering the shields removed that ended the confrontation.

"Pilate has to be afraid of crowds now," Caiaphas thought.

So Passover came, and so did Yeshua. It seemed he wanted a confrontation - first that "grand entry" - that donkey thing - a real slap in the face - and then the confrontation at the Court of the Gentiles. That was enough! Caiaphas had had it.

Good thing Judah offered to point Yeshua out so the Temple Guard could arrest him. Now acolytes had brought word that they were bringing the man.

Caiaphas was wondering what had happened to them and was on the verge of sending someone out to search for them when they came in, Yeshua with them.

"Leave him at the door," he ordered them. "Where were you?"

"We went to Annas'," came the reply.

"Why? I'm the High Priest."

"We just thought . . . "

"I am the High Priest," Caiaphas reiterated, with somewhat more emphasis.

"That's what Annas said. So we brought him to you."

"That's what you should have done in the first place."

"What do we do with him?" the guard asked, pointing to Yeshua standing by the doorway.

"Leave him there for now. Others are coming."

He had sent out runners to notify priests and others of his faction. And he gave specific instructions not to notify Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimethia or any of the Pharisaical Faction who might be friendly to the man and speak up in his defense. This had to be a no-nonsense hearing with but one conclusion..

Priests and elders started filtering in. As they passed through the door, they noticed Yeshua standing there by the door.

"Is that the man?" they asked Caiaphas.

"Yes," he answered, and when Judah came through the door, he pointed to him.

"And there's the man to thank!" he told them, "without his pointing that man out, we would never have gotten the right man."

Judah's face turned red.

Caiaphas took coins out of a shallow bowl nearby and counted them into Judah's hands.

"As we agreed on, right?" he asked the man.

"Right . . . ," came the response, muffled and embarrassed. The man looked over to Yeshua, a worried look on his face, their eyes met, Yeshua with a look on his face as if to say, "it's all right".

"You can stay and watch if you want," he told the man with the coins in his hands.

"I'll just stay outside," came the reply. And the man left.

Everybody necessary had gathered, and it was getting to be daylight.

Caiaphas then turned toward the gathered men.

"We shall start the proceedings," he said, "Bring the accused over here," pointing to a spot on the floor nearby.

"I want you, in your own words," he addressed Yeshua, "to tell us about your activities - your disciples - who are they? How many?"

Yeshua was silent.

"Okay - let's talk about your teaching. We have heard so many things about what you have taught . . . I would like to hear from your own lips your doctrine."

"I have spoken openly about these things," was the answer, "I constantly taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where Jews always are, and in secret have I said nothing.

"Why do you ask me of these things? The better testimony is to ask those who have heard what I have said. They know what I said . . . "

One of the guards nearby struck Yeshua with the palm of his hand.

"You answer the high priest like that? With such impudence?"

"If I have spoken evil," Yeshua said, "Then bear witness of the evil: but if well, why do you hit me?"

Caiaphas was getting perturbed by Yeshua's attitude. He wasn't cowed at all - and not all that respectful of him or the proceedings. He moved the guard away and turned back to Yeshua.

"Let's get to the heart of the matter, shall we?" He said, "It has been claimed, and people believe that you are Messiah. Are you? Tell us."

"Whatever I tell you," Yeshua responded, "Either way, you won't believe me. And if I ask you what you think, you won't answer me, nor let me go.

"I will tell you one thing, however: from now on, the Son of man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God."

One of the elders rose.

"My dear Caiaphas," he said, I would like permission to question this man."

"By all means."

"So we are hearing from you that the 'Son of Man' is as God? Are you then the Son of God?"

Yeshua answered, "You say that I am"

The elder addressed those gathered and said, "What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."

Another rose.

"We have other witnesses," he said. "I think we need to hear from these."

"No one will come forward," another said. We have searched for some, and none will testify."

"I have two," another said, "and two witnesses is all that is needed."

"Then bring them forward," Caiaphas told the man.

He motioned to the guard at the door, who brought a man in.

"You do know why I called you here?" he asked the man.

"Because I overheard this man speaking."

"Is this the man you heard speaking?" the elder asked, pointing to Yeshua.

