Stroll through Scripture for March 22, 2026

Based on John 19:1-16a

Each week in Lent, the Narrative Lectionary has given us the opportunity to slow down with the passion narrative.  It’s something that we often don’t have the opportunity to do.  Usually, we hear the full story on Passion Sunday.  But Narrative Lectionary has given us a gift to reflect on individual parts of the story.  How often do we get to do that in life?  We are a society that is often in a hurry to get through things.  

Last week we heard Pilate question Jesus.  The crowd chooses Barabbas in place of Jesus.  This week, the story continues.  Pilate, who represents the power and might of the Roman Empire looks fearful.  And he does what all afraid men in power positions have always done – try to manage through intimidation, try to mask their insecurities, attempt to counter dissent, exert control, and more.  We see this and more on display with Pilate and the soldiers. 

We are told that the soldiers dress Jesus up and mock him to his face.  They want to belittle him to enhance themselves.   This continues with Pilate bringing out Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and purple robe and his declaration “Behold the man!”  The chief priests and the temple guard shout “crucify him!”  And Pilate, we are told, becomes more afraid than ever.  He is insecure.  He has the power of the empire, and he fears the people he is to rule over.  He attempts to intimidate Jesus demanding an answer.  The people gathered try to coerce Pilate to comply with their desire to kill Jesus, using the empire against him.  

Between John 18 and John 19, two important decisions are made by the crowd.  In John 18, when given the choice between Jesus the prince of peace and Barabbas, the insurrectionist, the crowd chooses the man who embodies violence and the methods of empire.  Here in John 19, the crowd is given a choice between Jesus, the king of the Jews, and Caesar, the emperor of the empire.  Again, they willingly choose the empire and its methods.  The decisions lead to the execution of Jesus as an enemy of the state, suffering the state sanctioned death penalty of crucifixion.  Crucifixion was a form of officially sanctioned terror, designed to enforce political obedience and maintain the social order in a cruel and humiliating fashion.   It is the culmination of the decisions of the people – choosing empire and its methods, rather than Jesus and the ways of the kingdom of God.  

Questions for further reflection:

• In what ways does society choose Caesar in our own time? 
• Where do you see examples of fearful men in powerful positions using the same methods as Pilate did?
• Why do you think people lean into violence and control figures?