Jesus’ trial – The Noontimes

Mark 14:53-65: The Sanhedrin

Thursday, March 12, 2020

In an era awash with stagecraft, deception, and false news, We pause today with Mark’s Gospel to ask ourselves: How much have we humans progressed in the discernment of truth?

We have been reflecting this week on vignettes from the last of Jesus’ days in Jerusalem and today we pause for a time in the Gospel of Mark:

The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none.

So what and who are the Sanhedrin? How and why did they hold power over Jesus? When and where do we become members of this body?

Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.

We have found ourselves drawn in to petty arguments at work and home. What is the witness we bear to others? Does it enlighten or obscure?

Some took the stand and testified falsely against him.

We are asked to stand with those who lie in order to defend a structure or system that is corrupt. Do we join the rabble? Do we witness honestly?

The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus.

We are often asked to follow leaders who have private agendas and secret goals. Do we preserve the community at all costs? Do we speak truth with mercy and without rancor?

But Jesus was silent and answered nothing.

We may find ourselves hoping for swift and total retribution from God. Are we lusting after our own outcomes? Are we seeing conflict through our own prejudices?

The high priest tore his garments.

We will see leaders manipulate and cajole us. Do we placate the out-of-control tyrant? Do we make ourselves small so as to go unnoticed?

They all condemned him as deserving to die.

We hear rumors and whispers about a loved one or a perceived enemy. Do we align ourselves with those who have our same goals in order to tip the balance of an argument in our favor?

Some began to spit on him.

We see others allowing consumed by hatred and greed. Do we join them in a headlong rush to condemn?

They blindfolded him and struck him.

We watch as the innocent are brutalized and marginalized. Do we join in the fray in order to protect ourselves?

The guards greeted him with blows.

We see bullies gather force as they sweep the small-minded and self-preserving into a tsunami of cowardice against the guiltless. Do we stand up to oppression? Do we speak from truth or hide in fear?

Do we consider where we stand in the chorus of the Sanhedrin?

Image from: http://madamepickwickartblog.com/2012/08/the-temple-affair-politics-and-religion-dont-mix/

A re-post from March 12, 2013.

For information that will enlighten and inform our reflection, go to The Jewish Virtual Library at http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Sanhedrin.html and the Sanhedrin page of the Famous Trials website we have cited earlier this week http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/sanhedrin.html

March 12, 2020

Jesus’ trial, Pilate

Matthew 27:11-14: In Secret

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Matthew 27:11-14: In Secret

*Mattia Preti: Pilate Washing His Hands*

Last December we spent time with a portion of John’s Gospel hoping to understand Pontius Pilate as he struggled to unlock the mystery of the man who stood before him . . . accused by his own people. Jesus’ reputation announced his enemies’ accusation yet today we still wonder why Pilate washed his hands of this internal Jewish affair; multiple versions of what took place give us little – very little – insight. “Christian accounts of the trial of Jesus suggest either that Pilate played no direct role in the decision to execute Jesus (Peter), or that he ordered the crucifixion of Jesus with some reluctance (Mark) or with great reluctance (Luke, John). Many historians attribute these accounts to efforts by early Christians to make their message more palatable to Roman audiences. It is clear that prefects had a variety of options available for dealing with a potential source of trouble such as Jesus. These options included flogging, sending the matter back to the Sanhedrin, or referring the case to Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee”. (Linder) We are left to ponder and conclude on our own. What was Pilate thinking as he washed his hands? What did he believe? What did he fear? What was he holding in secret?

We might peer more closely at the details of this encounter. What does Pilate do when he is put to the test? It is up to us to forage for details, to pray for clarification, to ask for instruction from the Spirit, and to witness as Paul does to the extraordinary gift of Jesus and how his presence challenges the dark corners of human society. Today’s second Mass reading is from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that become visible is light. (5:11-14)

Paul’s words may inform us about why Caiaphas and Pilate fear the worst from this king who has no apparent army or courtiers but whose radiant truth pierces the smallest dark corners to convert all that is barren and tainted to an overwhelming abundance of light and goodness. Pilate perhaps fears that he is losing control . . . a control he suspects he never really had. Pilate is unwilling to step out of the shadow world. Do we follow his lead . . . or do we stride forward out of all that is secret and hidden . . . into the radiant goodness of the Christ?

If you have time, read through the details of Jesus’ trial today as gathered by Linder at: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/jesusaccount.html

For last December’s Noontime, use the blog search bar and enter Standing Before Pilate and “What Evil Has he Done?” and explore.

Linder, Douglas. “The Trial of Jesus: Key Figures.” Famous Trials. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, n.d. Web. 9 Mar 2013. <http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/jesuskeyfigures.html>.

Image from: http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/pilate.html

A re-post from March 10, 2013.

March 10, 2020

Caiaphas, Ephesians 5:11-14, Jesus’ trial

Matthew 26:1-5: Caiaphas

Monday, March 9, 2020

Matthew 26:1-5: Caiaphas

We find ourselves edging closer to Palm Sunday and Easter, and today we anticipate the Passion readings. Familiar events and names sound in our ears as we listen at church services; well-read verses lose their newness until we pause to spend time with a few key figures. Today we study Caiaphas, the high priest.

Today’s Noontime scripture citation unfolds much more to us if we also visit the Famous Trials site by Douglas O. Linder at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Specifically we will want to examine the material we find about the Key Figures at Jesus’ trial but you may also find time to wander through the site’s many pages of information. They are eye-opening and prayer-expanding. They give us a better foundation on which to stand, a deeper perspective from which to pray. We might just focus on a few details we know about the man Caiaphas. Some of this we already know: high priest, liaison between the Roman authorities and the Jewish people, son-in-law of the high priest Annas, presider over Temple ceremonies, Roman prefect for ten years with Pontius Pilate,

There is more that we will want to know: controller of the Temple treasury, manager of the Temple police, dismissed from service in 36. C.E. by the Syrian governor Vitellius . . . quite likely due to his close work with Pontius Pilate.

As we study, reflect and pray, the person Caiaphas begins to come into sharper focus. This powerful man likely saw himself as the controller of his own universe. We might wonder if he saw any of his actions as placating the power structure or if he believed himself free of petty influence. This we cannot know but what we can discern as we wander through this information is that Caiaphas played an important role in the life, death and resurrection of the Christ. Without Caiaphas it is likely that another high priest would have stepped into place to see Jesus handed over to Roman authorities – the Galilean asked too many questions of too many people – but it is Caiaphas we have with us today. So let us learn more about him, let us imagine what our opinion of him might have been if he were our own high priest, and let us ask God for the wisdom to discern the presence of Caiaphas priests among us today.

For interesting information on Jesus’ trial, go to the following page on the University of Missouri Law School’s famous trials site by Douglas O. Linder: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/jesus.html; and for Key Figures at Jesus’ Trial: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/jesuskeyfigures.html; and for Non-Christian accounts of Jesus’ trial that give us a fresh perspective: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/nonchristianaccounts.html; and visit the Britannica page that is accessed from this site at: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/303091/Jesus-Christ

For more on the Syrian Governor Vitellius, go to: http://www.livius.org/vi-vr/vitellius/lucius.html

For more on the high priests Annas and Caiaphas, go to http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/stewart.cfm?id=1314

Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas