Wednesday, April 5: He was crucified under Pontius Pilate
This week we will continue our look at the Nicene Creed with reflections from St. Thomas staff. Today Taylor Mack offers a reflection on the part of the creed that states...
He was crucified under Pontius Pilate
Behind every great protagonist is an antagonist. Robert McKee, a well known author and professor once said, “a protagonist and their story can only be as intellectually fascinating and emotionally compelling as the forces of antagonism make them.” In order to defeat Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker has to become a Jedi Knight. Without Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter would never become ‘The Chosen One.’ Though the Gospel story of Jesus’s death and resurrection carries far more significance for our lives as Christians than any film or novel from pop-culture could, it can be helpful to think of the individuals in the Gospels as characters in a story. In this way, we can consider why the Gospel writers chose to include them and what significance they bring to the story of our Savior.
So what do we know about Pontius Pilate, the villain of the crucifixion story. Pilate was appointed by the Roman Emperor to govern over Judea. He is tasked with keeping law and order in the region and, as such, has not gained much popularity with the Jewish people. Unlike the chief priests, the Jewish ruling council that sent Jesus to Pilate for execution, Pilate is mentioned by name in the Nicene Creed and has therefore become one of the most infamous characters from the Bible.
However, if you read the Gospel story closely, Pilate never actually calls for Jesus’s execution. In fact, he makes a grand gesture of washing his hands before the crowd and declaring himself “innocent of this man’s blood”(Mathew 27:24). Though he attempts to distance himself, Pilate remains guilty in the execution of Christ. Pilate is tasked with promoting law and order, but rather than do what is right and lawful, he turns his back as an angry mob crucifies an innocent man. He washes his hands of his duty, the people he is meant to protect, and the man he knows has done nothing to deserve this fate. Pilate is an antagonist not because of his actions, but because of his failure to act.
As an antagonist in the crucifixion story, Pilate allows Jesus to be put to death by his own people in an act that fulfills the messianic prophecy and brings salvation to God’s people. Without Pilate’s choice to hand over Jesus for execution, there would be no resurrection, ascension, and life of the world to come. This Holy Week, I urge you to consider where you have washed your hands rather than take a stance for what is right, what innocent people you consider not your problem, and where you can be a hero in the story of your life.
