Easter in Their Shoes: John

You must be the new follower Peter was telling me about. Welcome. Peter tells me you are seeking out information about the trials. I will answer your questions, but you also need to understand some of the background.

Like Peter and Andrew, my brother James and I were some of the first to be called by Jesus. We all had been fishermen up until that point, as our fathers had and their fathers. When Jesus told us to follow, James and I left our father at the boat and followed. Back then we had no idea three years later we would be in the situation that played out.

Judas had betrayed us. That night out of fear, all of us scattered. They could not get all of us if we split up. I ran to one of my friends at the temple. A Pharisee who secretly believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but again out of fear and the shame that would come if anyone found out about it, remained silent.

It was then that I was told that the Sanhedrin was up to something. Turns out Caiaphas, the High Priest at the time, had called a special meeting. Now it was common knowledge among the people that the Pharisees and Sadducees had been trying to trip Jesus up for months. It happened almost everywhere we went. Some priest or leading official would ask what many would consider a trick question, often interrupting whatever Jesus was trying to teach at the time. The tactic would annoy us immensely, as we were trying to soak up everything Jesus was teaching. However, Jesus always treated them with patience and grace. A lesson and example I myself try to show to others.

I digress. My friend had been summoned to Caiaphas’ house on an urgent Sanhedrin meeting. It was strange that such a meeting was not being held at the Temple, which is where they normally met. Knowing the events of the previous night, I tagged along, somehow I knew it had to do with Jesus.

I was not allowed on the main floor, so I found a good vantage point in the balcony. I saw the Temple guards surrounding Jesus. He had bruises on his arms and face. I saw that they had blindfolded Him. One by one they were taking turns punching him and asking which of them had hit Him. I also heard them throwing unrepeatable insults at him. Jesus just stood there, taking them all in, not saying a word.

When He was finally brought out to the Sanhedrin, it was daybreak. They tried to get him to slip up. They even asked him outright if he was the Messiah. To this Jesus replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe it and if I ask you a question you will not answer. One day I will sit at the right hand of God in the place of power.” The accusation that came next was surprising. The high priest straight out asked if Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Jesus did not give a definitive answer but said, “You are right to say that I am.”

That was it for the Sanhedrin. No witnesses were called. To them this was an open and shut case for a religious crime. Jesus was led away. As we left the house, a rooster crowed. I remembered Peter’s remarks from earlier that night and wondered if any of them had come true. I overheard they were taking Jesus to Pilot who had come to town from Caesarea to keep the peace during the Passover festival. I knew then that this would spell trouble, but again Jesus had not done anything wrong by Rome’s laws. He should be safe and released without any further damage aside from a flogging. Yet for some reason I felt I should try to at least get into listening distance of what was going on inside.

We had been in Jerusalem for the past few Passovers and being one of Jesus’ inner twelve had its advantages. One of the servants in Pilot’s household recognized me and let me into the house through the servant’s entrance. I was young enough that I could blend in with the other servants and was able to get into earshot of the trial that was taking place.

This trail seemed like night and day from the earlier one. The charges against Jesus had changed from religious ones to those of a true rebel, not paying taxes to Rome and even calling himself a king. Everything that most people thought that the “messiah” would be. While I still want Rome out of Israel, I knew that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, just not in this way.

Pilot’s verdict was as I thought, Jesus had done nothing wrong. Yet the priests kept adding false charges out of desperation hoping something would stick. When Pilot found out that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Jesus over to Herod, who was literally next door. Herod was the local authority and just so happened to be in town for the Passover. I was not able to get in on that session, but when Herod sent him back to Pilot, he too had come to the same conclusion. Pilot then gave his verdict that Jesus would be flogged and released. Yet someone yelled out “Kill him and give us Barabbas!” Then all Sheol broke loose as the crowd that had gathered took up the same chant.

It was at this point I knew the world as I knew it would not be same. One could see the pain and desperation in Pilot’s eyes to release an innocent man. He was painfully torn between doing what he knew was right and keeping the crowds from becoming a riot. In the end Barabbas was released and Jesus was sentenced to die.

I could not believe my ears or my eyes. Jesus was innocent, yet he was about to be executed in the most brutal and torturous way known to man. It still brings tears to my eyes. Did the past three years mean nothing? I wept as I saw Jesus led away to be flogged. Thirty-nine whips with a barbed whip. Years later I would get the same treatment for continuing to teach others the teaching of Jesus. We became known as the Way.

At this point, all hope had been lost. Jesus would be crucified, there was no coming back. I had followed a false teacher, became hooked on the radical ideas that He presented.

There is someone I would like you to meet with before you go back to Peter. He was the Centurion in charge of the crucifixion that day. In the weeks that followed, he reached out to the followers of the Way wanting to know more about who this man was and eventually became a follower himself. He is now stationed here in Ephesus at the Roman Garrison. I will let him know you may be stopping by.

May the peace of Yahweh be with you always.