March 24, 2021
In the public ministry of Jesus, he had met different types of people: children, young, old, men, women, sick, lepers, paralytics, possessed, religious leaders, outcastes, civil authorities, rich, poor etc. Of all the persons, he encountered, one person is ostensibly standing out and he is Pilate. According to the Biblical sources, Jesus met Pilate only once and the meeting must have lasted for a few minutes and this encounter resulted in the historic death “Sentence” pronounced by Pilate and the obvious “Silence” of Jesus.
The Sentence of Pilate
The Gospel of John concludes the meeting of Jesus with Pilate saying, ‘Then he handed him over to them to be crucified’ (John 19:16). The encounter of Jesus with Pilate culminated in the cowardly death penalty levied by Pilate that ‘Jesus to be crucified.
Prior to this most unjust and cruel Sentence, the gospel of John, sketches out the dramatic meeting of these two men. All circumstances tell us that it was a face to face of two opposing forces. Pilate clad in his Roman attire as the Governor, surrounded with palatial entourage; men at his beck and call, having power to condemn or liberate the person standing before him; possessing power, totally conscious of his authority and status. Pilate is equally under pressure from the forces of darkness, represented by men gathered in front of the Praetorium vomiting lies and hatred.
En face of Pilate, is Jesus, Son of God, the Messiah, the holy of holies, found semi clad, hands cuffed, tired, surrounded by a bunch of mockers, insulted, beaten, humiliated, suppressed, ostracized. In this most dastardly circumstance, Jesus is not frightened before this monotonous power and authority. Jesus is weak physically for he had an excruciating, painful and sorrowful night but He is powerful and strong spiritually. He looks around the acerbity of the human power and position, the vanity of human greed, alas, wretched man drunk with the liquid of power, blinded; the folly of humanity so flagrantly seen in this Roman authority. And the climax of the paradoxes is that this man is asking Jesus a momentous question: “What is truth?” Was Pilate curious, was he interested, was he captivated, or fooling around, ironic and acidic? Nonetheless, the question is not banal, it is significant.
The Silence of Jesus
Jesus does not answer before Pilate; He is silent. His silence is confusing to Pilate. This man clad in royal clothes, who believed in his earthly power and pomp is perplexed. The silence of Jesus confused him because Pilate was blinded to see the truth standing before him. Pilate did have ears but he could not hear and he did have eyes but he was not ready to see. In reality, the silence of Jesus was more powerful than Pilate’s talk. We discover that the passion moments of Jesus were verbally silent. He had uttered only a few words, for Jesus’ language was not words but his person. Jesus’ silence is not emptiness but full of wisdom, it is a different language which requires special earphones to listen and to understand. You can’t hear the sound of Jesus when you are wrapped with the clamor for power, prestige, position, pomp, pride. The silence of Jesus disturbs Pilate, it disturbed him even later. Pilate refused to see the truth for the truth, he calculated, would axe his earthly solemnity and sovereignty. He succumbs to the human hanker for supremacy, domination. Pilate manifests his vulnerability, incapacity.
If Pilate did not hear the sound of Jesus’ silence, the simple and ordinary people who frequented Jesus in his public life heard it. Jesus had proclaimed that “I am the truth” (John 14: 6). This truth was seen even by the blind, when they shouted “Jesus son of David have pity on me”. This was realized by Zachaeus the sinner when he changed his life. This was experienced by Mary and Martha during their brother’s demise. This truth was discovered by Nicodemus even in the darkest hour of the night. They all saw Jesus as the truth, they experienced, savoured this truth, proclaimed this truth. Isn’t it true that a rose does not have to announce that it is a rose for its perfume is its testimony? The lily doesn’t have to shout that it is beautiful for its colour is its testimony. Jesus did not have to answer to Pilate that He is the truth for his very self, his face was manifesting the truth. The silence of Jesus demonstrated His extraordinary strength and dignity, He does not resist; He doesn't rail against His enemies; He doesn't protest His innocence; His silence is noble, powerful. When it was needed and necessary, Jesus did speak, sometimes He shouted, a few occasions He condemned, and even roared with anger when it was essential. Jesus never spared the religious authorities when they were unjust. But Jesus realized that the only way to confront the most powerful man sitting before him was to be silent.
Holy week is a time to see the face of Jesus, to experience the truth, a truth which is not limited to words, not caged in a definition, not bound to human language, but a truth to be seen, experienced, felt, lived. Only a person who has met Jesus can say, I have seen and experienced the truth. Jesus, the truth is love, peace, joy, happiness and forgiveness.
The meeting of Jesus with Pilate is not over, it continues. The truth today is silenced everywhere. Death sentences are given sans pity. Innocent, poor, simple, guiltless, are accused, blamed, inculpated. Pilates are hidden in the garbs of so many men in authority. But Jesus teaches us through his very life that truth can never be suppressed, sabotaged, destroyed much less silenced. Today we need the power of Jesus’ silence and the nobility of his courage. Pilates will come and go but Jesus lasts forever. Holy Week which constitutes the most important Week for humanity to be enlightened by truth, the death “Sentence” of Pilate may not intimidate people looking for justice and dignity. May the “Silence” of Jesus strengthen the victims of human selfishness and greed.