"Yes, it is." The man was trying to appear upright, although it was evident he was far from that - probably given some stipend to appear here.

Tell us," the elder addressed the man, "what you heard this man say."

"This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days."

"That is quite a story. Are you sure that's what he said?"

"Quite sure."

"Fine. Thank you for your testimony." Then, to the guard, "Bring in the next witness.

The man entered and the elder placed him facing the rest.

"I understand you overheard this man," pointing to Yeshua, "say something about the temple?"

"Yes he did."

"What did he say?"

"We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."

"You may leave," the elder told him.

"As you notice," the elder addressed the others, "these two men are telling different versions of the same thing. Their testimony may not be exactly the same, but I think it is close enough."

So Caiaphas rose from his seat, and motioned for the guards to bring Yeshua front and center.

"Don't you have anything to say?" he asked him. "Look at what these witnesses say. Don't you have an answer for them?"

Yeshua was silent. There was no respect at all from him for these proceedings, Caiaphas thought.

Staring directly at Yeshua with a dramatic flourish, Caiaphas said in a loud voice, I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!"

Yeshua simply replied, "You are saying that. But I will tell you what I said before: it won't be long, and you'll see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Caiaphas was getting red. Twice the man insinuated that the "son of man" would be equal to God.

There was a long pause. Then Caiaphas tore his clothes with one strong movement.

"He has spoken blasphemy!" he almost screamed, "What further need have we of witnesses!"

Caiaphas strode toward the seated men.

"See?" he said, "now you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think?"

Caiaphas called it blasphemy, so it must be blasphemy.

They answered and said, "He is guilty of death!"

Then did all who were gathered there spit in his face, and hit him.

Some hit him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy unto us, Messiah, who hit you?"

"Take him to Pilate for the final sentence," Caiaphas told the guards, and they led Yeshua out past Judah and the other disciples.

Judah had been watching the proceedings from outside. This was not the outcome he expected. He rushed in to Caiaphas, highly distraught.

"I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood!" he told him. "Take the money back!"

"What is that to us?" one of the elders replied, "what is done with that money is your responsibility now."

"Clear the room!" Caiaphas ordered, "Clear the room! We go to Pilate!"

2. Before Pilate

Dawn's sun glowed through the eastern portico. The man strode out onto the veranda in his evening clothes, for it was breakfast time, and not the start of the business day - yet. He had some forebodings about this - his mornings were easily and frequently interrupted when he came to Jerusalem during the Jews' high festivals to oversee the troops stationed there and prepare to take action if trouble should arise. At the back of his mind, he anticipated that something would probably interrupt; but right now, he would stand on the portico and inhale the fresh morning air and take in the sights and sounds of a busy city in preparation for the most holy festival of the Jews - Passover.

He soaked in the warmth of the Spring sun as he sat down to begin his breakfast, gathering documents to read and mulling over plans for the day, hoping that as little as possible would spoil it .He was glad for the "reward" of the office when he was offered. It was sort of "an offer he couldn't refuse". He had served long and well in politics in his home locality, then, when younger blood prevailed, he was left with nothing much to do. Local politicos with connections started the machinery rolling, and here was this job in an exotic faraway land, a plum just ripe for the taking - or so he thought.

Procurator of Judea - quite a title. But it proved to be quite a handful. That was seven years ago, and it had been a long seven years,, with several events that strained relations with both the Jews of the province and with Pilate's Roman superiors.

When he first came to his office, there what came to be called, "the affair of the Roman standards", where he thought he was doing the right thing. It was custom for a new cohort to march displaying its standards. So they came to Jerusalem, and it was nighttime, and when the inhabitants saw the standards the next morning, with the image of Caesar on them, violating their space with idolatrous images, they demonstrated at Caesarea for five days. He eventually removed the standards when he realized that even the threat of death would not change the people's minds.

Then there was the issue of the aqueduct. He thought it was a good act - to improve Jerusalem's water supply from cisterns near Bethlehem. Problem was, it was paid for with funds from the Temple treasury. People rioted. He didn't understand the strictures of Jewish Society. He had counseled his troops not to use swords in quelling the disturbance; however, there was bloodshed. The fragile peace was unraveling.

