ABNAK
02-13-14, 23:23
I was raised Catholic. Spent about 7 1/2 of my school years in Catholic schools. Obviously the crucifixion had the religious aspect to it, and as a child you memorized the story and the stations of the cross. It was only in later years, as an adult, and after watching some documentaries that stripped away some fallacies and looked into the whole ordeal that it dawned on me this was the quintissential political story.
Christ was regarded as a rebel, a potential threat, by the local powers-that-be at that time, the scribes and pharisees. They saw him as a threat who could upset the apple cart. He cast out the merchants from the temple, no doubt screwing with the pharisees' cut they got from allowing it. Christ was a purist and this rankled the corrupt community rulers. They saw him as perhaps the first "Community Organizer" who could easily sway the rank and file locals to see it his way, undercutting their power. No, he had to be dealt with.....
Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of that region. He was the natural to turn to in the effort to rid themselves of Christ. Hell, let the Romans take the blame. But Pilate was more levelheaded than they had anticipated. He was basically asking "WTF did this guy do?" The pharisees answer apparently didn't satisfy him and he balked. "I'm gonna crucify this guy for THAT? Get real!" The pharisees had to come up with something better, and they knew what tack to take.
Rome didn't like negative feedback from their nether regions, and it would reflect poorly upon the appointed governor. "You're gonna have some problems here soon" they threw out to Pilate. "If you don't kill this guy he's gonna get people pissed off and turn things upside down. That's something you don't want, right?" If nothing else Pilate was aware of his standing with Rome and didn't like the idea of it being tarnished by reports of revolt trickling back. His wheels began turning and he figured a sure-fire way out. "Tell ya what: I'll give the people a choice between two perps and they can decide who they want spared, okay?" The pharisees nodded in agreement.
Barabas was a verifiable POS. Murderer, thief, all-round scumbag. Surely, Pilate thought, these folks have a lick of sense and they'll choose this Christ guy over that vermin Barabas. It's a no-brainer! Then I've appeased the pharisees since they agreed to it, and they can deal with this Christ dude themselves.
The pharisees had been out riling up the crowd. Like a good old fashioned political rally they no doubt passed out a little wine, made a few firey speeches, generally whipping them into a frenzy.....not a good environment for sound decision-making on behalf of the crowd. When given the choice between Barabas and Christ the answer was a foregone conclusion.
Pilate was incredulous. "Are you people freaking SERIOUS? You need your heads examined!" Disgusted, Pilate decided to cut bait and wash his hands of the whole affair. "Fine, have it your way. I'll issue the orders."
The rest, as they say, is history. As I watch modern political turmoil, both abroad and here at home, I occasionally think back to perhaps the greatest [political] story ever told (pun intended).
Edit: I'm in no way belittling the crucifixion. I just find it fascinating to see what is (to some) one of the greatest events in history laid bare to expose it's basic human failings, which translate into P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S.
Christ was regarded as a rebel, a potential threat, by the local powers-that-be at that time, the scribes and pharisees. They saw him as a threat who could upset the apple cart. He cast out the merchants from the temple, no doubt screwing with the pharisees' cut they got from allowing it. Christ was a purist and this rankled the corrupt community rulers. They saw him as perhaps the first "Community Organizer" who could easily sway the rank and file locals to see it his way, undercutting their power. No, he had to be dealt with.....
Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of that region. He was the natural to turn to in the effort to rid themselves of Christ. Hell, let the Romans take the blame. But Pilate was more levelheaded than they had anticipated. He was basically asking "WTF did this guy do?" The pharisees answer apparently didn't satisfy him and he balked. "I'm gonna crucify this guy for THAT? Get real!" The pharisees had to come up with something better, and they knew what tack to take.
Rome didn't like negative feedback from their nether regions, and it would reflect poorly upon the appointed governor. "You're gonna have some problems here soon" they threw out to Pilate. "If you don't kill this guy he's gonna get people pissed off and turn things upside down. That's something you don't want, right?" If nothing else Pilate was aware of his standing with Rome and didn't like the idea of it being tarnished by reports of revolt trickling back. His wheels began turning and he figured a sure-fire way out. "Tell ya what: I'll give the people a choice between two perps and they can decide who they want spared, okay?" The pharisees nodded in agreement.
Barabas was a verifiable POS. Murderer, thief, all-round scumbag. Surely, Pilate thought, these folks have a lick of sense and they'll choose this Christ guy over that vermin Barabas. It's a no-brainer! Then I've appeased the pharisees since they agreed to it, and they can deal with this Christ dude themselves.
The pharisees had been out riling up the crowd. Like a good old fashioned political rally they no doubt passed out a little wine, made a few firey speeches, generally whipping them into a frenzy.....not a good environment for sound decision-making on behalf of the crowd. When given the choice between Barabas and Christ the answer was a foregone conclusion.
Pilate was incredulous. "Are you people freaking SERIOUS? You need your heads examined!" Disgusted, Pilate decided to cut bait and wash his hands of the whole affair. "Fine, have it your way. I'll issue the orders."
The rest, as they say, is history. As I watch modern political turmoil, both abroad and here at home, I occasionally think back to perhaps the greatest [political] story ever told (pun intended).
Edit: I'm in no way belittling the crucifixion. I just find it fascinating to see what is (to some) one of the greatest events in history laid bare to expose it's basic human failings, which translate into P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S.