Good Friday

Pilate hated Passover time, 
too many people with pent up rage, 
tension filled the air, 
making the city a powder keg, 
all that was needed was one spark, 
all of this liberation, like tinder, would ignite the people. 

And now, 
there was this strange man, 
accused of sedition, 
No, No, I do not want to get involved. 

Pilate! If he were not a criminal, we would not have brought him to you..." 

No! If he were not a pawn in one of Caiphas's games, then you would not have brought him here to play.

The tension was high, 
so many accusations, 
but, Jesus, did not speak, 
Pilate was impressed by his fortitude, 
and his quiet sincerity, 
so much dignity, 
despite the beating he had already recieved. 

Pilate wondered, Do they always punish their prisoners before they are judged?

This man is more than the usual trouble, 
more than another trouble maker, 
he is a giver, not a taker, 
this tension is going to burst like a bubble, 
this man is no criminal, 
he is a dreamer, 
his message is heart heavy, subliminal, 
No, he is not some malignant schemer. 

(still he has nothing to say...) 

Speak, defend yourself, don't you realize that I have the power to release you or to have yopup crucified? 

(still no answer...) 

Finally, he raised his eyes to me and said - "You have nothing in your hands...All is fixed and cannot be changed..." 

He doesn't seem to care if he lives or dies, 
this mob is my concern, 
they can make my life worse by degrees...

(what is one man...for the rest of us?) 

He is bent on self destruction, 
a puppet, 
a wannabe martyr, 

"We just need him crucified..." 

"I have made my decision, let him die, it is what he wants after all, I wash my hands of this twisted game. I wash my hands of his borrowed fame, I wash my hands of his self destruction, take it upon yourselves, you, be the architects of his false construction."

They led Jesus away, 
alone and abandoned. 

T.S. Deary 
2/5/24