Then there were the shields - that was the epitome of disgrace. Just five months ago, he set up several golden shields in his headquarters here, with no images, but just an inscription of dedication to Tiberius. The people protested vehemently, but he figured he had to show his authority. He refused to remove the shields. Next thing he knew, the emperor Tiberius had written him a letter, ordering him to remove the shields to Caesarea and warning him to uphold the religious and political customs of the Jews. Apparently Herod had complained. It seemed like the tail wagging the dog.

He was having trouble trying to figure out how to deal with these people. The high priest - all right - he had established a relationship with him - he'd keep Caiphas on as high priest - the man was easy to work with -- and Caiphas, in turn, would sway public opinion toward Pilate and the Roman occupation the best he could.
He'd had enough trouble for one lifetime, it seemed. He'd thought that the appointment to procurator here would be a grand cap on an otherwise bland life - it seemed that was the point when important friends made the arrangements. It would be easy, he felt assured, and was told so. Almost like being exiled, in reality - almost like a punishment for some unknown infraction of some unknown rule. But that was Rome for you.
A servant approached him.

"There is a soldier here," he said, "It seems there is a matter for you to judge."

Pilate rose and went to where the soldier was standing, waiting.

"What is it?" he asked the man.

"The temple priests left a man in the main receiving hall."

This would probably ruin his day, Pilate thought.

"I"ll have to change," he told the soldier, "make everybody comfortable."

Pilate changed into some decent public clothes and went out to the man hall. There was a man standing there, alone except for Roman guards.

From the outside, he heard Caiphas' voice, saying, "We need you to make a judgement on this man!"
Pilate stepped out on the portico.

"Why? What has he done?" Pilate asked, "what accusation do you bring against this man?"

"If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over," came the answer.

"Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." He replied. He really didn't want to be bothered with this nonsense.

"It is not lawful for us to put any man to death."

"Death? For what?"

"We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king," was the answer.

So he returned to the man inside.

"Are you the King of the Jews?" He asked, half in jest.

"Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"

"Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?"

"I am not a king of this world - but of an inner realm. Don't you think that if my kingship were of this world, that I would have followers who would fight for me, that I might not be handed over to them. No - I don't have a kingship that's like those of this world."

So you are a king?"

"You are the one saying that I am a king -- I don't. I was born and I came into the world for the purpose and the cause that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice"

"What is truth?" Pilate asked, to no one in particular.

"Where is the truth here?" he thought to himself.

He went back out. He was somewhat taken aback. In addition to Caiphas and the priests, there was quite a crowd gathered.

"I find no crime in this man." He told them.

But they would have nothing of this. They were quite insistent.

"He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place."

"Galilee?"

"He's from Galilee," someone in the crowd spoke up.

Now here's an out. Killing two birds with one stone. He can sluff off the problem to Herod, who is in town for the festival, and get back at Herod for that incident with the shields, for it was obvious that Herod had used influence with Tiberius to have them taken down and removed to Caesarea.

"Take him to Herod," he told the soldiers.

3. Before Herod

Passover was nigh. Herod had risen late. Why not? He may be a sort of ruler in Galilee, but everyone knew where the real power lay. He could have choked his father for accepting Roman occupation to bolster his power - but then again, would he himself had had anything? Without Roman support, his father might not have ruled at all - and where would he, a son of his, be then? Nowhere.

"I think it's time to check the Passover wine and see that it is good," he thought to himself.

There were so many wines, from so many vineyards, and the quality and taste would differ among them. He had to sample wine from each so that the Passover meal would be ideal for his guests.

He had pretty well fulfilled his duty when a servant came to him.

"Annas and Caiphas and other of the priests are here!" the servant said.

"And they have brought Yeshua bin Netzarim." He finished.

At that, Herod's eyes lit up and his demeanor became excited. This was the man that could very well be Johannes' reappearance. It seemed so long ago, those meetings with Johannes. The disheveled prophet of baptizing into a new kind of "Promised Land" had given him great guidance and good advice. A leader of the sect Johannes belonged to, Manahem, had prophesied Herod's ascension to the throne and advised other things. Herod Antipas followed the advice and warnings given that proved uncannily accurate and he prevailed as a result. So he held the sect in high regard and welcomed Johannes whenever the Baptizer would visit.

