#5 - Condemned by Pilate
Listen: Play while reading part 1
Part 1
Action:
Sit on the chairs and listen to the crowd shouting as you read the story on the screen in front of you. If you have headphones on – remove them to listen to the crowd shouting. After you have finished reading, turn off the sound and reflect on part 2.
Read:
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but instead, an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:11-26)
Part 2
Reflect:
What was it like listening to the crowd? Were you annoyed? Can you sympathize with Pilate wanting to just give in?
In what ways do we give in and take the easy and lazy road even if it means being part of injustice?
Action:
As you leave – stop at the table and wash your hands in the basin. Think of the areas in your life where you act like Pilate – and participate in injustice because it’s easier than fighting for what is right.
Once done collect your rock and move on to the next station.
Action:
Sit on the chairs and listen to the crowd shouting as you read the story on the screen in front of you. If you have headphones on – remove them to listen to the crowd shouting. After you have finished reading, turn off the sound and reflect on part 2.
Read:
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but instead, an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:11-26)
Part 2
Reflect:
What was it like listening to the crowd? Were you annoyed? Can you sympathize with Pilate wanting to just give in?
In what ways do we give in and take the easy and lazy road even if it means being part of injustice?
Action:
As you leave – stop at the table and wash your hands in the basin. Think of the areas in your life where you act like Pilate – and participate in injustice because it’s easier than fighting for what is right.
Once done collect your rock and move on to the next station.