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The Second Preliminary Station
Jesus is led to Caiaphas
This was very a important matter and they had to find a
solution as soon as possible. They had to get rid of him. He was too much to
bear. His words were making them feel uneasy. They were the teachers and no one
can take their place. They were the righteous ones and they cannot afford to
loose face in front of their people. They were very cosy in their seats of
power. They had learned how to make compromises to save face.
Now they were
pacing the room and waiting to face this terrible evil-doer who has been
preaching and who had even dared to get into their Temple and overturn the
tables of the money changers. How dare he do such a thing? Doesn't he know that
they get a living from these taxes? Now they had their chance.
He is led in
front of them. They don't realize what their Scripture said: "I had been like a
gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted
against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off
from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more." (Jer.
11:19). Their eyes where blind with hate and their hearts far from the Lord.
"They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and
teachers of the law came together."(Mk 14,53). It only took them a few
questions, some bribed witnesses and all was done: "Many testified falsely
against him"(Mk 14,16). They passed judgement. They agreed, of course, that he
had to die! "They all condemned him as worthy of death" (Mk 14:64).
How could
they, the learned few, forget the words of their law? "Do not pervert justice;
do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your
neighbor fairly"(Lev. 19,15). They even closed their ears to the words which
their ancestors, the Prophets had proclaimed: "I am about to pour out my wrath
on you and spend my anger against you; I will judge you according to your
conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices" (Ezek. 7,8). "...the
ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they
desire - they all conspire together" (Mic 7:3).
But they were not satisfied
with their vengeance. They spit at him and mocked him. And during that night
He, the Lord of Light, was led in darkness. He, the Lord of Love, was beaten by
the guards. The guards enjoyed their treatment of the victim and forgot
the words "...so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring
upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no
one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me" (Is
66,4).
But the elders spent the night, all night, discussing. They had to find
a solution. To death he must go. But how? How can they face the people? How
can they get rid of him in a hush? How can they execute the sentence? They
could not stone him to death. They will be risking too much. A thousand
questions and a thousand answers.
Then at last it dawned on them. Pilate, the
hated Roman Procurator can help them. Of course he can! He knows that they have
power over the people. How dare he not listen to them? And he will be the one
who will execute the already condemned victim. He will be the one who will spare them any feeling of guilt for the death of this self-proclaimed Messiah.
The
hours had passed and on the horizon, behind the Mount of Olives the sun was
rising and the city was going to get busy again. They'll better hurry!
They
have to cross the city from one end to another leading their precious prisoner:
"Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of
the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him
away and handed him over to Pilate" (Mk 15,1).
Dear Jesus, what happened to these people? Why were they so stubborn with
you? Why? They read the scriptures, they knew the promises, they were waiting
for your arrival as their Messiah. But no, Lord!
They wanted a different
Messiah. They wanted a political Messiah. You were too weak and compromising to
be accepted by them. How true are the words "They made their hearts as hard as
flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty
had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets." (Zech 7,12).
Dear Jesus, help me open up my heart and help me change it to live up to your comandments."Yes, do give me an undivided heart and put a new spirit in me; do remove my
heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh." (Ezek. 11:19).
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