It was the one visit that Herod regretted. His birthday. His step-daughter, Salome danced. She was a lovely young girl, with a lithe and attractive body. He had desired her visually for quite some time, and his wife, Herodius, must have figured that this could be leverage. The woman must have had the girl taught that dance - sensual - beckoning - exciting - and he had had quite a bit of birthday wine. When she had finished the dance and the entire room was in a state of excitement, but none, he was sure, as excited as he was, he declared,

"Anything you want - I will give you anything you want!"

Salome abruptly answered, "Johannes Baptizer's head - on a platter - here - now!"

It had to have been Herodius. He would never had entertained that notion.

The Baptizer was there during one of his many visits and had told Herod that he was committing adultery having Herodius as his wife. He then talked with Herodius one night after lovemaking, and she was infuriated. She ordered Johannes to be imprisoned. Herod could not do otherwise.

And now, he had made a vow to Salome. He had to make good on his promise.

He went down personally with the executioner. He sobbed and apologized profusely to Johannes. He gave his word, and he must keep it. If there were some way to avoid this . . .

"You gave your word," Johannes said. Nothing else.

He took the head up himself, sobbing and caressing the long, disheveled hair, letting the blood drip on him as he ascended to the court.

And now . . .

Was this Johannes returning, offering forgiveness?

No. It couldn't be. On the other hand . . .

He was excited about meeting the man. Maybe the rift was healed between him and Jerusalem's religious and they were going to announce a new day in Jewish religious affairs.

There they were.

Caiphas, and Annas and some temple guards who held the man, his hands ties behind his back. Herod was puzzled.

The man looked different from Johannes.. Short, curly black hair, like any Jew of the area, resembling many Jewish men, and he even had a bit of a cosmopolitan look about him, who kept himself quite well - except of course that now he was bound and had been hit a few times, with bruises and blood.

"Johannes?" Herod asked, "Johannes?"

"This is Yeshua bin Netzarim!" declared a priest, "and he is accused of blasphemy and . . . "
Herod's visage turned pale.

"Leave!," Herod commanded the priests and their entourage, "I want to interrogate the man myself - with no interference!"

"Are you Johannes?" Herod asked, sipping a cup of wine.

"No," came the reply.

Herod rose unsteadily, looked the man square in the eye. He was a little shorter than Herod, unremarkable.

"A man with the reputation he has," Herod thought to himself, "should surely look more imposing than this."
"They say you have performed miracles," Herod said.

"Is that what they say?"

Herod circled the man, stumbling, and holding onto the man for support.

"They say you are Messiah."

The man was silent.

"If you are Messiah, tell me now."

The man was silent.

"You have healed the sick, fed the thousands, walked on water, or so they say."

The man was silent.

"You have warned people to beware of my leaven. What do you mean by that?"

"You have to look inside yourself for that."

"You know I know everything about you. Anywhere you go, anything you do, anything you say - it all comes back to me and to the Roman authorities."

He took a long sip of wine.

"You don't know how much I longed to meet you."

He stared again into the man's eyes. Silent and unresponsive.

"You know that I loved Johannes."

Herod wept.

"I didn't want him to die!" He exclaimed through tears.

"It wasn't my fault!"

"And here you come to condemn me. Yes - it's you - you are my condemner - you who stand here condemned! Ha! You have no right to look on me with disdain! You have to right to look away! Look at me!"

The man looked at him.

"Don't look at me like that!"

The man looked away.

"Because you are from Galilee, it is supposed that I have charge over you. I hold your life in my hands."

Herod had a servant fill his glass; he gulped down the wine in it.

"If you were to perform miracles, I would indeed consider you Messiah - at least I would consider it. But then again, that would be dangerous. Do you know how many who have declared themselves Messiah, or others have declared Messiah, have met an untimely end?

"That is because Messiah is to be a great warrior-king, like David, to lead his people to victory over enemies, and in this case, it is the Romans. And the Romans would broach no such talk. Not only would you be crucified, but I probably would also, and my whole household."

The man was silent.

"But if you were to perform miracles, it would greatly gratify me, and I would have you transported to safety outside the reach of the priests "

He continued to circle the man, staring intently, waiting for any response on his part, but getting none.

"You don't how on your side I am!"

Herod paused. He called for writing material. It was brought to him.

"Here! All I have to do is make out a decree declaring you under my immediate jurisdiction and power. Then I can imprison you and take you back to Zippori and escort you to Damascus and freedom and safety."

"Just perform a miracle. Prophesy, like Manahem did. Give counsel like Johannes."

"That's all you have to do."

The man was silent.

"Damn! That's all you have to do!"

Herod stared at this man who just stood there, implacable.

"Maybe he can't perform any miracles," he thought, "The other messiahs, it was purported, could work much the same miracles, and yet, when it came right down to it, they all perished and disappointed their believers."

He was afraid, though. This man preached much like Johannes. He was almost a mirror image of Johannes in his message - repent.

"Repent!?" Herod yelled at the top of his voice, "Repent???!!!" . . . so much so that servants and guards came rushing in.

"It's nothing!" He shouted at them, "get out of here!"

And they left.

"What is there to repent of?" He asked the man.

"You have to look inside yourself."

"Like the realms of the Spiritual?"

"It all is within."

"That's what has brought you to this point! You proclaim that there is no need for priests or anything outside the self! That is blasphemy!"

Then he paused, pensive.

"And yet, it is right."

The man was silent.

Herod surmised that this all was Herod getting back at him for the shields incident. He would have nothing to do with the man. It would have to go back to Herod as his responsibility, for his judgement. But he would write a note to Pilate. He ordered writing supplies.

Then he wrote that he could find nothing that Yeshua did worthy of any punishment. He also confided that the priests were envious of the man and others who differed in beliefs and seemed to pose a threat to their power like the Pharisees and Essenes and others, but particularly this man whose "kingdom" is "within everyone". He also offered amends for the shield incident and explained that the pressure of the people is pretty great. It is best not to arouse the people in this way.

"Maybe Pilate will understand better," he thought, "After all, he is an old man and will certainly want to end his days in peace."

He called the priests and their retinue back into the room.

"Take him! That's enough! I have nothing to condemn the man for. Take him back to Pilate for judgement."

They took his wrists.

"Wait! You say he's a king?"

"He says he's a king. He's got a kingdom."

"You never mentioned that," he said to Yeshua.

"I am not a king," was the reply, "they got the "kingdom" idea wrong."

'Everybody wait here!" Herod said, walking out, "I'll be right back."

He came back with some clothes and handed them to Yeshua. While Caiphas and the others kept quiet.

"What are these for?" Yeshua asked.

"They are some old robes of mine," Herod replied, " Put them on."

Yeshua hesitated.

"Do it! You should be looking more presentable to Pilate. Accept the favor, please."

Then Herod ordered a guard to put the clothes on Yeshua.

Herod gave the note to the guard.

"Give this to Pilate," he told him.

The retinue left.

4. Back to Pilate

Pilate and his wife were enjoying a leisurely breakfast, glad that the "problem" had been transferred to Herod.

"I had a dream about that Yeshua bin Netzarim last night," his wife said, "a very disturbing dream."

A soldier entered and stood before Pilate.

"They have brought back Yeshua bin Netzarim," he said.

Pilate arose and made his way toward the portico.

There they were.

Pilate saw that he had to receive this man, Yeshua bin Netzarim, again. There he was, at the portico, being led in by a Roman guard. There were Caiphas and Annas and the priests and a considerable crowd gathered outside. The guard handed him the note Herod wrote. Pilate read it. It was a statement of Herod's finding that Yeshua was guilty of no crime, save raising the ire and jealousy of the priest faction. Also, Herod was offering the hand of friendship, wanting to make amends over the shield incident.

"Fair enough," Pilate thought.

It looked like their agreement on this man's innocence was bringing them together.

The man was wearing some nice clothes, now, something befitting royalty.

"Where'd he get those clothes?" He asked the guard.

"Herod dressed him in them."

"Fitting, I guess. The only hint at royalty the poor man will ever have."

He then walked out on the portico to address Caiphas and the other priests. The crowd had grown.

"You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people;" he said, in his most commanding voice, "and after examining him before you, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him; neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. So what I will do is chastise him. I would think that is punishment enough. Then I will have to release him."

"We want him crucified!" Yelled someone in the crowd.

"Crucify him!" the crowd began yelling, chanting over and over again.

"This is beginning to get out of hand," Pilate thought. He had flashbacks of the other protests and feared a repeat of those previous debacles. He imagined the repercussions from Rome.

He thought maybe he could get Yeshua released through the custom that was in place that helped keep the peace - that of releasing to the people a prisoner. Pilate could think of no one now in prison that they would want released. There was only one other prisoner - Barabbas, who had led an insurrection in Jerusalem, and had killed some people, and was convicted of murder. He was quite unpopular with the priests, who were totally behind Barabbas' sentence.

Pilate walked out to the crowd.

"You have a custom," he said, "that a prisoner be released to you during your religious season. I hold before you the choice - either Barabbas," he paused, expecting a chorus of boos - but none ensued, "or this Yeshua bin Netzarim, who is considered by some of you to be Messiah - Christos."

He could see servants of the priests moving through the crowd, whispering the recommendation.
"Barabbas," the crowd shouted, almost in unison, "Release to us Barabbas!"

Pilate was somewhat taken aback by this. He had been so sure that Barabbas was so disliked that they would choose Yeshua in a heartbeat. But it seemed they hated Yeshua much more.

The name became a chant: "Barabbas!" Barabbas!"

"So be it!" Pilate said, hoping to still attain some type of mercy for Yeshua. He thought that maybe the crowd would think differently from the priests.

"What, then, would you want me to do with this man, Yeshua bin Netzarim, who is called by some of you, Messiah - Christos?"

There was silence, then a priest whispered in a servants ear then that servant shouted, "Crucify him!"

And he started to chant, "Crucify him! Crucify him!", and the other servants took up the chant, 'Crucify him!, Crucify him!", then the crowd took up the chant, "Crucify him!, Crucify him!"

Pilate went back in, with the chant ringing in his ears, and noticeably louder, as if to be certain he and all with him heard.

There was his wife.

"Please," she said, pointing at Yeshua, "don't have anything to do with this man. I had a bad dream concerning him last night! There will be trouble if you have ANY thing to do with him!"

She was crying.

"I'll do what I can," he told her; then he went back out to the people, motioning for a guard to bring Yeshua with him.

The crowd went silent as the two of them stood there, waiting for Pilate's verdict.

Barabbas was brought out and set free.

"I am trying to understand why you want this man's death," he said, "What evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him."

He want back in to find the scourge master.

"We will scourge this man," he said, "but . . . " and he hesitated, " . . . he is undeserving of severe punishment, if you understand."

The scourge master nodded that he did indeed understand.

Then Pilate came back out with the scourge master, then he ordered Yeshua's clothes be stripped off of him and motioned for the scourging be applied.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Yeshua into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him.

.So Yeshua came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man! He has been scourged and publicly humiliated, as you can see. I have done all that the law allows for any breach of the law he may have committed.

When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!"

Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him."

The priests answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God."
This statement worried Pilate. To all good Romans, the emperor was God. If rumors were to surface that any man declared deity besides the Emperor, and Pilate had let him go free, then there would certainly be hell to pay.

He entered the praetorium again, bringing Yeshua with him.

"Where are you from?" He asked Yeshua.

Yeshua was silent.

Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?"

Yeshua answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from higher up. Therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin."

Pilate thought on this a bit. It was certainly Caiphas who arranged all this - and certainly, the entire matter was on Caiphas' hands, not his.

Then he went back out.

"I find no reason to keep him," he told the crowd, "I must release him.

But the crowd cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar."

And the crowd shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified." Their voices were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified.

Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning. He had had enough of riots.

He ordered a washpan of water be brought to him and held before him. He then washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves."

And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

"What is it about this man," he asked himself, "that these people should be so vehement in their demands for his execution?"

When Pilate heard these words, he brought Yeshua out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"

They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!"

Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"

The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

The irony of that last statement did not escape Pilate.